New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE
THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT.


now MR. MUILErr MANAGED TIE OBFICE-cOSrLI-
MSS or HIS SYSTEM OF CONSTRUCTING TIE
PUBLIC BUIIDINGs-A REFORM SUGGESTED
me BdStor or The Tribune.
SIR: An editorial in THE TRIBUNE OF March
cootes from Mr.. Mullet,s annual report for 1919 'o
s,stement that "tbOugh the annual expenditures VI ~
Office have increased since 1865 from s'sS''iO ~ "
,anslbSo &C. the claims for extras ana addltiona oo
,ensation have steady diminished. ana are "o" ~
nominal" You truly assert that nevcr'heie w "a,
~ the works has been excessively inoreased' "a' NV
, tho COS, of contingent expenses has become trish
M ami that the public service certainly has not gaheu
by the change ,,o ho.a .,
Before Mr.. Mullett's rapid promotion 10 ,he no"u u
an expensive Bureau, with hardly ahy'nuS i'A0 q"
Efficient system u control respect was palu 10 'c GUS
,ou, and law which required the economical ana ehent
vstem OF letting the works by contract to the lowest
responsible bidder. Complete sets 9 htnoErap"ou
and printed specifications were furnished 10
The master builders long In advance OF the time ior SUI
hitting PROPOSAL and control over 'he contiguous
WA obtained by the selection of competent anu 'st
Vorthy snperintendents This method required sounu
Judgment. matured experience, ana professional eA
nnd decision, since any omission or oversgn' was
nood,iv touoved and exposed by claims Of the con-
tractors for extra work.
All this was radically changed MI MnleV coui eoo
no plan OF constructing the pubic Duinlhss eAoep ~
day's work system which has proved such ho'peu VI
the deficiency biils save fd sohio eA0oP'
eases he made contracts for the erection OF o"i'u
ipgs He frequently obtained the supply OF materials
and in mart, OF manufactured work, under auVeruso
nents from the bidder but ho couid DOT see d
way TO apply this system TO Tue WHO'S ~, 90
such = complicated and mixed system OF con sct ,n
iay's work ready means TOT concealus, ra
se and dispeuslng flVuTs aud enables those ID crEo
~ the works feel their way SLOWLY along as ney pr
seed with the work on the Dul'uluss. im noon ",ct
necessary alterations OF work constructor upo M
plans, the rebuilding OF Walis' tuo
recutting of expensive stonework, OF WORK uone W
yreat disadvantage Tor want OF having plans
Al tho proper iime all disclosed IN the increase
~ The rolls aud in increased quauuues OF bflch,
stone cement, and iron purchased ms was tne
,ecre OF the depletion Of the Treasury WITHOUT tncro
icing ready means OF detecting the cause VI e hie"'
These undeniabe facts cannot be explained away by
IN, remarkable use Of the superiative In te reports
and the characteristic modesty WIN Wnitn M % ,ha
Ell reported the work or MS suDordlhdtgs as sno
tranicst departmental buildings in the world; ur-
aishing admirable Accommodations" as me pes9
arranged minis an the world as tne pest IN 49,
-entaed and the secure isis ever constructed
aud best and most arusc WORK "hlsl tne s1is
ETC., produce, anu so on IL IS hoV 49, 80
official reports, here elsewhere, were ever Vina
mented in sucl n peculiar taste. The brauch Oh ine
treasury DepartmeuJ now styled the SUPERVISORS
Architects " ONCE attached TO the Department. !u
,;4 and WAS under the direction OF an engineer III
rbafge in conjunction with an architect In 1917 inc
the ne name assumed, and the functions OF pom
former Offices united In the hand OF one Persvh
STYLED supervising Arcitect rms onahee III Wy
beginning OF the war the work OF the Bureau hsu
died 10 u mere traction OF its former extent. LUIS
v1bout IN least rC6ecting upon the present lncu
bent 1t natural mat the thought shoud ARISE uat
system Of control ought 10 De substituted again IoI snc
one-inan power, which Is without preceueh' III any
nation, ana neither soIfes tHo An'sAO'' VI
finance.
Washington March 10, 1875.