St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-11
NORTHWESTERN BUDDENsIEKs


1t is time that the Twin Cities of the
Northwest were adopting measures to pro-
tect themselves against the BUDDENSIEKs
who infest their limits. A few weeks age
large building in Minneapolis collapsed
with disastrous results to human life, and
yesterday new three-story brick building
tumbled down on the corner OF Rice
street and University avenue in this
city. That 10 lives were sacrificed
by the fall of the building yesterday
is due entirely to Providence, and no thanks
to the builder or the architect. We have
before us aspecimen of the stuff called NOR
tar, used in the building which fell in this
city yesterday, and with which the brick
were supposed to be cemented together,
and the GLOBE has no hesitation in saying
that builder vino will put such stuff
in the walls of building for
the purpose of cementing it, ought
to be sent to the penltentiary. Ii
is nearly all sand with scarcely more than
a trace of lime in it, and hasn't 1.-THE OF
the adhesive power that ordinary chewing
gum possesses. A specimen OF the so-called
mortar is now on exhibition at the GLOBE
(OfTice and can be inspected by all who de-
sire to examine it. 1t tells its own tale OF
1.-THE crimipally dishonest methods too ire
,.ouently adopted in modern architecture.
The time has come when it is necessary for
the people of these two great cities to pro-
tect themselves against the dishonest prac-
tices of builders, and the sooner an exam
.ple is made the better it will be-
There are two other parties to share with
the builder the culpability OF yesterday s
crash. One is the architect whose duty
If was to superntend the construction and
the other is the building inspector, whose
place it is to let no building be erected un-
less it is done in a substantial ano
workmanlike manner. There has been
entirely too much carelessness IN the
matter of inspecting buildings. Inc
inspector may possibly urge that, in the
multiplicity of buildings that are going W
in ST. Paul. it is impossible for one man to
make personal inspection OF all of them.
That is probably true, but he has the
privilege to employ assistants, and II ne
doesn't choose to exercise that privilege,
then it is his place to turn the office over &c
some man who will. The Office of building
inspector is too important to be held as
sinecure. or to have its duties sighted IL
the least degree.
The GLOBE feels that tbs its duty to the
public to speak plainly in reference to these
matters, and it now gives fair warning tina
it intends to wage relentless and unceas
ing war against the BUDDENsIEKs who are
setting up in business as builders and con
tractors in this city. and does not intend t.
let up in the warfare until the last one o.
them is driven out of the city or lodged il
the penitentiary There are honest build
ers and contractors in this city, and plenty
of them to do all the work that is to bt
done, and they have right to be protected
against the competition of scoundrels wht
nut up buildings to fall down beneath the
first breath of passing wind. There art
number OF large buildings going up in Thu
city every year, and the city owes it tt
itself to see that the brick and stone wall
are not put together with wet sand, which
will crumble into atoms as soon as it dries
Therefore, in behalf of the people of st
Paul, the GLOBE calls upon the prope
authorities to at once commence the prose
cution of every builder in the city who fail
to do his work sQuarely and honestly.