Montana labor news., 1950-11-23

In ~espon 70 the recen. COM
m%unicaiion presented To the CITY
Council at their meeting OF Nov.
18th. in which the Council was re-
quested TO change the present ordi-
nance which governs the installa-
ton of plumbing within the City
Of Butte and to eliminate the use OF
cast iron soil pipe and lead piping
in the Plumbing Code. The COM
munication said TO have been pre-
sentcd by the Butte Development
Association under the n ne oi lis
president, Mr.. +. !. 5 atg.. We
feel that is essential to ic?,
~ owners that they be informN
someone competent to explain the
situation as it will affect them.
The statement made my Mr.. Sui
livan regarding the change made
in the plumbing code some two
years ago is correct in most respects
is true (The code prepared by Mr..
Sullivan and discussed by his hand
picked committee.) After many
months a code practically the same
as the former code was presented TO
the City Council Tor consideration
OF adoption. In August, l94S, II was
adopted by the City Council as an
ordinance.
From that date to the appearance
of the recent communication to the
City Council, harmony and accord
was experienced on the installation
of plumbing i'll the City. Mr.. Aulll-
van seeming to be agreeable TO have
the use OF cast iron and lead piping
on all projects OF the kenwood
Realty Co., which Mr.. Sullivan is
sponsor Of. Had he not been in
favor OF this type OF material, why
had he not let it be known before
this date. The reason is simple and
is well known by those directly IN
volvcd in the matter. COST OF IN
stallation and future cost OF nam
tenance were very essential IN his
decision.
In the event OF the City Council
compliance with Mr.. Sullivan's re-
cent request to eliminate such ma
t~crials in the installation OF plumb
ing let's see how it would affect the
public (and you know Mr.. Sullivan
has appointed himself to represent
o in all matters where he Is III
volved.) 1t is our knowledge that
any material practically used can
not be Disseminated against by any
code which governs the use by tn,
general public. Ii is your choice
which type OF material YOU wish 'C
use il it is practical and does mo-
create a hazard to the public health
Let us consider the cost OF thu
installation of the material MIR. Sui.
livan proposes to use exclusively
The system known as Durham II
lieu OF the cast iron soil pipe an,
lead. This d y stem oi galvanized
pipe and cast iron galvanized scrcv
type fittings. The cost OF such III
stallation on any large building 0
large home project will closely com
pete but not SO on the individual
cottage or small home. 1t would b
necessary Tor the installer to hav
tools capable Of threading and cut
ting the pipe and also wrcnchcs 0
tongs to handle the sizes OF pip,
and these are not a common toe
even in some OF the small plumbin
shops. Cost OF such tools and mean
of transporting them to a job woul
be borne by the person having sue
work done and this would includ
repair work as well as the new II
stallation in the event that cast ire
or lead piping would not be pei
missablc by the City code. about W
per cent Of the homes in Butte al
now installed with soil pipe al
lead, so it will probably incluC
YOUR hime. We assume that mo
home owners do their own repai
on plumbing and il so one won
have to have the larger sizes OF phi
threaded and cut by someone WI
has the proper equipment to do II
work and that is costly. Anyone wi
has done work in his WI hor
knows that the installation of ca
iron soil pipe is simple and it m
be cut at the desired length with
chisel or hacksaW and joints casl
placed with oakum and lead /
cost Of the necessary tools bel
small. Now let us survey the C
of the material which would
necessary to comply with the {
Code in the event OF the desir
change is recommended by Mr.. )
livan. The average cottage or no
has approximately 50 feet OF 81
pipe and not less than a dozen Il
inch fittings. The cost Of tn
screw type fittings is about y
per fitting, wholesale, in comparii
with 500 per fitting, wholesale,
the average soil pipe fitting. NJ
supply houses in Butte do not ST
this type Of screw fitting. But
Sullivan has an out, as he is
owner Of the Northwest States 5
ply Co.
Another important matter to
given consideration is the mate
which allows for the shifting
ground and buildings in this a
The Montana Power Co, has 70
=: .J..r.tI. ., Lo-a 49, oxnopl