Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-22
MEMPHIS CUSTOM.HOUSE.
Earnest Protest By the Memphis Cit.
liens Against the Illinois sand.
stone Fraud-Reply Of
Hon. John Sherman.

The following is the protest lately sent
by citizens of Memphis to Hon. John
Sherman, secretary of the treasury, and
his reply, which is evasivs and u%nsatis.
factory, as will be seen by oil who read
this correspondence, and are conversant
with the facts heretofore published:
MEMPHIS. May IA. 1878.
Hon. John. Sherman, Secretary of the Treas
ury. Washington, d. c.:
SIR-The undersigned citizens of Mem.
phis, Tenn, representing her commerce,
municipal and business interests, re.
specially appeal to you, the chief officer
10 authority over the government build
ing 10 course Of erection 10 this city, in
earnest but respectful protest against the
use OF the sandstone selected for our
custom.house, as indicated BY a specimen
in the office Of the superintendent of the
work. We consider the Stone in ques.
ton as decidedly unfit for 80 important
a structure, and, inssmuch as our repre-.
sentatives in congress believe that the
bill already passed in the senate and
now pending in the lower house, pro-
vldiDg for the use of Tennessee mar.
BILE, will yet become a law before the
close of the present session of con-
gress, we earnestly petition to have
the work discontinued until the defeat or
passage OF said bill in the house. We
would further represent thatin the event
the marble bill should not pass, that
some stone of decidedly better color than
that lately contracted for be selected
(such selection having been made hasty,
as We think, aud without the knowledge
Of our representatives, for the eonstruc
ton of a building which will occupy the
most commanding position of aDy pub.
lie structure on the Mississippi river,
and in which we take a deep interest and
just pride.
Believing, Mr.. Secretary, as we do,
that the stone selected would not only
greatly disappoint all parties interested
in the building, but also be q discredit, if
not a Disgrace. in comparison with the
liberality and judgment displayed by the
government IN structures of q like char.
scter throughout the country, we beg Of
you most earnestly to annul the con.
tract. and if marble cannot be obtained,
we confidently believe a stone could be
selected from quarries of recognized
worth, far superior in all respects to that
contracted for. In this opinion we are
constrained to believe you would concur
if your personal attention was directed
to the stone selected.
That this petition may receive POUR
personal attention and favorable action,
is the prayer Of,
Very respectfully, yours,
j. R FLIPPrN,
Mayor of Memphis.
b EIsEMAN,
Frest. Memphis Chamber Of Com.
j.. 7. PETIT.
Prest. Memphis Cotton Exchange.
The following is the
REPLY OF SECRETARY SHERMAN.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, ID. G., May Is, 1873
Hon. J R. Flippin. Mayor, and others, Mem
phig, Tenn;
G~ENTLEMEN-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge receipt of your favor Of the
l4th inst, protesting against the use Of
the sandstone selected for the new Gus.
ton house and postofice building, Mem.
pbis, Tennessee, urging that the contract
therefor be annulled, and in case the bill
providing for the use of marble be not
passed that another stone be selected.
In reply, | have the honor to advise you
that the department has, by its action,
manifested its desire to give your repre-.
sentatlyes every opportunity and facility
TO effect 4 change Of material for the
building, the bids for the work having
been opened on the 9Th OF January last
and the award delayed from month to
month at the solicitation of the Hon.
Casey Young, upon his representation
that early action would in all probability
be taken. On the I'd of April he was
advised that action could no longer be
delayed, but at his renewed request the
award was delayed until May. Any fur
Their delay, during the most favorable
building season, would be 10 the dissd-
vantage OF the government, especially
should action on the bill in question be
deferred to tina last days Of the session,
perhaps until fall, as it would then be
hardly practicable to make any progress
on the building during the present build
ing season, meanwhile maintaining the
superintendent and contingent force
waiting instructions. 1t, therefore,
seemed to be my duty, as provided By
act OF June %, 1874. to proceed with the
work, and the lowest responsible bid, for
what was deemed to be a suitable mate
rial, was accepted. l regret that any
dissatisfaction should exist with the
selection of the stone, and assure you
that the most rigid inspection of the ma.
t@erial, as to quality and color, will be
enforced.
Very respectfully,