The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-22
MULLETT AND HIS wHIMs.

THE SORT OF A MAN HE Is-soME OF THE
G. HE HAS LAIN IN
THE UNITED STATES NEST OF A JOBS.
The Washington correspondent of the
Graphic, among other things, tells the fol-
lowing of the ex-governor of United
States architecture He is a small,
wiry man OF a large, brainy
head and no self-control in his business
communications. He is not only over
worked, but, with the fatality of his SAN
guine temperament, he never declines nor
discourages propositions to do yet more
His ambition Is rather constructive than
artistic, and his executive facilities and
imagination outrun his judgment. intrude
upon others less busting, and increase the
area of opposition. He is a partisan of great
momentum, within his orbit t%yrannical, and
avaricious of power. He has a steady en-
envy in his tongue, which, without much
sting, has an o~bjurgative, clapper-like i'm
petuosity and repels those who must feel it,
rather than wounds them, Put confidence,
q nervous nature, and a wavward time to-
gether, and Mullett is a perfect Catharine
to whom the world is a Petruchio. He
came here from Cincinnati an architect, and
wanted the government to accept a regiment
he had been raising. Instead OF that Secre-
tary Chase put him in the treasury depart
ment as one Of the accessories OF the presi-
dC6CJ " WhtCA NIL OhdoO h0S CONCbGAAcs
He speedily s~upplanted the architect and
became architect of the t1nnry extension,
which he very soon raisc4 - supervising
architect over every con~e controlled
by the treasury. This he accomplished
by SUCCESSFULLY wedding out the COM
m~issioners in each city whose fastidious-
ness and complaint embarrassed the secre-
tary. 1t was Mullett's true policy when he
reached this point to get an easy cushion, sit
wise and lazy in it, look learned, and con-
ciliate the architect of the country. But be
rejected advice, coveted employment, and
designed a great office for himself; to be the
commissioner of the city of Washington N
builder-in-chief of the government. If he
did not secure this rank, it was for the same
reason that Napoleon did not conquer the
world-there was too much of it. Instances
OF Mullett'S decision II Will are common.
The marine hospital at Napoleon, Ark, he
sold as a wreck for $50, which cost above
S62, 900. The marble room at the treasury, a
very extravagant piece of work, was accepted
and authorized by w. Z. Chandler, assist
ant secretary, who had his name gilded in
the marble for gratitude. The south wing of
the treasury required six years to build it;
the north wing was built by Mullett in about
thirty months. He also wanted to put
THE WHOLE EDIFICE ON SCREWS
and raise it; and to ondemn a costly square
opposite, owned by the Banker COrcoran, in
order to give the building distance and et-
feet. When Gen. Grant was elected in 1868,
Mullett had under his charge, II custom
houses, 10 marine hospitals, Is court houses
and postoflices, 10 minis and assay offices, and
IL miscellaneous buildings. Many of these
he sold and destroyed. By 1872 there were 81
custom houses, and four of them had cost
from one million to three million each; I6
marine hospitals, of which New Orleans cost
S52S. 600 and Chicago SOS, 900; 20 court houses
and pOstofices, III minis and u other build
ings. In all 1872 buildings, with more to come.
Mullett was a determined enemy of the eight
hour law, which, he said, evoked less labor
per hour b with ten hour work, and
increased the cost OF the public build
ings from twenty to twenty-five per cent.
He was, OF course, denounced by the work.
men, thousands of whom would be glad to
work twelve hours if they could get work.
He also suggested in 1868 that architects be
employed in the different cities, subordinate
to him, to control and check the superinten-
dents. Such were some of the traits of this
wrangling, precipitate, but rather genuine
little man, whose facades are to be the lar
gest objects in American architecture for
long to come and his name to be the subject
of ar scdote long after him. His fate is not
exceptional. Every architect the govern
ment has employed on large constructions
has come to grief. Hallet, HadfieldkHoban.t
Thornton and Latrobe left in a huff.N Walt
ter had his griefs. Even Meies wny1 Desets
Robert Mills went out wounded. Clarke re-
mains, too modest, as Mullett was too for
ward.