Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-23
SANDSTONE VS.. MARBLE.
The memphis Customhouse - Protest
or Memphis and Response by Sec
rotary Sherman, OF the uni
ted states Treasury.

Ihe following Is the protest lately sent Oy
citizens of Memphis to Hon. John Sherman,
secretary of the treasury, and his reply,
which Is evasive and unsatisfactory, as will
be seen by all who read this correspondence
and are conversant with the facts heretofore
published with reference to the Illinois sand
stone swindle, which was ''bulled" through by
Secretary Sherman, of the treasury, pending
the bill in congress providing for the compile
ton of the Memphis customhouse with Ten
nessee marble. The bill passed the senate
without a dissenting vote, and now only
awaits the action of the house of representa-
tlves to become law:
THE CITY's PROTEST.
MEMPHIS, May IA, 1873.
Hon. John Sherman. Secretary of the Treasury,
Washington, District OF Columbia:
SIR-The undersigned, citizens of Memphis,
Tennessee, representing her commercial, n1u-
nicipal and business interests, respectfully
appeal to you, the chief officer in authority
over the government buildings in course of
erection In this city, In earnest but respectful
protest against the use of the sandstone Sc
lected for our customhouse, as indicated by
specimen in the office of the superintendent
of the work. We consider the stone in ques-
ton as decidedly unfit for so important a
structure; and inasmuch as our representa-
tive In congress believes that the bill already
passed in the senate, and now pending in the
lower house, providing for the use OF Ten
nessee marble, will yet become law before
the close of the present session of congress,
we earnestly petition to have the work dis
continued until the passage or defeat of said
bill in the house. We would further repre-
sent that in the event the marble bill should
not pass, that some stone decidedly better
than that lately contracted for be selected
(such selection having been made, we think,
without the knowledge of our representa-
tive) for the construction of building
most
ing position of any public structure
on the banks of the Mississippi
river, and in which we take a deep interest
and just pride. Believing, Mr.. Secretary, as
we do, that the stone contracted for would
not only greatly disappoint all parties inter
ested in the building, but also be a discredit,
if not disgrace, In comparison with the
hberality and Judgment displayed by the
government in structures of a like character
throughout the country, we beg of you most
earnestly to annul the contract, and if mar
bic caunot be obtained, we confidently believe
a stone could be selected from quarries of re-
cognized worth far superior In all prospects 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. Your personal attention and
favorable action is the prayer of, very re-
specttully yours,
Mayor of Memphis.
B. EISEMAN,
President Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
j. T. PETIT,
President Memphis Cotton Exchange.
REPLY OF SECRETARY SHERMAN.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, !
WASHINGTON, ID. C., May Is, 1878.
Hon. John R. Flippin, Mayor, and others, Memphis
Tennessee:
GENTLEMEN-I have tie honor to acknowl-
edge receipt of your favor of fourteenth in
slant, protesting against the use of the sand
stone selected for the new customhouse and
postcffice building at Memphis, Tennessee,
urging that The contract therefor be annuiled,
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 ad-
wise you that the department has by its action
manifested its desire to give your representa-
tives every opportunity and facility to effect
a change in the material for the building, the
bids for the work having been opened on the
eighth of January last, and the award de-
layed from month to month at the solicitation
of Hon. Casey Young, upon his representa-
ton that early action would in all probability
be taken. On the second of April he was
layed, but at his renewed request the
award was delayed until May. Any
further delay during the most favorable
building season would be to the disadvan-
tage of the government, especially should ac-
ton on the bill in question be deferred until !
tne last DAYS OF the session, perhaps until |
fall, as it then would be hardly practicable to
make any progress on the building during
the present building season, meantime MAIN
tanning 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 suitable material was accept |
ed. l regret that any dissatisfaction should |
exist with the selection of the stone. and as
sure you that the most rigid inspection of the |
material, as to quality and color, will be en-
forced. Very respectfully,
JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary