The southern argus., 1891-11-26

.omsrxr ahe Chaages Ts May Rrfng 60 -
Otherwise Coed R0aAe.

It IL only now aud then that some
accidental revelation exposes work OF
the criminally careless or Incompetent
plumber. Sometimes ID Is fatal diseases
in families which lead to critical ex-
animation of his work and In rare
cases the official inspectors Of buildings
detect it; but it is fact knewn gem
orally to physicians and to al who
have given the subject careful study
that one-half or more OF the fevers and
other malarial maladies which are 50
common in Phjladeiphia are the logic
al results of the criminal plumber.
In point of fact the sanitary plumb.
ing proclaimed and protested to be
practieed by the organized Master
Plumber is seldom enforced. The
keen competition in trade compels
active undertaking for work, and
that causes plumbing contracts to be
taken at such low prices that the con-
tractors must choose between doing
bad work where it is concealed, or
losing money on the contract. Few
are willing to do good work at less
than its actual cost. and plumbers are
eminently human in that regard. Most
of their work is hidden from ordinary
notice, and they largely make their
profits by dishonest practices.
The one part of residence that
should not be offered to competition
by contract is the plumbing. Only
the most experienced. skillful and
honest men should ever be employed
to do the plumbing in q home; and
then it is safest to watch 1t with care.
The ignorant or dishonest plumber
will sow the seeds of death in every
home if he is allowed to do the plumb
ing, no matter how well he il watched
or paid: and the only safe rule is to
employ thoroughly honest and compe-
tent men. to pay them fair prices for
their work and then require them to
guarantee it for five years subject to
semi-annual tests. This rule would
be likely to assure tirst-class plumbing
and it would drive the incompetent and
the criminal plumbers out Of the busi-
ness.
There is no excuse for ignorance of
poisonous gases in a home. The in
tegrity of the pipes can be as easily
and as certainly tested as the leaks ia
a roef when it raius. By closing the
pipes and applying sulphur 1apor
under pressure. it will not only And
every imperfection In the plum bing
but it will declare the exact point OF |
the defect alike by its visible color and
by its eder. If It enters the house
anywhere. it at once exposes the
negligent, incompetent or criminal
plumbe This test, or some one
equally effective If there is such,
should be applied to each home at
least every spring and fall; and it
should be part of the plumbers cor
tract to repair for a term of years all
defects thus exposed at his own cost.
The plumber who deliberately puts
imperfect work in the hidden parts of |
house, and thus exposes a family to |
disease and death. is as much a
as any burglar or murderer.
de knows that the diffusion of poison
,ns gases destroys health and imperils
ife. and when he deliberately leaves
hidden vents in plum bing for sewer gas
o carry its deadly fumes into homes,
le is criminal and he should be
reated and punished as a criminal.
recent report of the official inspect
II of House Drainage, wherein he re-
'orts the plumbing in a house as
done in the most incompetent and
angerous manner" offers an oppor-
unity for the master plum bers to 6egin
y dismissing the criminal plum ber
nd demanding his prosecution for his
rime. The criminal plumber can be
riven out of business if the people act
nth common fidelity to themselves,
nd it is high time that the good work
hould be begun In earnest Phladel-
hid Times.