, 1874-06-07
THE, HOLY NAME.
Troubles Growing Out Of Building
the New Church.
Allegations of Favoritism
Against the Super
intendent.
Catholic hlasons and Carpenters Are
Not Given a Chance.



among the property controlled by the Roman
catholic Bishop OF Chicago are large and yalu.
able parcels OF ground On either side OF Superior
Street, on the corner OF North State. Previous
TO the fire, the Cathedral Of tho Holy Name &C.
cupied one OF them, and tho temporary frame
structure now used by tho congregation Of thnt
church stauds at the rear Of the block. The
Bishop decided some timo ago to hayo the Ca.
1hearal rebuilt on scale OF magnifcence thu,
would make it
. THE dRANDEsT CHURCH -ED1r1cE
in the Northwest, and, without the knowledge o,
pastor Or parishioners, it is said, in.rusted the
work to French Canadian builder named
Manard, who has had considerable to do will,
othsr chusch-improyements in this vicinity.
Manard, it seems, was to have plans and specia-
cations drawn for q church to cost e250, 600 OF
100000, let the contracts for the building of it
to any persons he liked, and superiutend the e1,-
tire work himself Since then, however, Chicago
architects have been ignored. and
Il NEW YORKER
named Kelley, who had achieved some rcputa-
ton as church-builder, has been employed to
design the plans.
When Manard was appointed superintendent,
he invited proposals from few contractors for
CLEARING AWAY THE RUINS
Of the old church, and preparing the ground
for the foundations of the now structure.
Among the responding firms WAS the one which
had put in the original foundations, and the re-
naming member of it is responsible for such
Portlons Of what follows as may relate to him ::
He SAYS that he and his partner knew just how
much debris there was to remove; how long it
would take, and how much the actual cost
would be to them. Thoy offered to do the work
for $500. which was much lower fignre than
the bids offered by their competitors, and
folt confident they would make money
at that price. They could not afford, however.
to refuse greater compensation when it was Of
alleges. was done by Manard, who came to him
personally and informed him that the bid of his
firm was much lower than any Of tho others, and
OUGHT TO BE INCREASED
to $3.50. Tie contractor enys he did not know
what to make Of this liberal suggestion at first.
He felt, perhaps, that when an architect or
building superintendent advised en- increase of o
contract lie did SO for the purpose OF having d
fayorite oyerbid, or to get portion OF the in
cronse himself. II he should have neither OBJ
ject in view: he would doubtless be considered q
positive curiosity among men of his guild.
After consulting with his partner, the contractor
decided to take the chances and alter his bid as
advised. He got the contract, went on with the
work. aud finished it. allowing his money to re-
main i'll the Bishops hands until such time as lie
had use for it.
THE NEW FOUNDATION.
Manard next invited few proposals for the
construction Of the now foundations. Tie con-
tractor who cleared away the ruins put in bid.
and, it being fur below the others. he secured
the work The superintendent gave him in
structions how to proceed, and tho laying of the
foundaIion-Btones was begun. Before the job
was finished the contractor found himself in
need Of money, and. without consulting a1anard
or anybody elRe, went to the Bishops Secretary
II. vE IL.
ract. When Mauard learned that the collection
had been made. it ia said he became
EXCEEDINGLY ANGRY
because he WAS not consulted in the premises,
and thereupon made divers changes IN the con-
ettuction OF the foundation which nut the con
tractor to what ho considers an unnecessary ex-
perse OF about l,500 Hence, he believes that
that extra $3.50 had bearing however remote
On those alterations
The foundation were finally put in, and,
from the day they were finished up to the pres
ent time, not a word has been eaid in public
about tho magnificent and costly church that is
to be built.
THE PASTOR
Of the Holy Name Parish. it ia said, knows
nothing about it. aud his parishioners, who help
foot the bills. are equally ignorant concerning
the architectural design Of the edifce, the prob
able time Of commencement and completion.
the probable cost the probable builders, or any
other probability connected with it. Indeed.
the great majority Of those whom one would
naturally suppose ought to take an interest III
such n1atters seem to care nothing at ell about
them; but there are few persons in the parish
who are unpleasantly inquisitiTe. These men are
MOSTLY BUILDERS AND cARpESTERs,
who belong to the church and help to sustain it,
and they consider that the Bishop ia treating
them with the utmost unfairncss when he per-
nits his superintendent to refuse to let them
compete with his own friends. They persist in
asking for the plans and specifications, SO that
thew can put in bids but the traclngs ara not
It is boldly asserted By the North
Side men that Manard has gathered around him
! few West Side builders, who bavo no interest
whatever in the Holy Name Parish, and contri-
butte nothing to it's support, and has shown them
;ho plans, on condition that they will say nothing
about them to any one, but make their estimates
quietly and hand them to him. The North Side
better and cheaper il competition is allowed
among responsible parties; but they make their
strongest point when they stand up for their in
1iyidual rights aB Catholics and members of the
particular parish il which the church l3 to be
3ui1t.
TIE EMAsTEn-CAnpESTEhS
Lssert that Manard has not asked for proposals fer
he wood work of the church, OF which there y i'll
,e large quantity, because he has decided that
lis own son shall do that part Of tho work at his
,wn figures. From what has been written it
will be eeen that there ia no email degree Of dis
content in the parish but it ls nothing to what
here will be when the work OF building the
1nrch is commenced, and the people begin to
aka sides with those who are constructing 1t
nd those who wanted to construct 1t.
An Oriental Congress-.