New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-28
4 SYNTEN OF UERRICKS.


the local press. The foundations have been
in and the walls laid to the street level for
several weeks All that remains to be done
is to erect the building. Instead of erecting
the building or beginning ir, however, the
Government, which in this instance is MIR.
Supervising Architect Mullett, has been de-
voting all its time talent, and energy, and
considerable part Of the appropriation, to the
setting up of three magnificent derrcks.
local journal, describing the progress or the
work upon information obtained at head
quarters" and consequently authoritative,
says: "Thcre is at present force OF 40 men
employed, and these are completing prepare
" lions for raising the walls IA soon as the
raouislte appropriation has been voted by
" Congress-an event probably in the near
future. For this purpose three large ffty-fee
" lerricks are requrcd.' great many people IN
Hartford were wondering till then what
the derricls were for, and why the build
ING did not 30 forward. The announcement
| thai Mr.. Mulett was waiting for an appr0-
priation to be voted. and that for this pur-
"pose three large ifty-feet derricks are re-
q" quircd,r momcntirily appeased public curl
osity. Several buildings of much more am
erected in Hartford within few years, with
nothing like the display OF dcrricks that this
seemed to require, aud the average citizen
failed TO comprehend the necessity for so
| mach derrick. He had had some experience
! though in moving "blocks" of insurance stock
of two or three shares ut time, and had
| learned something of the power required to
effect legislation-and It's cost-in connection
with one or two such matters as bridging the
| Connecticut and establishing the capital, and
| when he read that three largo fifty-feet der
tricks were required" to get the appropriation
he began to appreciate the situation.
| The derrichs already erected are uncOmmOnly
| fine structures. They are lofty, airy, and
substantial, and should the expected appropri-
alton be made will furnish an unusually cool
and healthy location during the Summer for
the able bodied supporters Of the Constitution
who turn the cranks. The cost of erecting the
derricks thus far has been $4,000. A cheaper
class of dcrIcks might have been erected, or
these might have been set nearer the ground
and money saved thereby but Mr.. Supervising
Architect Muilett has been determined from
the start that the citizens of Hartford should
have something to be proud of, and as there
was danger of losing the appropriation for the
building during the recent spasm of economy,
he bent his whole mind to giving them some
thing permanently useful and ornamental in
the way of derricks. He has done this in the
most admirable manner. Should it so happen
that the appropriations should cease and the
work stop at this stage, it will not be as
though they had no derricks. They will be
there, a permanent adornmcnt to the square,
into flNn t,,o oil Il
rectons, a constant "reminiscences of Muett
and suggestive of a circus. But this will not
happcn. The three fifty-f derrcks will be
sufficient to raise the appropriation. When
Mr.. Mulett, who, from his frequent use of
the dam as figure of speech, seems to be as
much hydraulic engineer as an architect,
shall call the attention of Congress in his ar
dent and imprisoned way to the expenditure
already incurred of $4,000 for derrieks, there
will be no opposition to whatever appropria-
ton may be asked for to finish the work.
AS a part of the machinery of legislation
the derrick has uses of the most varied and
important character. In securing apprOpria
tons it is indispensable. To get derrick is
the first step; the rest follows naturally. In
stead of OJsta principles" the motto of the
reformer will soon come to be its liberal
translation "Resist the derrick" In the case
in hand the first appropriation for public
building in Hartford was made in the interest
of the Member of Congress, who having Sc
cured the distribution of so much public money
among his constituents had claim upon their
gratitude and an argument for his continuance
in Office till tho work should be completed.
1t was carried through upon the mutual plan;
all Congressman who wanted to erect derricks
of one kind or another In their districts
uniting in general appropriation bill prOvd-
ing for ALL! The derrick once up, the succeed
ing appropriations came along without Difficult
ty. The New-LondOn Navy Yard is a case of
derrick. Congress WAS importuned for
years to take piece of land
on the Thames as gift for Navy-Yard
and spend just little money on it. All they
wanted was n derrick. Congressman were
elected upon this issue until finally they sue
ceeded in getting small appropriation, which
was used in such way that not to make
another appropriation was to lose what had
already been spent. League Island Navy Yard
is lust such another case. The country is
full of instances of the successful use of the
derrick in hosting men into Congress and
money out of the Treasury. The last case of
derrick was the Centennial Exposition. All
they wanted at first was recognition. Being
recognized, they wanted the country to save
itself from being dishonored by giving them
three or four million dollars The hosting
power of that derrick was not sufficient and
the statesmen at the crank have been injured.
Congress is never lacking in applications for
derrcks, and busy rs Mr.. Mulett is in getting