, 1873-05-26
THE COURTHOUSE PLANS.

An Impartial and Competent Tribunal De-
10 The Editor Of TIE Chicago 1rfouns:
s1a: There ia not m Intelligent man in this
city who Ia not Interested in the solution of this
Court -House question. It ia q matter of i'm
mense Importance us every ono Of honest pur-
pose deairoa that this building shall DO nm archi-
teo.ural model, to instruct and elevate our
people,
Standing In the heart OF a peculiar and won-
derful city, 1t should be an ediace FREQ, 80 far
~ 1t can be made from blundera and Btupidities
msrring its beauty.
Are we to put millions Of dollars into such
builaiug7 IL the old Court House disgrace to
:<be repeated? From present indications 1t looks
as Il such might be tho case. I am not n Judge,
and do not assume the rank OF critic. but write
simply. as citizen, dooply Interested in every,
Upon one point tho public are agreed: the
selection must be a fair ono. The preaent Conn
ittee is too large too little acquainted With tho
rules and principles Of the highest architecture,
to como to any conclusion that will ba eatis-
factory to tho taxpayers and tho people.
This faot may be deemed as already eatab-
uehed. The Judgment, and know1sdge, and taste
diacordant that nothing like unity can ever be
reached. This voting on plans does not decide
anything. The opinion OF ono great disinterest-
cd architect is worth moro than that Of thou
sand merchants, and lawyera, and doctors, on
complicated and difficult question Of art. Evory
man Of aensc will admit this.
entertain high rospect for tho preBont Com
mitteo, and would not write or say disEeBpoct-
tul word OF thom. But I nm thoroughly. con
vinced that they are incompetent to decide
which Of tho forty nine plans submitted to thom
in tho boat ono for the now Courthouse. Nor,
should they vote Tor forty years. is 1t likoy that
they would arrive at unanimous verdict. And,
"a n
one plan, 1t ie highly improbable that it would
be the boat plan.
Architects Of genius and experience, who do
terniue tho real value, and bettio, in the end,
Tho reputation OF al great works OF art, might
pronounce their verdict that our boasted Court
House was one Of the 1nost imperfect and OF
penHiye follics Of tho age.
Wo cannot afford to run 80 gigantic risk. +.
It la said by some that architects aro not good
critics. On the other hand, it may DO affirmed
with certainty that no one can be true artcritio
who is ignorant Of tho rules, principles, and
aims of art.
Can man who can scarcely distinguish ono
musical note from another be tranBforuel into d
musical critic. by m election to tho Office Of Al
derman or Board Of Public Works? Can men
who know not ono star from another determine
the mysteries Of astronomical acience2 Such
lllustrattona can be carried to any extent, and
they prove irreeiAtibly that a body Of men unao'
quainted with architecture or criticism are abso
lutely inadequate to settle this Court-House dif
the aubjeot = study, and who arc thorough,
familiar with It's principles and details.
For the public health, wo employ phyaicians
For the decision OF legal questions, . compotoni
lawyer la employed. But, for the building Of o.
sditico that will coat an Immense BUM, and which
will stand for conturiee, monument OF on
taste or folly, We deem 1t sufficient to take th'
decision Of men Of ine1porlonco ard allow til
greatest number OF Ignorant votes to settle til
question.
II seems strange TINT argument should be re
quired In caso whore common sonso 10 cloarl
Wa must have =" chnnge Of vonuo." Justie
to tho architects, to the ta1-layors, and the pee
ple, reauiEes that everything connected with thl
Court House buhincas should bo "a cloar an
Houest as tho present Committee may be, the
Are breathing IN impure atmosphere, "a NOR
atmosphere hllod with temptation andoorruptios
A dialntercHted tribunal must bo eouEl
for; 1t cannot po found ln this CIT.
It Ia trua.thRt wo llAyo Ho1no artists Of talon
But nearly Tho same objections would apply
them as to the present Committee. RoaldeH.
would be hard TO call upon jury Of our on
architects to Judge their felloW-arohitects. Il
tereHt, envy, Jealousy, might, and u1doubsedl
would, Affect their Judgment.
Tho forty-nine plans show ciohrly enough til
haste and talent OF our architects. We hay
reason to feel proud Of them. What Ia wAntc
IL 4 competent judge or Judges to doodle bt
tween their plans, and dislntorestedly aelet
from the entire number tho ono that has tl
hl9host morit. Thia nan nn,y be done by artla