The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-21

The professional builders OF Will
mington, by which term we mean the
men who having regularly served APP
premiership for and learned, building
trades, have proceeded to the constIuc.
ton of buildings by contract or on
sale or both, are men endowed with
character and ability. They possess
good, practical, common sense. When
prosperity attends their arduous Ia.
bors they do not become vain and
snubbish but are still able to treat
their poorer neighbors and employees
as kindly as heretofore.
These men have had severe strug.
gle in business life. This has arisen
mainly from the system OF competi.
ton bidding. This sets each man,
with all his experience, talent, capital
and resources, whatsoever, against
every other man. The better men they
are, and the ADLER men they are, the
worse it is for them. And there Is no
question but that, in the greatness OF
their ability. they measure up to any
other class of men.
The way it Is: "When man wants q
building erected, he gets plans. 1t
may be, for a common building, he
will use plans already made and there
tofore used. But II he has all import
original in view, he employs an archi-
teet and has plans drawn. Usually he
employs the architect to make work
ing drawings, estimates and to super
wise the construction-the builder
being bound by contract to execute
| the plan and specifications as drawn
and written and according TO the d.
rections and to the satisfaction OF the
architect.
The proprietor, who has much at
stake. looks after his architect and the
architect looks after the principal con.
tractor, and the principal contractor
looks after every subordinate contract
or. who is usually master carpenter
by trade, has to go down into bis own
pocket 'to satisfy and please all tho
requirements of the men over him
both written and verbal. and this not
withstanding the fact that, In order to
get the contract, he has "cut the
throat" of every one of his brother
contractors who bid for the job because
he got it by bidding lower than every
one of them. When proprietor gives
out contract he invites sealed pro-
posals from every man who pleases to
bid, and then gives out the contract to
the lowest bidder.
Now it holds to reason that the in
terests OF both the proprietor and tho
builders would be promoted by the
proprietor's inviting only the most
Responsible builders TO bid. There
are builders who will not do fraudu-
lent job. These men generally have
good Judgment and know how to fig
ure. They do not make contracts
that cause them to pocket n loss"
The honorable man, possessed OF the
wherewithal to pay for the building
he wants, is the better suited by this.
He wants good building and he Is
willing to pay for it.
We may have time and opportunity
before this series ends to produce one
article on. cheats and frauds in the
building trades. Ii we do all proprie-
tors who read it will DO saved great
loss by being intelligently warned
against such cheats and frauds and
honest builders and the public will be
greatly benefit.
heprospects ahead are for us to set
forth the building lien law and show
for sale. We have already run
series of some nine articles under the
head Of Notes ON Builders" and in
again recommend all persons interest
ed, including allfamilies whose dread
and butter comes" either directly or
indirectly from builders, trades or
materials, to take the DAILY REPUUII-
CAN by regular service. They should
also notice that 1t is the best paper in
which to advertise their For Sale"
aud TO Rent" notices and their
Wants" ...