Daily Republican., 1879-12-23

The falling Of two houses III Tue i'"'"
Ward, last Saturday evening, snoaia
impress on the minds Of builders the
sxpsdiency Of looking more closely "
the character Of the foundation walls on
which the weight Of the entire structure
must rest. They should also look well
to the solidity Of the ground, as well -
to the character Of the masonry. Where
the lot has been filed up with new
earth in order to bring it to the proper
level, planks should be used or the sh-
csvation for the foundation should eA-
tend through it, in order that the stone
work should not settle and lead 70 So
rious defects which the efforts Of the
most skil,ful bricklayer could not AVOID
or counteract. Besides all foundation
walls should be carefully faced on the
outside as we'll as on the inside, so as 10
render them perfectly secure. Inc
practice of letting the outside OF the
wall rest against the earth Is most
reprehsnsible one and should 10 pro-
hibited by Law. No mason who values
his reputation for skillfulnsss would
permit such careless and insecure work
manship. Every one should under
stand or realize that safety is Of higher
Importance than cheapness, when EN-
ployed in erecting building, and
blunders should be esteemed criminal
carslessness to be followed with fine or
imprisonment.
There should be legislation regula-
ting the construction OF buildings, and
workmen who neglect to conform 10
the same should he treated as other vio-
olators of law, and be made tosuiier the
pains and penalty prescribed. The
man who kills another through care
lespess should be made to suffer tosuch
an extent as to deter others from simi-
lar thoughtfulness. Men should make
their work secure and in case they do
not do SO, they should be adjudged
guilty of criminal negligence, ana be
compelled to suffer for any damage that
NAV result therefrom. We under
stand that the subject will be brought
before the City Council and consequent
ly legislation may be expected similar
to that which other cities have found
necessary to ensure safety aud protect
parties nom loss of life and money.
The STATE Sentinel published at
Dover, is very severe in its criticism on
the conduct of George B. Dickson who
is a Justice of the peace in that place.
1t says Governor Cochran's head should
hang with shame every time Dickson's
name is mentioned in his presence. The
Sentinel says:
"That he drinks, is notorious fact;
but when it comes to pass that a man
who holds the 0fiice Of Justic, Of the
Peace and Alderman Of the town of Do
Yer, is 50 drunk upon The streets that
he can hardly walk, and that al
most an everyday occurrence, We say
it is simply an outrage upon decency.
But then, these facts were as well
known during tho session OF the last
legislature as now, and no action was
taken in the matter-simply because it
was thought it might hurt the party"
We sympathise with the people OF
Dover if all the Sentinel" says Is cor
rect, and we have no reason to doubt
what it says, but We rather think the
good people will have to put up with
such officers awhile longer. The only
remedy il for the moral and law abid-
ing portion of the people to unite and
elect such men to office who will not
make such appointments, and Legis'
lature that will impeach such men for
misdemeanors in Office after they are
appointed. Dover is not the emily place
in the State cursed with such officers.