Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-12-11
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Annual Report Of Supervising Architect
gIullet.

Supervising Architect Mullet, in his report,
after enumerating the sites purchased for
public buildings, recommends an appropria-
ton for the purchase of additional property
to enlarge the site occupied by the Custom
House at st. Paul. In reference to the public
building at Chicago, Mr.. Mullet says: desire
to cell the attention of the Department to the
Importance of erecting the Adams street front,
for which no appropriation has vet been made.
1t is of great importance that this front should
be erected simultaneously with the others.
and. as the entife building will be required. /
would strongly recommend that an appropria-
ton be obtained for the commencement of
Il at wing. Should this be done, a consider
able saving in cost as well as time will be made,
and the entire building can be placed under
roof at an early day. Progress in the public
buildings at st. Louis has been very unsatis-
factory but it is trusted that the obstacles in
the way of its rapid prosecution will be soon
removed.
The Postoffice and Custom-Hous. at Pitts
burgh are far too small, and he recommends
an appropriation to commence a new building
in that fty at an early day He also thinks It
desirable that new building be erected at
Toledo, Ohio.
Appropriations for the erection of the pro-
posed new buildings at Nashville Covington.
Ky; Evansville, Iud.: and Little Rock, Ark.
are not sufficient, and it is impossible to COM
ply with the restrictions ON their cost except
by erecting buildings inadequate in size, and
unsuitable for the purposes intended. The
architect suggests that, in cases in which it is
not considered desirable to appropriate the
amount necessary to erect suitable and perma-
nent buildings, it would be more advantageous
to defer action, aud rent temporary accommo-
dations, until such time as the finances of the
Government may warrant the appropriation of
the necessary amount.
He renews the recommendations to sell the
Marine Hospital property at Pittsburgh, Pa,
and also at Detroit, Mich.
He thinks it indispensably necessary that
the east front of the Treasury Department be
rebuilt, and recommends the erection of a
building for the accommodation of the Print
ing Bureau, and for the records of the De-
partment.
Also, that steps be taken to secure from
the city of New York the whole or a portion
of the Battery for the erection of a new GUS
tom-house, and that a suitable appraisers
store be built in the same locality.
He recommends the extension of the De-
troit Custom-Hous
In conclusion, Mullet calls attention to the
eight-hour law as injurious to the best in.
terests of the Government and to
the workmen themselves and says
If the rule is to be the permanent
policy of the Government, and it's me-
chanics and laborers are to be compensated al
the rate of 20 per cent. above the highest
market rates, see no reason why officers
clerks, and other employees of the Government
should not be paid by the same rate. Under
the present system, gentlemen of education
who occupy positions of trust and great pecu
MARY responsibility in the different bureaus
| actually receive less than mechanics, and ar,
Disseminated against in favor of men who, a.
| rule, exhibit little interest IL the perform
ance Of their duties, and have no RESPONSE
bility whatever. 1t is also fact that man,
| mechanics receive, under the present system
not only more than their foremen and maste
mechanical. bnt more than the Superintendent
| of work on which they are engaged, the latt.
classes being allowed no compensation fc
extra labor performed.