The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-06-19
Siouch Work.

Occasionally it seems as il about all the
mechanical work done in America was of tho
slouch order. The main object in making
things appears to be to get them off in the
quickest and cheapest way consistent with
concea';ng their defects. The present system
of building tenement houses for the pocr is
an illustration. 1t is infamous. Mud NOR
tar, bricks that break in two in the handling,
rotten timbers, and sewer pipes that dis
charge in cellars, were some OF the peculiar
tiles of workmanship that became apparent
at the coroner's inquest afs,r o six-story
building fell in AMI crushed dozen poor
laboring men more or less.
Then there was O notorious fire disaster
coming on the heels Of the tenement-house
crash. A building was raised from its
foundations, set upon VS., Chicago
fashion, and other repairs were made. The
work was supposed to be done, and the
screws were taken away. AboIt hundred
working people were engaged in the struc-
ture. A fire broke out, and the fiimsy walls,
repairs and all, fell in together. At the
coroner's inquest that followed this affair it
was shown that the repairs had been un-
dertaken by a man who had not sufficient
mechanical knowledge to mend q cellar
door. But he undertook the raising and re-
modelling Of four-story building full Of
heavy machinery and containing hundred
people during work hours. There was worse
than slouch work here. There was crime.
Such plumbing as is done in America
would be punished by fine and imprisonment
in any other country. Occupations involv-
ing most serious consequences to life and
health are picked up" by anybody and
everybody. Amy quack is doctor and
a baif-decent barber Is professor
Into the smallest details this slouchiness Of
workmanship enters There is very little
real art skill in our country, because our
would-be artists will not take time and pains
to learn to draw. Put the pictures in our
illustrated papers, comic and otherwise,
alongside those of French or German funny
paper As compared with the execution in
these, the American drawing is as stiff and
ugly as q clothes-horse.
George Eliot says Of Adam Bede that his
work had always been part of his religion,
and he saw most clearly that good carpentry
was that form of Gods will which concerned
him. Pity American carpenters and cab
met makers could not have some such divine
revocation. At this moment vision rises
in the mind. A married couple had long d.
sired a substantial bookcase They had
been too poor to buy it for years. At last
the coveted money was in their hands, and
the treasure was brought home 1t looked
q marvel OF ornamental woods and veneer
ing and brass work Well, it had been In
yhe house a1y few weeks. when the glits
tering brass handles Of the drawers came of
In their hands. Screws fell out and were
lost, glass doors refused to fasten, and all
their joy in the new purchase was spoiled
by wretched workmanship.
II you move into a new house the door
knobs all but roll of IL you look at them,
the plaster upon the walls crack, and you
are fortunate indeed IL the roof does not leak.
A farmer lately had his barns and outbuild-
ings tin-roofed at a cost Of 81 500. The first
rain thereafter poured in through the de-
fectiye soldering in torrent, and ruined his
lay and corn crop. The timer had ..picked
up his trade of roofing. He would not take
time to leera it thoroughly. He was a dis
honest fraud.
The very desk on which this is written was
new and handsome two months ago. It has
had the best Of usage, yet already the MAN
drawer Is 50 ricxety IL only opens and shuts
by jumus and spasms. The keys never lid
ht IN the locks, and the joints are gaping and
skaky. Substantial, smooth working honest
furniture and carpentry work are blessings
unknown In the United States The same
spirit Of slouchiness runs through iron-work.
machinery and railroad building. 1t Is
disgrace to the nation