The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-04-12

of P1umbtng-Dulutl IL Far he
hind the Times.
The proposed ordinance for the
licensing of plumbers and the inspec-
ton Of plumbing has been subject to
some severe and unwarranted criticism
from the lips of those who usually are
more cautious. In. criticising the Or
dinance they forget that there is an
opportunity to amend Objectionable
features. That is if they believe there
is any necessity for the inspection of
plumbing.
So far as putting the inspector Of
plumbing under the building inspector
it is out of the question, as the City
Charter provides that he be under the
authority of the health department.
The matter Of fees was kept down by
the trainers of the ordinance for the
purpose of giving the matter encour-
agement.
If it is thought that the charges are
insufficient to make the office self
sustaining there will be no objection to
raising them to a higher figure.
A CERTAIN master plumber gave an in
terview in the Herald week or so ago
severely condemning the ordinance. A
certain plumber sent the interview to
J. S. Kelly, Chief Inspector of Plumb
ing in Chicago, for his opinion, and the
following is his reply:
Dear Sir:-Your favor and newspa-
per clipping, relative to plumbing IN
your city, received. In reply will say
that an analysis of the newspaper
article, leads me to doubt the possibil-
ity of a mechanic stating such absurd
tiles, assuming that he is a plumber,
and correctly quoted permit me to say
''F'irst-The article In question says
that the city Of Duluth does not re-
quire plumbing inspector, and further
states that plumbing in your city is as
good, if not superior, to work done in
any other city in the United States. BY
those remarks we, after an experience
of thirty years, are inclined to think
the plumbing Of Duluth is below par.
There is no city in the United States
in the class of Duluth which has not
an ordinance governing the cOnstruc-
tion of plumbing and drainage. His
contention, relative to the Durham sys-
tenn is wrong. for the reason that they
do not use any such cast iron pipes.
The fittings of course are cast but all
pipe is wrought. They use vents and
revents on all the contracts which the
gentleman condemns. l will also say
that the Durham system has been con-
dennned* g nd aaremoHed from a 81 ,na1nRsE,
Of build dingS i1 THIS city ~ pfincfpai ON
account Of rust which rendered the sys-
tenn useless. One of the most prom
inent buildings is the Pullman build
ing corner of Adams street and Michi-
gan avenue.
"second-He also asserts that there
is no city which bars out AntiSyphon
traps. Let me say that I know of no
city which permits the use of so-called
Anti-Syphin traps, unless same is pro-
vided with vent or revent pipe. This
department, after years of investiga-
tion, has failed to discover a trap
which will not siphon.
"Third-He also states that the use
of extra heavy soil or waste pipe is
a useless expense. This appears rather
egotistical, as all sanitary experts, both
plumbers and engineers, of all coun-
tries and cities-condemn the use Of
light pipe, though they may differ on
traps and other details. From our own
experience we know it is impossible to
caulk the joints Of standard pipe to
stand a pressure of 20 pounds without
breaking the hubs, not speaking Of the
numerous sandholes and other defects
which tar and other mixtures are used
to cover up, and in a year or so will
disappear and expose the original de-
feet and permit sewer gas to escape
into the house.
"FOurth-He also states that the
venting of traps is scheme to pro-
vide more work for the journeyman
Kindly inform him that the venting OF
trap was first used by Bowden and
Whiteford over 40 years ago. Those
gentlemen are two of the oldest master
plumbers in the United States and the
city Of Chicago was the first large city
to experiment and adopt this system of
plumbing, and the ordinance was
adopted and put in force in the year
1889 by Mr.. Andrew Young, who was
the second national president of the
National Master Plumbers of the
United States, assisted by the Master
Plumbers Association Of this CITY, The
system enforced in this city has been
adopted by scores Of cities in the
United States and Europe, Japan and
Australia, and at the present time
there are filed in this office communi-
cations from ambassadors and prom
inent people of other countries asking
for our rules and printed matter, which
are endorsed by the best known sani-
tarians of the world. The drawings,
rules and regulations of this city re-
ceived the gold medal at the Pan
American exposition at Buffalo, so we
think our opinion is entitled to some
respect.
"Fifth-Relative to his remarks on
class legislation, we say. every man to
his own business. Who, in your judg-
ment, is better qualified to do it in
telligently than one who has had no
practical experience. There is no state
in the Union that does not demand a
diploma Of ability from a physician.
How would the leading Master Plumber
quoted in the article care to submit
- IT. I~1.