, 1877-12-08
EXAMINING ARCHITECTS WANT TO Be
PAID.

TO GhA EufoS 0f me Tribune
CHICAGO, Dec. g.-Two years ago last Juno tho
Common Council dtFectod tho Ma1or, BY nnani.
mons voso, 10 employ sovcn Of tho oldest aud most
distinguished archtects u this city 10 oxsmne tho
nav Custom. House building, To nacortalp whether
II was tho worthless and unsAfe thing which Mr.
suporintending. Architect Potter and tho Washing.
ton comniaslon had declared It to be.
ThnJ had said H. foundation was unsafe, and
that II must be pulled down. The people Of this
city wore not satisfied with thetr verdict, and de-
mandod that Tho case should ba carried 10 hlehor
court Of inquiry, composed OF orr own best archl-
tscts, vito were familiar With the soil Of Chicago
and wcss competent Judges in regard 10 tho
security Of tha foundations Of tho great build.
tnR.. THz TR.nusE. A. tho exponent OF publc
eiated ths demand until !he Mayor. II tho request
GSsS,PPss1 sS;i.M Esss =
body. 1loY compiled and mado 4 mosi exhaustive
and sclentl1c Inquiry into all the matters which al.
and reported titss ths so soinJatons, walls. u,s.
tet!ais etc.. which aaa been condcn,ued Mero right
cd. Tho Council accepted tho report, transmitted
II 70 wsahnatoa. and 6oeretarr Hrstow appointed
axa!loa themselves ot tho laborIoua Iavcsugasions
OF Tho Chicago aTch!tocts, and reported 10 tho
se q ri sa1' ans % sG ea1 :Gs
safetY u ths walls. and of tho completion o. tho
building, In short. after four DIFFERENTIATION,
e. Coz. they confirmed tue judgment " the Chlca-
90 atehisscts, bascd upon tto work ol nearly four
sa s:: I'd ata 5 s se% .l Paw, 70
md made Thorough tnycstigasIon into tho qualify
q s,,!! .he .tons q tho.o qaar1lc1 and Il ~
s ros As III. sasss .aassu. VII VII
ri ~ nd
ics, excsptcd-rontlsseJ their bills. which amount.
q y Al 50 'es. thaa 10 uiaa
work. III: Jill tts Common Council dselinssso
pay, Adviscd by tho Law D1pastu,out that II has
S., c,o1e5 1y su sa 1d1. atss
= xtest s!y e saap|oy 81 ;he dae.t s1pers
Thai thu city ought 10 pay th"sc gentlemen for
Io ths ieowSx law T&e pit,n s1y
through Il. council, hs. right to protect tt.sii
agatr.t dangers to ts eit!xens threatened By build
ms!st!a! and cracking walls; u to 4Aotd such pro-
ssstton G. T. n9sa - MaafsipM nv! putposs:" which
Wy do thes ~ assume tis powo9, 9 md FIVE sb, % hass
they cruated vi Executive department, wiih su.
reI!n!endsni Of Buildings sna : staa OF Ian sub.
= ~! aSwn. T s. owner wlll at wnsa ordered.
ChIcaKoi ilsss va 10 imnense 1T stsaetuss .sb beOa
erseted BY The Government Of tho Uultcd States.
which lhs Supervising Architect and q CoMmtaslon
Of three Government experts had pronounced m.
safe On its foundations. I.-reslnE Oh ~ bed OF
mud. constructed lot imperfect soft stone, with
walls already dangerously cracked, and 70 worth.
lear Thai It must b. pulled down. This WA prlua.
faeta evidence Of tho dangerous character Of thta
gsest building. which !psllh8d this Council la In
stt!utlny m inquiry. Thu Mayor had not yet 40.
poiate4 tho Superintendent Of Hu!Idsn.s, snd,
had he beca sppo!uted. ha would mol
mAgnltude a. tdl:. which involved sclcnliae skIll
Of ihs highest order, and combination VI wisdom
aud experiences which could nut be found In De-
taktMent the heod VI whErh was expected 70 d.
vote h!s whole t!ms 10 II Of salary Of 9. 600 pss
anHuu. but the Council bad the aame right "
ereate special Commission for sn important In
restixatl1a which 1t had to create Department
and, having created Il! they have no moral or legal
SlYhe to refuse 10 pay such Comddlsstou. any more
than 10 s1pudiats lhr payment Of tho salaFies
of Tho Superintendent OF Hu.ldlnxs and
biz spboriinatcs. yut It 10 sAll this
II building Of lhe United states Government, built
on IL lahds, Of which Congress haa exclusive !gtIs
dlctlon. and therefore the City of Chicago had 10
right ~ Interfere With tt. It II the Fight Of CHI
cayo 10 protect ts citizens against ausAuee the
shaps OF III un4afs structure, and The city u -
competent to do this Ia casa of a violation Of it,
building laws By tha United S<ates Government ~
aa any other case. The tios ssEAuent Of tho United
stltes could not store xunpoxder Ia Ks.at quanu.
strs. Or g!yestns. % Custom. House Square;
form Of great building built o.