, 1873-10-16

THE RCCCEsHruI CoMrETtTon-
II nucooss il uan oo cailcd-4nidoulv finds TINT
tho acoplioi Of hag plaa Is only on ni,pty l''npl
forel, plut tho honur oi nc,otsnnce. mud no
sooncr is Ills plan adoEted thnn lin hears tho
proposition to place hln Ioslgt IN the hands of
n rival for execution. Tnkon altogether, tho
incidents OF this sliegrac;sful struggle hnyo not
characterised BY originality antl inventive ge-
Mus Of tho lltEfest ordcr.
For The first timo il, history, questions Of
religion, public morals, temperance, mud nation-
decide which ono Of fifty designs Hhall bo
followed In tho erection OF a Court House, and
which Quo Of fifty atchitccta shall bo employed
TO Buperintond 1t. That of Committee which
first prize, nearly every .n,ombor Inns sinco pub
licy proclaimed that 1t is
THE wonat OF THE THREE;
and, us IL to crown with absurdlty all tho other
featuros Of this public performance, VIC hayo
boon witnessos Of the fact that tho Common
Council of this city appointed o Committee to
investigate chargas Of corruption agaiust Ito
motnbers before design had boon definitely
solicited.
Seriously. gontlonen, this is question which
the competitors who offered their dosigns. It
concerns oye1y ono Of us. We arc to-day on
trial before this community and before tho
whole country. II NO fail to give our anthorita-
influence upon this question, VIC will stand con-
yicted Of Incompetence to deal With 1t. And not
only will
the CITY OF CHICAGO
Which hhs become M object of ridiculo and
contempt, jeer, by-wor1, md q laughing.
atock, BY her attompt to conduct M architectural
competitlon-fatl to- procure tho sorvices of
those bost fitted to do her work; but you, WHO
by education and experience are the natural
soon fnd that ability and honesty arc poor
recommendations for placea Of honor and
e.aolument, and and TINT .,i tho public ~ build1 d,
nnler tho control Of charlatnns aud protonders.
And for such results you mood not blamo your
Common Council or your Doard of County Com
mssionors. Your shrewd Committeeman knows
by experience how little bait it takes to catch q
greedy architect. We may say what ws 1ko
about tho Importance Of throwing .aafegnards
around tAeso compctitions, such us tho appoint
mont Of experts, and tho like, but 30 loug as
fifty acts Of tho most elaborate can 10 procured
robbed Of llia precious ideas, and be powerleaa
to maintain Ills natural rights under 1t, there will
bo no reforms. ANY Recommendation Of this
1natituta painting to reform, to which the archi.
tectB will not gtvo thoir support ia nlllty and
| u farce. ThiB whole mattor iB In your hands to
| regulate. You may compete or not as you please.
| But your ambition will always be your weakness,
| and plonty stand ready to take advantage Of 1t.
COMPETITION IS THEORETICALLY NIGHT,
think you have bit to runlo snch conditions as
you may think, just Or roassest such Ill YOU haya
already adopted, and YOU will regulate the whole
matter, but It you fail. tho fault will bo mainly
yours. You lavo but to unito your efforts, and
to Btand together, bound only by the obligation
Of honor; and Justice will nuroly bo yours.
Thoy llvo1 IN an age marked by groat advances
to perform. Their duty was dsar and oppor-
tunities great. Thoy must strive, thon, to bo
worthy Of their day and generation, seek all
poBsiblo means OF aelf-improVemcnt, and pre-
pare to take lending pluee among the nations,
Of their progressive civilization.
The address. waB listened to with attention,
and was warmly checred.
Tho Second neeJ5xm nTs'Shs. a1 President ot
tho Chicugo Chapter, Mr.. ". ". Doyiugton,
took tho chair, and ox!ondld to those present o
! most cordial welcoms FROM their Chicago BROTH
| ron.
On motion Of A1r. Mclaughlin. Of Cincinnati,
Il vote OF thanks was rendered AIr. Wight for
! his nddroEn.
The Secretary thon rcaa tho
REronT OF THE HOARD OF TRUSTEES,
Which haB held iivo regular hllu twelve special
meetings during. tho year. Rooms have bocn
| secured Ill conjunction with tho Now York
Chapter in tho American Exchange Building,
No 228 broadway. The Board suggested the
ndrlaability Of inaugurating moyomont to pc
ttion Congress to enable tho In,titutc to mako a
series Of scientific experiments to test building
inateria!a ns to their strengtla, durability. nnd
hrc-rosisting qualities. In viow OF tho recent
large contagration 1t III believed TINT this is a
mattor Of national tntorest. 4 now ohaptor has
| boou organized at Albany aud several honorary
members elected. 4 lnrgo number Of books and
pamphlets hayo been received by tho library, and
thanks returned to the donors. Circulars huye
boen aent to all the architects whose namos
/ could be found.
Tho report Of the Treasurer was temporarily
passed over.
The Chair appointed Nlesars. Anderson, OF
Of Chicago, as tile Auditing Committee.
Tho repolt OF the Committee on Education
WAS postponed till this morning.
Tie report OF tho Committed on
library AND PUBLICATION
! VAS read. Dir. Bloor waa employed to prepare
the proceedings for publication. Circulars were
| sent out to secure matter for tho publication Of
. journal BY the 1uatitnte, but did not meet
number Of x-photolitliograph plates was to
llavo been issued, but the plan fell through ow-
ing to tile demands Of publishers aud tho want
Of funds. About 92,0U0 would give the journal
! fair start.
The various chapters were then called on,
N1r. Bloor reported that tho chief work dono by
the Now York chapter had boon the revision OF
the building laws in Now York, whore it had
| rendered excellent service. This chapter asked
that tho nexs annual aossion Of tho Institute DO
held III their city. .
hlr. Miller submitted tho report Of
| . THE CHICAGO CHAPTER,
which Ind held six meetings during the yenr,
There welo eighteen members, nlne elected this
year, all Of tlom practioing memboys. 49,.
Tho Secretary read tho report Of the Daltt.
more Chapter, which contained nothing Of in.
| tercst.
The annual report Of tho Secretary for For,
eign Correspondence was then read. mentioning
among other matters, tho complimentary re
marks mado concerning the Institute by French
societies. Tho lcBume OF correspondence Will
foreign Hociotica is not Of intercBt, except tt
poraona belonging to tho Institute.
Tho Institute then adjourned for the day, and
took lunch Mt Browns, after which they were
d1iyon around to the principal buildings AMI
pointa Of interest III md around the city.
| Last EVENING
tho Chicago Chupter gave reception at 1T
rooms, Nos. 52 and 50 Morrison Block, wl.icl
waa numerously nttol,ded and where tho arohi
teots seemed to onjoy themselves exceedingly.
TO-DAY.
Tho programme for to-tlay ia an follows
| Morning session nt 10 o'clock at the Ope,
Board roon,-Dusineas meeting for fellows ant