Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-28
FRIDAY. JULY %. 1871.
a disappointment.

- Dl1AVPOAutNAoht
Those who have read the revelations lately
made in the New York Times in regard to the
immense sums expended upon the new court
house, must naturally have the impression that
this now famous ediflce is a marvel of solidity
and splendor, surprising in the thoroughness
of its construction and the elegance Of its APP
pointments any other building in this country
and probably excelling, in these respects as in
its cost, any of the public or private structures
of similar size in Europe The court house is
built chiefly of marble and iron; Just how much
has been spent on these materials and the labor
of construction has not been accurately stated,
but the amount is known to be some millions.
This seems a lavish expenditure, but its result
has no doubt been the production of building
fit TO rank with the noblest architectural monu-
ments of the old world, impressing all behold
ers with the dignity and grace Of IFS design, the
elaborateness of its ornament, the perfection Of
its finish, and worth pilgrimage to see Such
expections, however rational they may seem,
would be disappointed, for the appearance Of
the edifice is said to be by no means imposing,
but on the contrary, mean and shabby.
But the interior finish no doubt makes up for
all the external defects, which are perhaps faults
of taste; the choice of an unfortunate design is
a fatal error which cannot be redeemed by any
amount of expenditure upon details. The in
side may have merits which contrast splendidly
with the architectural failure of the exterior
proportions. The plastering, for instance, cost
about $4,000, besides numerous repairs"
which have cost nearly as much more. Mayor
Hall says this sum is large, perhaps exorbi-
tant," but then the work is, of course, a speci-
men of ideal perfection in its way. Mr.. Andrew
j. Garyey is not a common plasterer; he has
probably the secret of costly materials and
peculiar processes, which give a perfection of
beauty to his work not attainabe with lime,
hair, sand and such vulgar substances
manipulated by common hands. 1t is
perhaps exhOrbitant" for Nh. Carney to charge
such prices for his work, but if such work can
not be had except of him, the authorities, think
ing justly that the best is not too good for pub
lie uses, are in measure at his mercy. But
Mr. Charles Nordhoff, lately one OF the editors
of the Evening Post, who has been visiting the
new court house, was not impressed with the
excellence of Mr.. Garvey's plastering. He says
there is, considering the size of the building,
very little plastering in it, and what there is is
far from creditable TO the city or the workmen.
The walls are in a disgTacefnl condition, pieces
of the plastering have peeled off, leaving ugly
blotches which give the court house the APP
pearance of dilapidated and neglected ruin
The whole of it, which cost $4,000, he thinks
could have been better done by any one of
many plasterers in the city for $4,000.
The construction of the building seems to
have been in bad hands, and probably those
who had charge of the work, who hoped to give
the taxpayers structure splendid and COM
plete, in proportion to the vast sums expended
upon il, were too confding, and allowed them
selves TO be swindled by these rapacious build
ers and plasterers. But they must have learned
something by this unfortunate experience, and
when they came to the furnishing they were
forewarned against the wiles of unscrupuloas
1radesmen, and took care to get their money 3.
worth. They spent marvellous sums in cabinet
work and upholstery, and, of course, there are
extraordinary results to show fora Il this money.
Most, if not all of it, passed through the hands
of Mr.. J. H. Ingersoll, the partner of
Boss Tweed, the renowned shair-maker, whose
colossal fortune must be evidence of eminent
skill in his business 81 ,476,90S were spent upon
the furniture. Those rooms must be worth see
ing for their furniture alone; luxurious pro-
vision must have been made for the comfort of
those who are employed upon that part of the
public business transacted there. Delicate wood
carving, gorgeous upholstery, huge mirrors,
all that ingenuity can suggest or skill execute,
has been done TO make these rooms the most
lnxuriousy and tastefully appointed IN the
world.
This seems the only rational expectation; but
Mr.. Nofdhoff has found it illusOFy. The frlrni-
ture, he says, consists largely of common black
walnut chairs, and $4,000 would be an extrav-
agant estimate of its real value. In other re-
spects the court house equally disappoints the
hopes of those who supposed its perfection
would correspond with the perhaps exorbitant
sums spent upon it. To look through it, the
same observer says, stranger would suppose
the county authorities, instead of the most
lavish, were the most misery, of men. Every
thing in the building is common and ought to
be cheap. at has been scrimped, to use a
builders phrase, in every detail"