The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-21
BUILDERS EXCHANGE.
The First Social Meeting Of the New
Association.

AT tie first social meeting of the Builders
Exchange held Tuesday evening, there was
an attendance of about 40 members. Mr.. N.
H. hedlon, upon the assemblage of the mem
Der, called the meeting to order, after which
Mr.. H. X. Galley presented President A. ID.
Smith with fine portrait of Mr.. Smith, its
first president. which that gentleman ae-
cepted and presented the Exchange.
Mr.. j. e. Stevens, the architect. aud other
seh'iehen were called upon after lunch for
| remarks.
Mr.. Stevens spoke earnestly in favor of
corporation among members to secure n
regular system of giving estimates for work
to be done by contract
In the course OF this discussion it was lust
ly urged that builders who estimate on CON-
tract work have right to dictate certain
methods of submitting and opening esti
mates. For example. in the matter of OPEN
Ing estimates submitted in competition. IL
was suggested that the bids, IL they be for
building designed by an architect, be opened
In the architects Office at fixed time, and
that the principal estimators be present
when the bids are opened. 1t was also sug-
gested that each principal estimator be paid
for his service in rendering an estimate,
since each principal must give great deal of
time In getting estimates from sub-contrac-
tors and making up his final bid.
There was also an earnest protest against
the custom of people who are letting out
their building for contract, securing around
for cheap builder who hires "slop" work
heii--i THIS riioorauic cry rfaJ we inlrrpvn...-
things cheap" as one of our most eloquent
preachers recently expressed it in treating
| this same topic. One of the speakers cited
the case of well-to-do citizen of Portland,
| who in driving down Congress street recent
ly, passed one of our we'll known builders
| driving the other way. After passing, the
first named citizen said: "That mans a
thorough mechanic, and square as a brick ;
but he charges round price for his work.
have to go to man who'll work cheaper for
me-" "Aud that meant" said the speaker,
"a man who charged mean price and did
mean work" h
In this connection Mr.. Stevens affirmed
that herein lies one of the greatest difficult
ties of the architect; that occasionally when
the owner of proposed building finds some
contractor whom he can urge down to a
cheap price, the owner then expects the ar
chitect to secure just as good work as though
the job had been awarded to a contractor
who always demands fair price and al
ways employs good workmen.
Throughout this discussion there was a
manly plea for system of co-operatio n
among mechanics looking to the securing of
"an honest dollar for honest work." as one
l m ~ TOR alv cad ~
Smith, Spencer Rogers, j. c. Stevens, j. A.
King and Thomas Lauehln spoke with
special force and clearness in this discussion,
from which great good is likely to result.
Steps are to be taken towards perfection
of definite system, which shall result in Sc
curing general good standard of workman
ship among members of the Exchange, and
in securing fair price for work done. All
this will be for the real interest of property
owners who have buildings to let under con-
tract. no less than for the interest of the
| contractors.
St. Domnic's Fair.
There was good attendance at the st.
Dominic's fair last evening, and the pretty
girls with sheir pass books were Industrious
ly gathering in the dimes.
Among the many donations given to Miss
Sadie A. Black for the fair. may be men,
toned, very handsome easy chair from
W. II, Winslow, the furniture dealer on Fed
eral street, also handsome plush chair from
+. T. Tibbitts, Free street. an elegant piano
cover from Samuel Thurston, a china te a
set from Miss Sarah Connolly OF Boston and
a very handsome painted PLAGUE from Miss
Lizzie Callaghan of Boston. This is an ex-
ceptionably fine piece of work and is greatly
admired by all. The young lady is indeed an
artist.
Tomorrow night the boy choir of st. Dom
mics will sing the Star Spangled Banner an d
other songs, Saturday night the Montgom-
cry Guards will give an exhibition drill an d
| next Monday the fraternity Primary Cade is
will drill. There has been placed in the ha IL
a fine American sewing machine, the wood
work OF which is quartered oak, which will
be given to the season ticket holder having
the number.
Miss Flaherty has received for the school
table the following articles: Ton OF coal, R.
j. Hesan ;silver fruit dish. Jas. Mungovan;
French kid boots, Cyrus Lowell silver pickle
dish. Owen hurry; pearl ring, John Muir.
ply; silver butter dish, Jas. Mungovan; sus.
penders, G. Gay; table scarf and tidy, Lizzie
Sheehan, Augusta; painted handkerchief
case, Mary O'Brien; shaving set. w. Nolan
lamp, Burbank q Douglass; toilet set, Mrs.
M. Bradley; vases, Mrs. Steadworthy; fan,
Mrs. Linanan; side board cover, Mrs. j..
McGlinchy; overshoes, Pearson. IS Lamb;
silk umbrella, G. d. Cunningham g. Co. !;
glove case, Miss Wade; child's bonnet. Miss
Kelly, handkerchief case, Miss MCCARTHY.
fancy articles, Miss Finnegan.
The Hamilton Failure.