St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-17

gagged in mercantile business. He
served st. Paul as an alderman for
ABOUT six and MALT years at a salary
OF sl0O per year. equal to $685. per
month. Following this he was a men,
Der OF the board of public works of ST.
Paul, and served on said board nearly
hve years. The fact of his appointment
ON the board of public works would
seem to be strong indication of his fit
ness for the Office of inspector of build
ings. This board, as its name implies,
mas Jurisdiction and control of all
pubic works of the city, embracing ex-
caVatlon, foundation, tunneling, brick
and stone masonry, bridges, sewers,
heavy timber work, sidewalks and
street grading and general execution
and maintenance of all works inaugu-
rated by the city government. Certainly
The tlve years he served on this board
would entitle him to little more con-
slderation than that awarded him re-
Gently by Timothy Reardon in his
oalderdash talk in the chamber of COM
merce, where he is reported as saving
the only qualification Z. c. Starkey had
Tor inspector of buildings was the nail
ing or boxes together at the st. Paul
harvester works. This, no doubt, if
true as far as the mailing of boxes is
concerned, was only
Part OF His Education.
and should rebound to Starkey's credit,
rather than detract; but the facts are.
heardon'S statement is untrue. The
argus eye of Reardon overlooked the
further fact that he (Starkey) also was
a brakeman for about six months on the
Duluth railroad, which should of itself
conslgn him to utter oblivion, accord
Ing to the Reardon theory but a gener-
GUS public will not view it in that light,
put, on the contrary, will award credit
TO young man whose ambition was TO
Try and master the art and science of
general construction, by commencing at
the lower rung of the ladder of expert
ence, ascending from rung to rung,
like the late President Lincoln, who be-
gan life splitting rails), until he had
ntted himself for positions of honor
has already filled with h salts.
faction to the people and honor to him
self. From all we hear it IS question
able If Reardon himself can construct a
common square box properly; but
rather, he is attempting to measure
Starkey's corn with his bushel. So.
leaving Timothy Reardon to his natural
rawlings, this communication must close
for the present, concluding with an in
government of the city to take the rec
ord OF the late inspector of buildings
tJohnson) along with the present in
spector's (Starkey) record aud determine
as TO the competency of Johnson to
judge of Starkey's qualifications for the
Office of Inspector OF buiidings-at the
same time decide as to the competency
OF Starkey as against johnson. 1t is
certain that the common council is.
The Best Judge
IN the matter, and Well knew what they
were doing when they elected Starkey
as JOhnsOn'S successor. 1t may be
pertinent, however, before closing this
somewhat lengthy yet very important
subject, to define what is an architect,
particularly as Johnson claims to be
one, and from his standpoint adjudges
the reverse OF his successful opponent,
Starkey.
IAN architect is one skilled In archi-
lecture, designer and superintendlng
the construction of buildings"
Architecture is defined as the "art of
Inventing and drawing designs for
buildings, or the science which teaches
the method of constructing any editice
for use or ornament" We might stop
here and inquire where is the evidence of
JohnSon's ability as an architect, either
as to lnventing, drawing, designing
or any other attribute necessary to the
makeup of an architect? He certainly
could not get it simply by running a
level or transit on railroad work, for it
is well known that even on railroad
construction. when the science of arch
itecture is invoked, the plans and de-
signs for any ordinary structure are the
work OF an experienced and skilled per-
son whose special duty is to prepare
the same, and not by what is known in
railroad parldnce as an instrument man.
And as to experimenting the construc-
ton OF any building designed by a CON-
petent architect, we are disposed
to believe that Starkey is as
well up to those duties as John
son, and probably little more so. A
sanitary engineer is one skilled in sani-
tary science, which, as described by DR.,
Mapother, Is IAN application Of the laws
of physiology and general pathology to
the maintenance of the health and life
of communities by means OF those
agencies which are in common and con-
slant use" How much of
Sanitary Science
johnson knows his past history and ex-
perlence in this city may We'll attest.
Although an alderman of the city for
some time, never was he known to claim
being sanitary engineer, or ever knew
the first principles of sanitary engineer
Ing, but allowed sewers and drains to
be built in the city which were an out
rage and disgrace to the authorities,
and not until 1873 that the city attempt
ed TO have its sewerage system estab-
lished Oh scientific and permanent
basis, which was brought about by f.
R. DelanO, then president of the board
of public works, inviting the father of
Starkey to prepare proper system of
sewerage for the city, which he did, and
under which the city is conforming as
far as possible to this Starkey system in
all its sanitary works. Where was
johnson all this time? Serving the city
as an alderman, and that is all, while
Starkey was rocked in the cradle of SAN
itary science, following with years of
experience in the construction of such
agencies as were calculated to maintain
the lives and health of the community.
And yet with such record he (John-
SOM preSumeS to sit in Judgment on
Starkey, drags him into court to satisfy
his vaulting ambition; and again, after
eight years of holding the Office of in
spector of buildings, he would crowd
himself in again in the face of the com
mon council by very decisive vote de-
Gliding they do not longer want him.
NrDrnA