A Builder's Conflict: Parkinson and the City Contract
Local contractors and workers spar over a building contract awarded to an architect, sparking a debate about public versus private interest in Seattle's growth.
A real dispute involving Mr. Parkinson has stirred a commotion among the trades unions of this city. Mr. Parkinson, who owns property on Marion Street, awarded a contract for his building to the Western Mill Company, bypassing local Seattle bidders who were willing to do the work. The mill owners, carpenters, and labor representatives are protesting, claiming that as the architect of City School No. 1, Parkinson should be the last to take work outside of city borders. They argue that local resources should be used to support local industry and economic growth.
“They claim that, inasmuch as Mr. Parkinson is the architect of school No. 1... he should be the last to have the work done outside of the city borders.”
This 1892 dispute over 'buy local' labor vs. the efficiency of the market is a direct precursor to modern debates over local hiring requirements and the economic impact of development on the city's working class.
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