Chicago daily tribune. [volume], May 17, 1875, Image 1

About Chicago daily tribune. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1872-1963

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volume as.
SILKS.
SILKS.
pield , Leifer
& Co,
STATE & WASHINQTON-STS.,
At« lust la receipt of larjce addition* to
* their stock oi
black, plain color,
And FANCY SILKS I
BUCK CACOEMIREITALIENNE!
a nrv superior Article. manufACturod ex
* prosily lor their house.
PLAIN AND COLORED
Qros Grams & Taffetas!
sor5 or Presses and Trimmings, eomprisin* the
sweet end Most ffashlonable Shades,
1,000 pos. Fancy Silks!
buck and white stripe,
STEED AND BUCK STRIPE,
BIEEIi AND WHITE STRIPE,
STEED AND BLACK CHECKS,
BDACK AND WIUTE PDAIDS,
FANCY COLORED PLAIDS,
FANCY COLORED CHECKS,
FANCY COLORED STRIPES,
M Light and Dark Shades, and a Mleot as
sortment
FRENCH FOULARDS 1
HE UHES’ TEAPEEJ3 ASJ BIASES’ WEAL
'rices Low. Inspection Invited.
CHINA, <!to.
At Cost!
OBR EBTIRB RETAIL STOCK
COMPOSED or
Decorated and Plain China,
Dinner and Tea Seta,
Chamber Sets,
Yases, Glassware,
Silver-Plated Ware,
Table Cutlery, and
Fancy Goods.
PO*TTVK.r AT OOBT tJHTII. OTOSKD OUT. to
eluding Bbow-CuM oal Tablet.
BOWEN & KENT,
262 & 264Wabasli-av.,
Jnti iMud the comer from Tloai.keepen' ll#W.
WWBBU Wtt j(jSiHllUSllilUSl
FOR SALE.
SALE OF THE REVENUE STEAIJER CHASE.
Will ba wkl at pubHo auction ta tb* bUbwl a-nd b**t
blddar (or ea*b, at U o'clock, noon, of WlJdaocdcf. the
U:h day of May, 1818, alOadenabur*, N. Y., tha Coital
fatatos Havana* Steamer Cdju« (alba wheat). Bald teasel
waa ball! at New York In IKtjls of »£on» MS too*
den(t). M.li length. IWfaatjWra, 88 teet: diamatar of
wheel*. 28 feet: material*, wblU oak, obatannt and cedar:
diagonal Iron bra oca, 8 loobaa by H Inch an Iba out aideof
Irtraes ton* of brace* aacuray rlrliad I* t*on band 4
loebe* by H Inch, . extending from item to
item, Staa U weU fiUad «ltb apara. aUudlng
and manioc rigging, a&lli, awning*. boat*,
cron ei, block* as a (aria, anchor*, abala*. ate.
hba baa a low praaanr* baam angina, 48-lnota ayuader, 0
loot .troka of phton. built by Jamaa Murphy At o. of
New York, with jot coadaoaar, main and donkey bulicrt,
itoam-pnmpc, and all tha saoesaary itcam-iraogß*. eloo*
and reoUter, ateam whiatl*, ate. liar bailer law toa Qua
fype. n faat 0 loebaa lour, and Blaot dlaaator of aball.
liar oauinnent*, eoaiUasc of aoobora. obalna, earn*
pasm, glaasoa, lanterns. learl.lu.ra, fumttura, ale., aa
par Inventory, will to sold aooarauly at tka upo time
acd oUee. The raaael will be apen for Inepectlon nnlll
the day of ■*!*, at the plan* designated above, Invon
torle* of the articles to be sold with Iba vessel. and ell
further desired Inlorvation, can be obtained on board, or
at the Cualom-Howo at that port, iba Gonwiuuaet
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETIWOS.
Chicago A Northwestern Eailwsj Company,
Tba annual masting of the stockholder! and bondbold*
era of Uia Chicago Afiortbwastcra Railway Company for
tha alectloa of Dlraoiora, pursuant to law, and for tb*
traaaaoUun of snob other boiiuaaa aa may coma before
said raooUng.wlll ba bold at the offioe of Uia Company, In
tbo Cityoi Chicago, on Tonraday. tba 3d day of June
nail, at 1 a’eluck p. m. Bondboldara wUI auibenUest*
t.,Utr.Uoa, «o.Gta. VIT Kfcs.¥.''pSi4«t
M. L. BYKRH. Jn., Seorwtary.
Hce Chicago, Hod Island & Facile R. R. Co.
Aron. ST. 1876.
Tb* Annual Meeting of tha Stockholder* of tboOblea
gs. Itook Island A PaclAa Railroad Company for tbi
election of Ulreetora, pureuaat to taw, and tb* (ranaao-
Uon ot auoh other bnalnaa* aa may ooms betors thorn,
•Ul bo bald at the offia* of the Company In tb* City »
Chicago, an Wednesday, Uw 3d day of June next, at 11
eVlock a. m. JOHN V. TiIAOY,
p. h. Towa, Seerelarr. President.,
LEGAL*
REFUNDING OF WES.
Ornci or tub 1
Comm Tbcabuexb and Coluwtoi, I
Cook Coumtt. Illinois. f
CaiOiOO, May |. 1078. I
h aooorfaDoawUhaaaotproriduig (or tba rafnodlnjr
t( T-W ol Ilia bUt* us ol 1178. «beo raid. Bae. •el said
got contains among eibar profUloa* th* (ollovlagi
“Any do no a or corporation baring paid as? portion of
lb* UAMMaaedflor tb* year la?l litiMNolb-ll
tburaof, noon praaantlng bis or li« Ui-raoalpt (or 1878 eor*
arlog Um aam* to iba County Treatnrar ol tba ooooty
when auebux war paid, tb* County Treaanrerol luob
county aball nlond to aueb p*noa or jaorporatlon tba
amount by bin «r It paid la aicaaa of W-M of tbo Stale
Us ol 1978 ooDlalntd In ancb receipt, ludoraLng tho
amount paid on auoh receipt, and aball also taka from
mebiai-payaraaoparaU raoalpl (or tba amount paid, ll
8*0.°4 proridaa (orb pnbll* nolloa la on* oawipapar
printed In tba county for on* tnbotb. and la aeacrdanea
vitta tba aama. nolle* tebaiaby glieutbat paraona anUllad
to rabato under tba law oaa uara byapplylag at
HI. .DU. .« ud >M>lbl OnUK, O ,;?".' Mlu.Kll,
County Treasurer of Cook County. 111.
FINANCIAL.
KAN, SHAN & CO.;
BAIsTISEIiiS,
NOS. 0 As 11 NAHBAU.BT., NEW YORK,
luua OIUCUI.AU MOTES and LKTTJtHfI OP CIIP.IIIT
Li TItAVttI.KUS 1M MUUOI'K AND TUB KAKT,
atalltbu tu all lb* principal aitUa | alm[(or u»* la «{»*
CblUd SiaUa, MTatl laifira, *«*,_ TEI.ROJtAPIIIO
lUANtlkltttH lo LONUuK, PAUIS. CAUhOUMU,
liAVANA, MIIXH.O, CHINA, JAPAN. A*. ,
b«nkt. U.ukara ana olii.n t»c*lT»gi___
LAUNDRY.
asATXN'O-BB.’S
LAUNDRY.
..ppglOKS—l24 Doarbora-at. t ttt Michigan-*!. t 199
w*«t kladlwn »u
FOR KALE.
DESKS
W(\t pailji
ROOFinO MATERIAL.
liSTAIII.INIIHU 1,48.
BARRETT,
ARNOLD &
KIMBALL,
MJLHUFAOTDIIIIRfI OP
Roofing Material,
Felt for Building
Purposes,
Straw Board,
Water Proof, and
Plain Sheathing,
Parafine Varnish,
MOTH-PROOF
CARPET LINING.
OS'I’ICH,
No. 234 Monroe-st.,
OHIOAGO.
CLOAKS AND COSTUMES.
Clfltojstiis.
Field, Letter
<& Co.
' STATE & WASHINGTON-STS.,
Invite the attention of their customers to
another Invoice, Just received, of those
stylish Cashmere Jaokote, and Mantillas,
from $7.60 upward. Just the thing for tho
present season. Also, a large and attractive
stock of Blaok and Golorod Stuff Costumes,
$16.00 up. All nowand fashionable goods,
made tip thte season, specially for our retail
trade.
In addition to oar immense assortment of
HEADY-MADE GARMENTS, we have Just
received some very choice designs, riohly
embroidered TabUer and Cuirass in Blaok
Cashmere, Vigoyne, Grenadine, Ecru Lace,
White Pique, Batiste, &o„ Ac. Altogether
forming the most complete line of Ladies*
Garment* wo have ever offered—all at popu
lar prices. Early examlnation.nollqltedj^^
SHIRTS.
SHIRTS!
To order, from medium to finest
grades. Pull lines in stock of our
own manufacture. Wo aro prepared
to make Shirts to order in eight
hours, when necessary.
WILSON BROS.,
MEN’S FURNISHERS,
67 A 69 Waslungton-st., Chicago.
Pfte’a Opera Honwe. Fonrth»Bt.. Cincinnati
REAL ESTATE.
FOR SAJL.ii::
309,000 ACRES VALUABLE LABES IB EABBAB
By dlractioo af (ha Banerablo Secretary of the Interior,
tba un dart lined «rIU reealv# *salad bid* (or»bs pnrr.haio
of any or allot tha nnauld Unu* we*t of tha Neoebe Ulvar,
along Iba aoulbeni line of tba HUla of Kama* embraced
within wbat U generally known a* lbs ** Cbcrokoa
lands ar* offered foraalain ooinpll&nss with the
provisions of U act at Const*** approved May 11, 1872,
(U. B. HialuU* at Largo, vol. ivll, pt». M tud W. J
They will ba sold to us hlghoet blddor tor caab, 1* quan
tile* not exceeding ou* hundred and ality aoiai. aluul
loss than two dollars nor acre tor allot aald land* lying
saat ot tba Atkaoiaa Alvar, and on* dollar and ttity canl*
par aora (or suob taudsas Us west of laid river. _ . ,
Printed Uela, daacriblng the land* hereby offered ter
sat* by tb*lr proper legal subdivision*, and tndlreriag In*
minimum price at which eaob tract is bald, will bs lent
by maU tottasaddma at any person making application
therefor to the OommUsionar of tbo OonerallJind Otbca,
or to tba Register and Uaeelvorof tba local one** at
Wichita and Independence, Kauaaa.
Persons offering to purobaie may bid for a* many tracts
aa they may deaira, but each bid muat be lepatataly mad*
sad seated, and mutt ba for not mors than on* hundred
and elite acres (and oonform to the legal luldlvUlom
embraced In Iba Hat). ... . . .w
Uids muat b* aeconpaalad by tan per font ef the
amount bid aa a guarantee ot tba good faith of the bidder,
wblebsua, ineaaalbs land la awarded and tba balance
not paid, will b* forfaited. Kbould any Lid be rejected,
the aum dopoaltpd will be rammed to lb* proper party.
Parties wlioae bids are accepted will ha notified of anoh
ecoeplano# ae soon attar tba opoulng of (ba bide as priori
cable, and It wltbla forty days altar such nolle* ba* been
duly mailed payment in (nil ba net made to tb# Commie-
e oner of the General Land Office ot Ilia amount Ltd, lb*
nd upoa wblob such bid was mad* wUI ba again subject
per cent daporit required la aoeerapany bid*
may be remitted In H. el-Ofllc* unja a, oerllHealas of da
puill, oarttbrd check* a n e<»ns Gomrimiant depodlory
payable to tba order of ih* Cosmhaloncr at lb* General
Land Office, ar In currency. .
Tba right t* icjeet any and all bids la expressly !«•
must b*sealed and addressed (o tba " Com.
mlralonar of lb* Oaoeral I-aad Ollloe, Washington. D.
G„" and Indonod “Mid* forCbaroka* Strip Land*. 1 ' .
Old, will ba received aa abovalnvltad until I3o’ilock
noonof tiiaaacond day of Aognet. U7J, after wblob Iba/
will b* duly opened and acted upon. n , JRDKTT(
Oomtnlaalonar of tb* General Land Office,
WASWmOTOK, D. 0., April 18. Hie.
For Sale at a Baiai
73x104 on Wabash-ar.. between Madison
and Waahington-ita. Party Wall on eaoh
side. Price, *OOO per foot. This la tbe moA
cheapest flrat-olaaa Business Lot in the mar.
ket. v Inquire of J. lIENIVY i JACOB
WEIL, 140 Dearboro-at., lloom 3.
TO RENT.
OFFICES
’TO RENT
IN THE
TMBIEJEMG,
INQUIRE OF
WILLIAM C. DOW,
ROOM IO-
For Rent.
Btere aauibwaat terser el Clark aad Vfaihlagtaa-ata.,
(•marly eeenelad ky the Americas Hr (rasa Camgaay.
AMdy at Keea A ttaakAse* b«UdIM.
CUSTOM-HOUSE STOKE.
A Representative of The Trib
une Takes’ a Trip to
Cincinnati.
Opinions of Contractors and Build
ers as to Buena Vista
Stone.
When Good It Is Excellent,
When Poor It Is
Worthless.
A Visit to the Quarries—How
the Stone Is Obtained.
Blaellcr’i Rcal-Eslate Purchase from
Old Mulletl—Freezing 017
Other Didders.
Defective Stone Sent from Mneller'a
Yard to Chicago—Eofuso
Material Put in the
Custom-HouEO,
Tho Verdict,
In a matter of the serious import of the erec
tion of an Immense public Lidding, and the ex
penditure of several millions of money, the peo
ple feol an intense and vital interest; and novor
bos anything of the kind been so forcibly
brought to notice os la the cose of the part of a
Couri-IloußO, the beginning of aCnetom-Iloufo.
aud tbs fragment of a Post-Office occupying the
ground near tba Grand Pacific.
It waa the office of Tub Tbibtoe to first de
ecribe the faults of lbs one-stoiy wreck in ques
tion } It was the joint commission of nil the
morning papers to speak of nnttero Just as
they stood willim the lucloaure. The
recital is not a pleasant one for cit
izens; it comprises improper founda
tions, defective workmanship, enormous ami
DBolen expenditures of money; and, last and
most discouraging of all, the discovery Hint the
material used was totally and entirely unfit for
(be purpose for which it was designed. The did
eovery of this fact in the coco was the can-sheaf
of a stack if misfortunes, and when it became
known the average citizen was ready to put sev
eral kegs of powder under the fragmentary fail*
nro, and moko ready for a now structure without
delay.
The failure of the stone selected brought up
two questions at once: (1) Was the material
furnished by the contractor what it purported to
bo; or (2) la the composition of the stone radi
cally defective and inadequate for the purpose
designed?
Gen. Holman, the new Superintendent of the
structure, dosired to satisfy himself on tbesa
points, and accordingly set off for the quarries
where the stone is quarrying Thursday evening
lost, in‘Company with Supervising inspector
Oakahott, of the Treasury Department. It mbs
the object of these officials to visit the qunr/ico,
and see the slate of thimrs for themselves.
The writer, having a different and more wide
ly-extended plan to get at tho Imtu, proposed a
littlo trip of his onu to ascertain tho record of
the Buena Vista freestone in tinea past, and to
compare that record with its Chicago perform
ances. The above-named officers acted for the
Ticasury Department; the latter individual de
sired only to communicate the truth to the
publio. _
SUPERINTENDENT HANAFORD.
UIU OPINION or BUENA TIB FA ATONE.
Arrived at Cincinnati, the homo of the free*
fltoue aud tbs place of greatest experience iu its
permanency and beauty, tbo writer sought out
Mr. Superintendent Hansford, who is in charge
of the new Ooatom-HooBS now Imlltilug for the
Greasy City. Mr. Hanafoid’s long rod heard
tod habitual modsrawoa In reply proveutod any
very itroug expreuion of about the
itnditone. He said, however, (bat be bad uied
it for building; when good of (he Itiud li was
an excellent inaler.ol, but poor freestone waa
about as poor as anything could be; ho had
found great care necessary to prevent the con*
tractors end quatrymon from passing Inferior
■tone on the tmildora. He then graphically and
clearly explained
one rzAicns or tbd case
which is worthy of remark. To illustrate, the
Superintendent draw a figure like this:
d:: : z
•» For Instance,” said lie, “ tho contractor may
quarry a block 43 inches from A to B j now he
wanU blocks 20 inebet Ihlclt ami he will split tho
maaa down (be middle at tbe line 0 5 when he
ought honestly and in order to make a good Job
to tako ofT slabs D and E from each side. The
reason for this Is tbat tbe upper part of every
ledge Is more or lees perforated with olay-boloß,
and the lower part tinged with Iron, while the
centre is good sound eolld atone. Tho clay boles
in tbe split-stone make tbe neceasities for patch*
log, and tbe Iron tinges tbe sloso aud prefects
s uniform color. 1 '
Ur. H&naford very prudently appended aF.
8., to tbe effect tbat ba did not charge Mr.
Mueller with anything j bo only showed bow it
could be done. Unfortunately for tbe contractor
the coat Ate too well, and explains 100 well ibo
patched atone* and discolored wall* of Chicago’s
great building.
IN BKI'eUKMCB TO TUB yOUKIUTIONB
of the building. Mr. llan&foid mated that be
deemed it very bad Judgment to put fmatoue
ou the ground, or where it would bo subject to
damp: it was a perishable material when caponed
to wet continually. Thin explained the 01 folia*
lion of the foundation-walla in Chicago. Jn
answer to an inquiry, ho said, however, tbat ho
could not account for tbe peeling and cracking
in the freestone noticed m Chicago, whore it was
above the damp, and not in an exposed place.
Good, eound freoiitone woula not do ibat; but
au inferior article might. Tho people who have
•ecu tba Chicago Cuatom-ilouae dwimegration
can form their own idea* of the kind of atone
furnished by air. Uuolter.
TBE CINCINNATI COSTOK-BOUSB.
Standing upon (be platform overlooking the
foundations of Ur. Uauaford’a build.ug, the
writer extracted tome information about it
viach may be el inUxeit, Tbs foundations.
CHICAGO, MONDAY, MAY 17, 1875.
said Mr. Hansford, were pieced, on An Avenge,
about 3.1 feel below the surface, the excavation
being In sand. They were formed of a heavy
groundwork of concrete, with Qroemburg (lud.)
limestone for walls up to the surface. This lat
ter material he considered infinitely superior to
freestone, and would not use the latter below
the surface under any clrcumßlaoeen. The sit*
Imrstruclnre was to be of Maine granite, per
taps an handsome and durable a material a« any
ever need.
With a iandahle desire to find out how much
Chicaeo was bring cheated in ber Custom-House,
the inquiry was made as to what the contract 1
price fur limestone and for granite was. Mr.
ilanafoid replied that bn paid 31 cents per cubic
foot for limestone delivered, and 89 cents for
Maine granite. The prices are astounding be
side Chicago. For the patched, chocked, and
rotten material for the latter house the United
Htiitcs are faying from $1.30 to 91.47jl per
cubic foot, while wirer Cincinnati, disdaining no
unreliable a material, Is paying an average of
less than one-half the lowest of these price* for
something that will prove os enduring as the
eternal bills, and will be a monument to her
superior judgment when Mueller's half-baked
mud shall have returned to the elements. Dot
the iuhabitanla of Chicago then lift up thoir
bands and cry, "Why, O Good Brintow, dlclrit
thou not send us Hauafcrd or Holman instead of
Jim Bankin r"
After examining tho Cincinnati Custom-Hoove
—end Us Huporintoadeut—the writer accepted
tho offer of ilio latter to Inspect some editions
constructed of Rood freestone.
nr. XAVIER’S CHURCH,
which has been partly built for twelve years,
was examined drat, and found to be, m thoomn,
perfect, because constructed out of good free*
stone. The only doubtful portion w&s ibo foun
dation. which had boeb discolored by being too
near the ground. A largo number of other
buildings, lOßidcnces and business structures,
were al:»o examined, with generally tho same re
sult. In some cases, slight discolorations wore
soon, but nothing serious, and in oalr two cases
were scolv and scaled building* found. The pe
culiar twinkle of the eve with widen tho grave
and reticent Hansford said that “Good free
stone never ennobled much.’' was more of a
comment oq tho "Mueller refuse thau a vitupera
tire speech by some moo.
the most aeioxiannfo tact
ascertained in this connection was that tho
worst sealed building in the city was tho old
Custom-House, built of Buena Vista freestone.
Every reader will have made his own comment
before ho has read thus Jar. It la one of those
inexplicable tilings that “no feller can And out "
how Mnllelt and Itankln could have counselled
Buena Vista freoetooo for Chicago when tbo
very same material had proved, by its scaling
and chipping in a corresponding building In
Cincinnati, that it was unlit for use. MuJlelt
must have known of this if ho know anything
whatever about his business, and the fact that
bo made the recommendation, or order, that he
did win require a very clear explanation, if he
wishes to get a gold modal from Chicago for
what ho lias done for her. Only one oilier'
building has been noted as scaling badly among
Cincinnati business houses.
It is a lather curious commentary on tbs
striclueas and con coiners of Go/eminent pro
cedures that almost tho only lAd freestone
building in Cincinnati should be the Custom-
House, and almost tho only rotten uud defective
freoatouo that has been brought to Chicago
should bare found its wav into her Custom*
House. Tin pious reader is reminded of tbo
line—
Ton treat no other friend so 111,
MR. CR/SVESON,
AN OLD COKTUAOTOB.
One of the oldest dealers and contractors, and
cutlers of freestone tu the West is acknowledged
to bo Hr. lnoac Oraveson, who began dealing in
freestone (n ISCO. Ho is credited with knowing
as much about the article aa any oibor man in
tbo business, end it woe deemed well to extract
an opinion from bim. It mar bo said, iu pav
ing, that Mr. Oraveson has no quarry, and that ha
purchases good atone whore bo can got it best,'
and pula np buildings where he can mrdic money
out of them. He (a of necessity a patron of
Mueller’s, and wboro tho writer came to ask bim
any questions bearing upon the business of the
said Mueller, it was not on easy matter to got an
answer.
It appears from Ur. Oravoson’s account that
TUC QUAUIUKS
in tbs nelsbborhucd of thn Buena Vida wore
first opened in the year 1832 by a Scotchman
named Looker?, who worked one near tbo proa
•nt California lodge for a time. The Buena
Vista Company commenced operations In 1851,
and eold ouo quarry to Mueller in 1853, and that
gentleman has worked it since. The writer was
rather anxious to know whether any other quar
ries of freestone bad been worked near Mueller’s
lately, and succeeded in ascertaining that the W.
J. Flagg quarry, worked by the Cadoa Bios.,
bad been carried on near Mueller, aud that ho
had bought Inferior and cheaper etoue
of them. Gravsson would not say that
he absolutely knew that those softer
aud comparatively worthless stone bad
gone iuto tbe Cußtom-lloueo, but thought U
they bod it was into some Inside wall. Ho bad
no doubt that the Flagg quarry was inferior to
tbo Buena Vi-•*, and that it was unfit (or many
purposes, specially for outside walls. It was
also oi Tsrious colors, and, In short, as be de
scribed it, bore a striking rssemblnoco to (ho ze
bra-colored walls of lbs Chicago Custom-Homo.
Mr. Gravoaon united with Mr. Hansford in
saving that good freestone was an excellent
building material, but that when poor it was of
no good. 11a manogod, he Raid, with a grin, to
proours good hlodo by picking (bam himself at
thoqiiarrv. It mav ne said, to Mr. Gravcaou’s
credit, tbit he made an excellent and satisfactory
fiuPßlo io Job of the Chicago Clumber of Com
moioo building; but, as ho remarked, bo picked
every stone at tbo qunnv, and knew what be
was getting. When abked about tbo matter of
fn.mtvn stone,
alluded to above, Mr. Gmoaou's reply savored
strongly of wurtdlv wisdom. What he blamed
Mueller for was not the splitting, of stone nor
the patching, but the putting tho patdiod side
out where it could to soon. lie described tho
stono very much as did Air. Hansford, as having
a face fun of clay flpots. and another full of iron
discolorations, while the centre, say, 18 inches,
was sound and good. Had Mr. Mueller, eaid ho,
after he split bis stone put tho side which came
from the middle of the block downward over?
time, ho would bare had no trouble, but bo wsa
fool enough to put the patched side in sight.
For himself, Mr. Graveson said be could not
afford to use split stone: his reputation was
woith too much to him. lie thou showed the
wntfr over his yaid, and exemplified hla method
of dressing by taking off tbe uneouud educe and
leaving a clean, clear, aud evenly-colored block
jo the centre.
As to tho shelling and peeling, observed In the
stone in Chicago, MivGravooou had no explana
tion to make, further than that be never know
first-class stone to act in that way, but he
thought tho outside pieces would if exposed to
tbo weather.
thr coOTfucron iu© a theory
aa to the exposure of the stone to the weather
which is worthy of note. It would always bs
found, be said, that freestone having a not merit
espoeute suffered most, east ft outs next, west
next, and that south fronts suffered very little.
Tnls theory is partially bonis out in the Chicago
Custom-House, except that there the east trout
is wont off and the north front next.
TUB OOXTRiOTUU'S PROFITS,
In order to Had out how much the contractor
was making on the Chicago atone, (he
writer asked Ur, Graveaon what freight
ho paid from Cincinnati to Chicago,
and the answer was 29 cants per foot.
At the same (into Graveson ssid bo paid Mueller
fiom 40 cents to CU cents per foot for what atone
bo wanted delivered in Cincinnati. Adding (he
freight to tho highest price at which Mueller
sells Ida stone elsewhere, and it seems that what
ho furnishes Chicago costs him from 79 cents to
SO cents laid down at the atoau-yard. It has oeeu
already elated that he gets eu avoiageof $1.37k
for the stone ae soon as inspected. Lot the
reader subtract the coat from the price received,
sod multiply the dlffesenco by the hundreds of
thousands which number tbe loet to bo contained
in the new Custom-House, and he will l>o pre
pared to say that Muollor has rather a neat thing
on the Government, aud can afford to buy all (ho
real estate tnat any Bupervisiug Architect's fath
er may have to eell.
Ur. Gravoeon wae anxious that ths peopls sf
Chicago, or Ibe.r pro tern, agent, should be
assured (bet all the sandstone was not bad. and
accordingly showed the writer over * great pari
of the city with the earn# mull m whoa with
Mr. Hansford,— those houses built ef good
freestone lasted well, and those that had A poor
article in them cracked and peeled.
AT THE QUARRIES,
rue pnr.uiar.fl.
In order to attain to a complete knowledge r,f
the kinds of etooo used, the location of (be
quarries, the method of quarrying, and other
particulars having reference to tha subject,
Gen. Holman aud Inspector Oaksbat proceeded
to Buena Vista with toe writer. Toe description
of the place where the clone la pro
cured la not remarkable. The settlement—
Buena Vista—from which the atone aud quarry
take their name, is 101 mUee from Cincinnati,
up the Ohio lliver, and some 20 miles below
Portsmouth, on the north bank. It is accesiible
only by boats and private conveyances. No rail
road runs nearer than Portsmouth, and all
passage to and from the town is made by water.
The river boats from Clucmnati make the trip in
about ten or twelve hours.
The town is a email, straggly, ditty-looking
eottiement of perhaps 600 people, the population
made up of workers in Mueller’s and Cadeu’a
quarries and their families. One rather ordinary
hotel la the only reating-placo that the traveler
can see. Two amull streams, called together
Twin Creek, empty Into the Ohio ou the ewt
and west of the town.
IN AJUUTIMO AT BUENA VISTA
one must c’.tnb on the bank to a level platform,
perhaps Odd feet wide, which seems httis above
the bottom-lands In tho West. Hero, facing to
the north, one sees a high bluff in front, and is
glad to notice that it can be gotten up by meant
of bo "incline," so called, or, in other words, a
steep railway, worked by a stationary engine
with cables. Tho distance up this bluff b> about
253 fc'jt
At tbo top one neon tbo evidences of Utieller'e
enterprise in a steam railway, which ho lion
built to bis quarry, eomo a miles off, and which
is well eqnlpyed with cars and two locomotive*.
One of these is used iu transporting the stooo
Jr jm the quarry to tho river, and tho other
in engaged m hauling away tho dirt
whioh La produced hy ••stripping." Too ride to
tbo quarry is uneventful enough, and is over a
rolling country with plenty of ravinon. The di
rection fiora tho river in north, with a slight
leaning to the west.
ARBIVUD AT THE QOARIIT,
one sees, when a full force U engaged, a busy
sight. Thewotkuen are mslolv all ,a view at
once, and the toiling engines, huge der.urss, and
swarms of men make up an interest) g specta
cle. To understand tho process of quarrying, a
word of explanation is necessary. The free
stone which forma Mueller's quarry is a mere
chip off au immense slab which underlies tho
whole country about. This ledgo of itone rune
pretty nearly at right angles with a plumb-line,
and Joes not slant up or down for bills
or hillocks. Insomuch, therefore, as tho
country ia rolling, the ledge may
bo found in different places covered
w.tb from one to a hundred feet of soli,
according to its position as regards the hills.
Tho quarrymou who become possessed of tho
land begin wherever they can tied tbo lodge,
and follow it ualll it gets under so muc i soil
that it does not pay to taka off the cot iring.
The ledge is uniformly 41 or 42 inches thick and
of Indollnito width, iu some cases un.lot.ying
great tracts of country. Tne lodgo wiuih Ur.
Mueller is following bos made us way pretty
well under a slope, and in some places ho baa
had to remove ar much as 40, or oven 60, feet of
dirt before laying hare the stone. Tula process
of removing the dirt is calloJ stripping.
After the stono is oxpo»oJ to tho cutter,
tuk wor.K or QCAr.nrixo
is very eaav and simple. Tho process is to p!ok,
or cut down, about fi inches on a line bounding
such a block as in wanted, aud then it is an easy
and simple matter to split clear through tbo
layer with wedges. Tho blocks era then hoisted
out with bugs derricks amt placed on can, then
drawn to too top of tbo blulf and let down the
inclined plane to tbo bank of the river, wheru
they are again handled by another set of great
dorncko and put on board Mr. Mueller’s boats
for transportation to Cincinnati. He has twelve
of the boats, and about nine of thorn at a time
are towed hy a steamer down to tbo contractor's
yard, ucar luc gas wurua.
A CAUEVUU IXSrRCTXON
was made of tho lodge aud of the quarried stone
at the Mueller quarry. and the result was Just
what was to have been expected. Tbo quairy
produces aomo good aud some bad etoue. Tbo
nortiou of the taytr now being used is excellent
In tbe middle, aull bad on the upper aud lower
sides. As seen in the rough, tbo clay holes are
prom none, and run down iu variable distances,
from an inch to 7 or 8. Id those cases where a
fracture bad occurred bisecting one of these clay
holes, the progress could be plainly traced a
distance of 0 or 7 inch**. Ou the lower ed;e
the iron streak was plain. It extended in dif
ferent blocks from one to half a dozen
inches To put the matter in a word,
it mar bo said that the Buena Vista
stone Is good when properly selected and
dressed, aud bad when carelessly selected
or taken at random. Of course it is mnch worse
whore a deliberate attempt is made to use as
much of (he contents of blocks as can bo, with
out any refmeooe to a desire for the permanency
Of the’bmlding into which they are to he put.
oritE’*. woansrcs.
Near tbe Ba.iua Viiu or California quarry
worked by Mr. Mno'-ler are several others yield
ing the f "tru. general kind of stone, varying only
In thn qualities of color and texture. Ea.it of
Mueller, and about 3 or 4 m-.lcs from the village
of Buuua Vista, are lUj John C. Flagg quarries,
worked by the Oa.lou Brothers at oue time. An
other branch of the stmo general nu*rry with
thn lant is the portion controlled by Mr. Solomon
McCall, 4 miles east of Buena Yiita, and which
was leased to Mueller about etgntoen mou'.lis
ago. Tbo facts lu connection with this latter
lease are that Mueller secured from McCall the
privilege of taking out a certain quantity of stone
from bis (McCall’s) opening. He wont on and
took out eomo 10,00(1 feet of the stoue, nod thou
abandoned tne work : but whether tbo atone
was poorer than be needed, or because it was
more expensive taking them out. does not clear
ly appear. A gentleman of unimpeachable vo
racity told the writer that McCall had rather
boasted himself on the quality of bis etone be
cause a considerable quantity bad been used in
the Chicago Custom-llonao foundations, but tho
attempt to find Mr. McCall won unfortunately
vain. If 1: shall be proved that the etoue from
McCall's quarry wets used it will have an im
portant bearing ou tho case, inasmuch as tbo
latter are not of as good quality sa tbe best from
Mueller’s quarrv, diitermg therefrom in color
am! texture, and haying more iron,—iu fact, so
much of that motai as to be comparatively worth
less fur building.
In this connection it may be well to say that it
has become
AN UNITCKSAU.T BECOfINIZED Tit DTK
that tbe quality of tun freestone imnrovos to (bo
ledge goes into the hill, ho that the hardeet aud
boa; stone are those taken from under a cou-
sidorable depth of dirt, while the eofler aud
pournr stones aro those found near Um surface.
The iam« law holds rogavdinc color—the daouer
therein goes the darker ttie stone, and tbe
nearer the aurfoco the yelloworor lighter-oolorod
It ie. It is Just to say of the atone in some of
the foundations in the Oimtom-llouse that it Is
yellower than any atone seen in Mueller's quarry,
and is about the same color as the McCall atone
as far as om bo Judged by tbe eye. The McCall
lodge may also bo noted u being Just about tbe
tniokneas of the foundations under tbe Custom-
Mouse.
A little way from Duena Vista, on the oppoilte
or Kentucky shore of the river, Ilea Uis little
( town of Vancoburg, and near it ara
’ TUUXU UOHK QIUUBIES
of the same gouoral character of stone aa Muell
er's. though modified in color aud thickness.
Tbe three qnatnoe named are the Goodhue, thu
Finnegan, aud the Cohen A Jacobs. Of these,
the Goodhue lies furthest east, and produces a
material resembling ihe Mueller. The X'lnnortn,
owned by M. Finnegan A Son, lies further south
west. It produces a very handsome stone, not
so dark aa tho Mueller, bat apparently equal to
it in quality. _ ,
Ii seems clear that Ur. Mealier has never
bought aay atone from either Goodhue or the
Finnegans, st least since he took hie Custom-
House contract. It la not so clear about tbe
Cohen A Jacoba quarry, aud it appears to be
well established that he has obtained stone from
them ] also, from the Cadaua. These transac
lious will bo mentioned further on.
OTHER INTERVIEWS.
ms. nMstoiM.
The oldest builder and contractor In Olncln
naU was said to bs Mr. M. Flanigan, of ibs Arm
of U. Fhmigan A Hon. On calling npon him,
after returning Is Cincinnati from ths quarry,
bs was found to bs momentarily at leisure, and
an opinion on various matters ttm Bought. Mr.
Flanigan said, in answer to a question, that be
believed the freoatooo to be one ef the ver.y
best of building materials when properly out
and understanding!/ put la place, lie had never
known it to ecaio or crack nodor these clrcura
alancee. lie had used a groat deal of Mueller’s
stone, aud oonsidured a good deal of it to bo ex
cellent material end some of it bad. Uo bad
never had any trouble with it when properly se
lected. As for foundations, he considered it
folly to uso it: be preferred Grcensburg, Day
ton, or Fiat Boctt limestone for that purpose,
because it had been proved that freestone could
not stand the damp.
In reference to the trouble about the freestone
Id tha Chicago building, Mr. I’innigan said ho
had
A riELINO or ITTT FOB KB, MCEU.M.
The contractor bad spent immense sums of
money in lilting up hi* yard and quarry for haul
ier* Urge etone, and if ho should come to trouble
it would hurt him badly. When asked if he had
known of Mr. Mueller's baying inferior etono
of other parties of lato, Mr. Fmmgan rather de
clined to answer, but in the end said ho had re
membrance of haring far his own uie about
half a boatload of etono quarrlo i by Cohen A
Jacobs, ticking oyt the good block* as ho saw
them, lie had understood that the re
mainder bad been bought by Air. Mueller.
Mr. Finnigan said, moteovor, that he could
not imagine any reason for the scaling or crush
lug of good freestone. Xu fact, bo believed it
impossible, and, when asked to explain the stale
of things known to exist in tbo Chicago Cus
tom-House, ho acknowledged that the only the
ory was that bad stone must bare been used. Xu
reference to the capacity of freestone to resist a
crushing weight, Mr. l-'iutiigan pointed to tbo
great steeple of St. Xavioi’a Church now build
ing out of siono from their qusiry, and des
tined to resist a much larger weight to the
B.iua-o foot than any of tho outside foundations
of Chicago’s Custom-House.
Taking a bine from Mr. Flanigan’s remark
about the sums said to have been sold to Muel
ler by Cohen A Jacobs, the writer put himself m
communication with
likely to know the truth, ami learned from them
that it wm not to bo doubted that Mueller has
bought several lots of culled atone from the
Codons and from Cohoa «t Jacobs. Whether
thesa stone came to Chicago or not caimot bo
certainly dsiermineil, but the description of them
laities pretty well with some of the work to bo
seen here tu the now United Stales building,
rurlhoimoro. it appears tbat Mr. Mueller has
had very little or no other trade for tiro years
since ho began in Chicago.
It occurred to the investigating committee of
on* that perhaps Mr. Mueller lud been enabled
to pass upau tho Government more or lens re
jected stone which had accumulated during his
years of quarrying botoro he got the present con
tract, and
raoit tuc workmen is iTrnf.r.rr.’s yard
it was learned that must of the mono i-luiued (0
Chicago had been that brought from up ibu river
on boats ; but that thev could remember sovotal
cases where ‘•sleepers'* from tho yard bad been
sent with them, llow many, no one aoemed to
know.
Another large quarryman of freestone and
dealer in cut atone, is
of the firm-name of Gaodbuo A Co. When
asked about his osporience in scaling freestone,
Mr. Goodhue advanced tho novel theory that he
bad known all Linds of mono to peel—oven gran
ite. h* said, had been known to scale off badly,
lie did not think that the freestone
had been noted for scaling, except In
one or two instances. ilo had wu
a great difference in stone from tbe same ledge
in different locations, and ho could ren.onber
an instance where his own quarry had turned
poor after having been worked for acme tine.
Tbe common supposition about tbo reeling was
that it was caused by sulphur in tbe stone; also,
that tbs stouo next to a scam in any place would
often pool badly: it was called dead stouo in
tbat case.
Knowing that Mr. Goodhue had a considerable
quarry ond facilities for handling stone, tbo
question was asked him
vrnr HE Pli» 50T DID
for tbo Custom-House oontract. lie replied that
be had made up bis mind to do so. ami had even
caused bis ipecimou blocks to bo prepared and
boied, and bis papers rnado out, w.ien
he received a letter from Mullett Liat
caused him to give up tbo idea of lid
ding. Tbe ‘.frier was anxious to see that letter,
if not perr.onal. Mr. Goodhue laughed softly
and said it bad bcou destroyed. In reply to a
further inquiry be, however, intimated that be
bad concluded from tbe touo of tbe epistle that
it would bate boen a waste of time to have bU,
Inasmuch as it was substantially settled that
Mueller was to have tbe contract anyway.
Desiring to see If ho couldn't put this and that
together somehow, tbo writer asked Mr. Good
hue If be had known of Mr. Mueller's
trafficking in heal estate
with any of the Mulletts about tbs time tbs
contract was given out. Ho replied that Mr.
Mueller had told him (Oooahuo) that he had
bought 50 acres of land m Glendale of the elder
Mullctt for tCO.OOO. It appeared on lo-
Teetlgation that Glcudala is a llttlo
town of about 1,603 inhabitants, situated
35 miles from the city ou tho Cin
cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Hoad. It boars
about the same relation to tbo city that Calumot
does to Chicago. Mr. Qaadlmo further ox*
pressed the opinion that tbo land bought by
Mueller at about tho time tbo contract was lot
would have been dear at 515.0 KJ or C-liO.OOJ. If
any reader caa put this and that together ho hau
full permission.
In the ooutso of a tour around Cincinnati the
writer was introduced U>
X OXUMAM OEXTLKSIAIt,
who, on being made acquainted with the fact
that bis now acquaintance was from Chicago, uo
sirod to know something about tho trouble that
Mr. Mueller was iu. After having bad tho mut
ter explained to him, ho said: “ Mueller tells
me that ho got along well enough with
Mullett, and he never found fault with anything,
but this now man, this X’otlcr, ho is too partum
•* perhaps you msan," said the third party,
"that he hasn’t got Potter down so line as ho
bad Mullett."
«• Well, you know," was the reply, " that what
ever ha did with Mullett was all right; Mullett
was bound to sustain him every time, ami ho
did, but somehow ho can’t make this now man
look at it exactly that way."
Aud the dialogue broke np.
MUELLER. .
A TlfllT TO 1118 BTOKE-TARD.
With a dosiro to know as much about the sub*
joot as might he, a visit was made to Mr. iluol
lot's yard, near the Qas-NYorks, la Ciucinnsli.
Here is. perhaps, the most elaborate yard in
America, certainly in the West. Huge traveling
derricks walk out over the boats as they ho at
the wharves, sad, picking up the blocks, carry
them off to tho tawing building, as ouo would
tuck a paper bundle under one's aria aud
walk away to dinner. Enormous quantities of
•tone wore piled up on every side, and m all
ebapea and weights, aud a large building w«s
filled with blocks of stone undergoing the
cutting process. Almost the first object that
struck the writer's oys was a great Nook under
going the cutting necomrv bring it down to
tbs proper dlmoueiomi. It was in tbo rough about
12 niches thick, and the flan of the cutting was
to get out two slabs, each nearly or qoito 20
Inches thick. To do this tbs frame was running
three sews through the block, one about an inch
or an inch aud a halt from the edge, tho next in
the centra of the block, the third very close to
the other edge. By this method the cutter was
getting two imperfect blocks where be should
have got one good one. As a matter of com as,
one of tbs blocks would have an iron edge, rusty
and disfigured, aud tbs oilier block would have a
olar edge, and the clay holes (or kuot bolt*)
would extend into the face of tho
block. Tho writer hailed an employe, aud asked
hnu where that block was going. “To tho Chi
cago Custom-House," was the answer.
Vi jjQt don't you know that you are not taking
enough off the edges?" pressed tho inquirer.
.. f kuow nothing i it Is the orders, 11 replied
the workman, , , _
Paising through tba yard, the elate off many
blocks could be seen slacked up hero and there,
and loaded on cars for shipment to Baltimore
aud other places, as tbs workman said. To show
bow tho trimming was done, it may bo said that
the slabs were lu many cases not 2 Inches
thick, and In others not d Inches. There was
hardly ons ease where the cutting had been deep
enough to get past the iron streak on one aide,
nr the day streak oa the other, showing that tho
ft.
.. w '-»
NUMBER 2GG.
block from which they com* most haratoßU
imperfect one.
Trtß CONTRACT.
Ifi reference to the contract which' was Ie ? '
Mr. Mueller there 1* one circumstance whl • . •
though it has been referred to in the i
•mine, needs to bo pat on & lino wife t.u r
a bore mentioned to make thorn and the r ■■ ,
elurjeo itself easy to be undo.*stood. V •••.
niCLxnt is this t When the bids for the sto i >
the trihicsßO Custom-House were invited, t •
vermttQicot eot forth that the dimouslons
etono w.ould be 50 foot, CO foot, 70 feet, 8t .
an 1 so on up to 200 cubic feet, which m.i .
Urceet ato.un intended to bo used. Hot
‘▼•'rape bidde-r, making bis. estimate in ilia .; ■
cou.’d only calculate for each siz< •
er»ltly, because ho did not know bow .
to-out and how tn.*qy ‘iW-foct blocks woe
nstt • for the advertisement said nothing i
nurmcr of each, even api«i«iinateljr. Sup
the.i, hat the average bidder put his figmt
the nm.Uost size at 85 cents per foot, and ,
Eraded Song tip till he reached the
iocke. Viioso, aa every contractor knows,
very trouUeeorno and expensive thing i t
hr.odlo. If *o bids on them at the same rats
which ho noon furnish one or two, ho vor/lik •-
It may act his figures as high as 68 or even i' i
per foot. When the award comas to bo mado
tlu governing power ptocceils to
AVEiIAUKTIIS litUß.
and brings the common bidder in a position of
offoring to furnish the stone at an aver
age price of perhaps 45 p ß r foot,
(suppose, for a moment, that one bid
der knows pretty near how many Ptono of
each size will be used. He proceed* to bid
por.'oot forallH'oneßuplolOOfbot; 41.15 up to ISO
feet, and HAltf up to 203 feet. Averaging in*
bids makes it appear that he will furnish tlis
atone at 41.07K per foot, and hi.* bid is accent
ed, But if tbo schedule is fitted to the bids. U
will be seen that the avcraco prico of every
stone per fool, if calculated according to the com
mon I iddor'ti prieta, would have been less than
41.01; whereas the man who knew (or bid just
as if hx know) gels 41.30 for his smallest size,}.
Why the numbers of each size were not givou
nut wnh tho bids must probably remain a secret.
Xt is perhaps too much to say that Mullett nad a
culliimca with Mueller, bat It is strange how
nicch bach an explanation of tho matter makes
everything lit together—how it harmonizes tho
peculiarities of Mueller's bid with the sale of
the farming land at morn than 41,000 per aero,
and bow it explains Mullott’s bint to Goodhue
not to bid, t 'gather with other little things too
numerous to mention here.
THE CONCLUSIONS.
TUI*. QUESTION AHODT THE BTOITB
In tbe Cuotcm-Housa may reaolro itself into two
parts:
First— ls the Buena Vista freestone lit to bo
used in the building ? ami
&comi—Did Mueller furnish each stone as be
proposed to, or an Infe.icr article ?
To the first question it mav unboaltatlogly bo
auswored, •' Yes 5 j rovided it is first-class of tho
kind." Tho testimony of llunaford, of Gravo
bod, Goodhue, tbe Finaigaus, and others, goes
far to prove tbat, insomuch an they bare dealt in
the article for years. But their testimony la of
less linportauca than the numberless buildings
contracted out cf tbo material which
havo lasted well, bay* stood exposure,
at.d are to-day in good preser
vation except where tho stone has been subjected
to moisture. The one or two exceptions noted
to this ozi crioncs do nothing more than con
firm it. It mar ratoly bo stated as tho verdlot
of tho committee then, that good freestone
would have bo«n a proper material for tho
building.
IN ANStVEIUI'O TUB SECOND QUESTION,
tbo burden of proof goes to show that ths con
tractor has entirely 1 tiled to iio what he pro-
Ksed to do5 has not furnished good stone, but
s, on tbo contiary, put into the bonding ma
terial which should at ver Lave been used.
It Is clear tbat be htsout ths stone in an an
workmanlike manner, and has sent past tho
inspector clavey and iron-rusted siouo, which
bis contract forbade.
It is at leant a fair supposition th»t bs ban
need refuse from lus own yard—atone left
overfrom other Jobs, whew be did sot daro to
use them. *
It cau bo prorod that be has bought stool
from otbor qnarrios to use iu tbe Custom-lions*
building, csutiory to hie contract.—and, moro
oyer, that bn boa bought refuse stono that has
been culled over by other contractors.
It Is a matter of no sort of doubt that bebai
need stone so full of clay boles as to reqnin
dozens of patches in one stone, contrary to coo
tract.
It is not so easy a matter to prove that Muelloi
bad a UinhonoHt understanding with Mullett
Each person who roads the facte may make ui
lus own maid about that.
lies In anntehell. Qravesoo, ao old contractor
says, " If you use about tbn e-fourtbs of all th<
stouo you quarry, you mil bare a pood building j
If yon use it all, your building will be good foi
nothing," Now, Mueller hasuot only used about
all he bos quarried, but has bought refuse stone
to use hero.
The question, how all this cam* about, is ai
interesting and important one if the people wanl
to gee a new United States Building In Chicago
within the next twenty yoare. It is clear that
the errors that bare been made in this fragment
must not roour.
THE ALTTONITIVn
for tlm Sunermlomlent and the dis
carded inspector of etune Is to admit that there
liavo been between them and Mr. Mueller tht
uio«*t out'ftgsom collusion, (ho most barefaced
fraud, and (he moat siiamcful neglect of duly,
or else they umet corfoas that they haro shown
an ignorance of their duty, of tho nature of ths
work, aud of the requirements of their office,
beside which tho m«mal attainments of Blind
Tom would appear marvels of intellect.
Mr. Muoilor lus paused dishonest work on
tho Government under the very nose of the In
spector, and be must take tho consequences,
but there seems no excuse for those paid agents
of the Government who, when set to watch its
interest*, neglected or betrayed them.
It apnoars of record that whoever ordered ths
foundations of the building to bo mad* of fiee
stone was, perhaps, as densely ignorant aa any
one could be. To make a blonder of that kind,
in tho face of a twenty years' experience of good
builders, shows a genius worthy of a Mullett.
It mav bo interesting to note what the ex
peiiraonUi in building on insecure foundations
with rotten materials, as practiced by Messrs.
Mullett, Rankin, aud Mueller,
JIAVE COST TUB OOONTUT SO FAR t
Dr a**t of Bee. 21, 1871, Congress decided to
expend $4,000,000 in the erection of a UuileJ
HUtes building in Chicago, and at that
time $2,000,090 were appiopriated. Ground
was bought, foundations laid, sod tho
$2,000,000 uiertllv passed out amid groat
rejoicing. In June, 1874, Congress ap
propriated $750,000 more for Mullett, Mueller
A Co. to experiment with, and the parti-oolorod
structure was pushed on. On tho 3d of Uarob,
in the present year, another $7*0,000 was hand
ed over, aud Mueller continued the delivery of
patched and scaly alone, which the Government
{iispector seems to have passed with % sheet over
them, sod a lot more of (hem were pot in place
and had bits of boards nailed over the cracks to
keep them out of eight. All was going merrily
on. and it la probable that tho architects might
have got enough stone piled up to have tumbled
down of its own accord had not Bristow, and
Potter, sod Holman disturbed matter*.
How it will all end is a conundrum, but wbat
should be done is not the least doubtful. The
Bccrmarv of the Treasury should not wait a mo
ment before appointing an houost and sharp
sighted committee of investigation to dig out
the exact truth about the Mullett-Muollor trans
actions, and to ftod out what can be done with
tho roan who passed the defective stone into the
Government yard.
DECATUR (ILL.) ITEMS.
Sptda l JMtoaUh to Tht Chtoaw Jnbvnt.
Dboatuu, 1)1., May 16«—It was tho farmers*
party that placed Judgu 0. B. Smith, of this Ju
dicial Circuit, on tho Bench. As a slight return
for this act of kindness, the Judge has adjourn
ed the Circuit Court for the purpose of giving
tho farmers, who were obliged to attend tho
same, an opportunity to plant corn and potatoes,
ana now they think moie of him than over.
Court will uot meet again until the 21th lust.
The rolling-mill suspended operations last
night, with a view, it Is aaid. of either changing
bauds or removing to another locality. If it
should move away it would prove a sad blow u
the operatives who purchased liltlo homes in
vicinity with the view of paying for tham from
their earnings iu the mill.
Our coal-bore has been abandoned after going
down 621 foot.