The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-10-25
ESSAYS on Plumbing.

During the recent intermission IN the
plumbing business in the East the men
made good use of their time writing es-
says. While these essays do not throw
light on all the mysteries with which
the craft is clothed, they are neverthe-
less instructive to certain degree.
Boston man, after opening out Win the
rather ambiguous statement that the
plumbers iabors ego hand IN hanu
with the work of the skilled physician
goes on later to say that the plumber IS
at disadvantage often in the estlma-
ton of the public because his work, be-
ing buried out of sight, it is unappreci-
ated. 1t is not clear that the writer
means this as another point of lnti-
mate relations between his trade and
the medical profession, but he adds:
s'It is a misfortune that the plumber is
sometimes compelled to render large
bill for which there is little in sight to
show, Certainly the same could be
said of the physician, and the public
would indorse the statement in both
cases. This essay is evidently written
bv practical man who has the inter-
ests of the business at heart, but is per-
haps of too eredulous disposition, as
shown by his matter of fact remark that
cit is happy circumstance that archi-
tects are turning their attention to the
subject of house sanitation. We be-
lieve he is mistaken about this. The
latest reports from all the building in
spectors in the country are against him,
and a Cincinnati plumber declares that
the ''modern Improvements in the art
of sanitation are due to the labors and
experience of long-suffering plumber
rather than to the intellectual efforts
of the artistic and skilled archi-
tect." He wants the plumber awarded
the chief place in the procession of the
onward march of sanitary sciences. AT
all events he wants the relations with
the architect, the builder, and the
doctor clearly defined sothRt each will
have to bear his own share of the
ssburdens, He states positively that
| it has been customary for. the archi-
tects to plan houses, arranging all the
sinks, closets and drains according to
| his fancy without reference to sanitary
correctness. The specifications for
| plumbers materials refer mainly to
their appearance. A builder contracts
| for the whole structure and subjects the
plumbing to the lowest bidder, who, in
order to save himself, puts his whole
mind on the arts of substitution and
how not to. do things. The chief suf-
ferer then is the confding owner, who
finds his costly dwelling little better
than whited sepulchre." The essay
ist declares that this house owner will
be fortunate if the doctors do not gel
that part of his fortune which remained
after the plumbing was paid for. 'It
is demonstrated, he continues, "that
twenty per cent. of the houses are re
plumbed annually, and the reason Ii
that the plumber has too long permit
ted himself to occupy the position o
the humble mechanic, asking leave tt
carry out the designs of his superiors a
cheaply and-slowly as possible, and ex
pected to submissively grin at the abus'
heaped upon himself. !" He advocate
higher education for plumbers AM
would have master plumber on ever,
Board of Health. Then he promise
that proper drainage shall carry ava
all noxious elements and "our friends
the doctors, may stand by and ap
prove. $50 Louis Republican.