Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-28
OUR BUILDERS MEET.
DISCUSS HIGHER METHODS OF CON-
TRACING AND sUB-CoNTRAcTING.
ARCHITECTS MAKE SPEECHES.
They Endorse the Movement to Pro-
feet All Parties to an Agreement
10 Erect House-Legal Aspect
Discussed at Length.


the Builders Exchange at the Chamber OF
Commerce yesterday afternoon. Matters
pertaining to the welfare OF the organi-
xation and the general interest of proper
ty-holders and contractors were dis
cussed at length. Mr.. John r. Williams.
president Of the Exchange. was In the
chair. and Mr.. c. Gray Bossieux. the
secretary. was at his desk. Fully one
hundred contractors. sub-contractors,
ana architects were In attendance. The
meeting lasted for only few minutes,
when II was adjourned into mass-meet-
Ing Of builders OF the city.
The object of this assembly was to dis
cuss methods of contracting, and to por-
tray the varied advantages of such an or
ganization. The chief reason for hold
ing the mass-meeting was TO enroll upon
the membership-boolS of the Exchange
the names of contractors and sub-con-
tractors who had not up to that time
become members OF the organization. In
this respect the meeting was eminently
successful.
Upon the motion Of Mr.. Binswanger,
Mr.. John r. Williams was made chair
man OF the mass-meeting. and Mr.. c.
Gray Bossieux was selected as secretary.
The first speaker was Captain NJ. j.
Dlmmock. one of the leading architects
OF the city who referred briefly to the
successful operation OF similar exchanges
in other big cities. He said that he
could not see why Richmond should not
be greatly benefited by the existence or
such an organization here. He felt con-
fdent that the best interests OF not only
the contractors but Of the citizens erect
ing houses. and even the sub-contractors.
wou.G be subserved. Captain Dimmock
referred 10 the Importance OF being more
careful In the relationship existing be-
ween contractors and sub-contractors,
p ointing out some of the evils of the
present contracting system.
Colonel w. r. Cutshaw. the City En-
gineer who followed Captain Dimmock,
said that it should be the province Of
the Exchange. among other things. 10
disseminate information as 10 the quality
and price of materials. and he incident
ally alluded to the new City Hall as a.
monument to the skill Of Richmond me-
chanics Colonel Cutshaw declared that
this building was not surpassed in the
character of the materials il contains
and in the execution of the workmanship
by any building in the country. He com>
meueel the work undertaken by the or
ganization, and in brief explained the
many advantages that the organization
could possess If properly conducted.
TO DISPLAY MATERIALS.
The next speaker was Mr.. Albert f.
Hunt who talked more upon the impor-
lance of having a place for the EX-
change to have material on display. he
thought that IL was a matter of some
consequence for the organization to
have builders supplies placed on display
so that a citizen wishing TO erect
house could know exactly what mate
rails We're going to be placed therein
before he signed the contract for its
construction. He was in hearty sympa-
thy with the general principles of the
association, and thought that much
good should come of II. He, too, spoke
OF the relationship between the general
and the sub-contractor. and urged the
importance of better methods for the
protection of the sub-contractor. He
thought that an association of this char
acter would do much to cure many
OF the jealousies existing between the
general and the sub-contractors
Mr. William c. West. the next speaker
BY invitation. spoke for a few minutes.
The burden OF his remarks was 10 build
up a better feeling among the members
OF the Exchange. and to have the body
of builders further instructed and edu-
Gated TO higher planes in their respective
lines, as far as possible, by means OF
lectures and addresses touching princi-
pies in building and the qualities OF ma
ferials. etc He referred 10 the forma-
Cf acta
ters' Association, which. in a few years.
d,sintegrated because of lack of interest
and enthusiasm, or fellowship, and said
that he believed that by cultivating
closer and more friendly fellowship,
and stimulating higher degree OF
workmanship this organization would be
a great success.
THE OTHER SPEAKERS.
The next speaker was Mr.. William c.
holland. who referred to the Philadel-
phia Builders Exchange, and the exhi-
BIT OF materials there. and TO the impor-
lance of not Harvesting the Richmond
organization with too many iron-clad
rules at the start. Mr.. Carl Ruehrmund
being called upon for some remarks
said that he knew that the Exchange
would be a success, and that he hailed II
with delight. He was heartily in sympa-
thy with the movement
Mr.. p. j. White was called upon anC
expressed his thanks TO the body HI
smoke Of the need Of such an organi
zation. as a mutual protection to boil
the general and sub-contractors, and 4
the person building. as well. He was fol
lowed by Mr. Harvey Wilson, who deal
with the legal aspect of the sub-con
tractor to the general contractor anC
owner. He pointed out the fact that {
furnisher Of material TO a sub-contrac
tor has no lien upon a piece of property
and urged the necessity of having thu
general contractor give orders upon TIT
owner to the sub-contractors as the worl
upon a building progresses.
A resolution was adopted thanking th'
speakers for their valued suggestions
The mass-meeting then adjourned. ant
the Exchange assembled in regular ses
sion. About twenty new members wer
enrolled. After great deal of discussion
they decided that the initiation fee o
the Exchange should be IS, and the an
nual dues the same amount.
There then followed a lengthy debate
participated In by several members. a
10 the matter of a forfeit for failure t
comply with the bylaws of the organiza
tion. 1t was finally decided to let thi
question remain In statu quo.
The body then informally discussed tn
expediency Of the rule previously adopted
by which a sub-contractor should Civ
notice TO an owner upon the closing O
a contract of the materials he Is TO fur
nish, and the sum that his part OF tn
work would come 10. but no action wa
taken. The body then adjourned.