The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-18
No Pent-Up Utica, but Plenty Of Light and
Air with Ease Of Access the
Prevailing Features.
INTERESTING COMPETITIVE STRUGGLE.
Applying the Lessons Learned at Vienna,
Paris and London.


At rather late hour on the 9Th inst. the Commit
tee OF Architecture for the American Centennial
Exposition made known its decision, which has
been the careful development OF earnest and
excited sessions that have marked the past i've
days. 1t was not within the province OF this COM
mittee to select the final plan in conformity with
which the actual building will be raised, but TO
select ten from the forty-three sent In from all
sections of the United States, for which the Com
mlssi0n had set apart prize OF $1,000 each.
Below we give list Of the fortunate competitors,
as well as the chief points Of their almost uniformly
excellent designs
THE DESIGNS
First, then, let US look at the two plans submit
ted by Lexington" and yorktown" who have
at last been made known as Mr.. John Macarthur
and Mr. Joseph M. Wilson, both Of this city. These
gentlemen have well studied the various positions
set apart for the different buildings have taken
into consideration the natural grades Of these loca
tons and have very evidently adapted their de-
signs to all the different points, outlooks and views
OF the Park 1t is the intention to leave the main
building standing as
MEMORIAL HALL
when the exhibition itself shall have closed, and
hence In plan providing for the removal OF the
great wings, extending right and left from the
main entrance, there would naturally, indeed,
be many architectural difficulties FOR this Memo
rial Hail. or, in other words, for the main building
there, these two gentlemen have selected the high.
est elevation in the grounds set apart and have
arranged matters that the temporary building is
really divided into two parts the hall to remain
permanently being directly between these parts.
1t Is not safe to say that there exists any positive
resemblance between this plan and the other one
before me, used at Paris in 1867; but while
THE DESIGN OF MEssRs M'ARTHUR AND WILSON
presents all the cOmmendable features and con-
veniences OF the French building IT evinces what
the latter does nOt-a careful judgment in respect
to symmetry and external adornment, as well as
the attainment OF signal architectural effects. In
this plan the temporary wings are drawn in India
ink and the Memorial Hall is stained with carmine
The latter consists of two main spans crossing
each other at right angles, each covered with
braced wrought iron arch OF 200 feet in
the clear, having an elevation Of 12s feet
from the floor. Just from the intersection Of
these two spans lofty tower shoots up to the i'm
nlense height Of 500 feet. This plan Is so con-
structed that when the wings are removed there
viii be four grand entrances, each projected by
towers of rare symmetry and grace. In word,
the Gothic school of architecture betrays itself in
this plan at every point, and we cannot help MOTTO
Ing at once the grandeur OF the idea and the rare
opportunities afforded for endless external decorar
ton. For the temporary portions OF the building
which, OF course, makes room for broad
aisles and commodious galleries. These wings
must necessarily be constructed OF WOOD the ten.
sion members OF the roof being held together with
Hfaces 81 wrought iron. The carmine tinted por-
.tion OF the design, which, as we said above, repre-
sents the Memorial Hail. represents building
framed Of brick, with rich stone trimmings. the
latter are 80 distributed that the most striking
effects are produced, and the last indication Of
sombreness, and, indeed, we may add perma-
hence, Is entirely removed. 1t is here more con-
'spicucusly than at any other point that the I'M.
Cax FAULTINEss OF THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION,
because Q hall, to remain forever as memorial OF
the greatest epoch in American history, must be
stripped OF all superficial adornment, OF oil ephem.
eraf ornamentation, and really ought to adhere
rigidly to no modern Innovations.
The main entrance however, Is admirable and ts
through q carriage colonnade Of 100 by 80 feet,
while the entrances at the fronts and towers are
for IN the gable ends OF the building, which. IS lar
as practicable, are formed Of glass and In addition
sue VANS NOT 4 SINGLE sxYI1oHr
In the whole construction, which Is very com.
mendable feature; while ventilation and additional
light are provided for by the use OF louvres and
nal victory over the buildings Of London and Paris
The root OF Memorial Hall 10 OF iron and the roofs OF
tn WSan we come to the ground plan Of this build
ting we are at once surprised at
PRINCIPAL DEFECT.
Acting upon the suppostion that foreign repre-
sentstlon would be very slight, their archi-
tects have assigned to IT apartments absolutely 80
AFFORDED while to our own country there ID entirely
too much space assigned This plan gives only
Canadas, and for china, Japan and the very many
islands OF the Pacific sets apart OF single
Long ago clearly v mas rsney or
very extensive Oriental representation, and the
very large amount Of space which woam DC spSV e-
plan abandons the faulty geographical classinca-
tion of Austria and confines It's classification d.
rect!y to apartments. In this respect IL Is very
The art gallery Of this design is formed Of iron,
but Is constructed WITH an open court, directly in
Its centre. This plan Is numbered nm, H.
Mr. sLOAN'S PLAN.
Plan No. O. submitted by Amer1canus (Mr. Sam
sue Sloan Of Philadelphia), Is as foows-
The total length Of the building. according to this
plan, Is 200 feet Its width 500 leet but In this es-
innate do not include the picture gallery, which
is ct the east end Of the main building and which
to side. Memorial Han, ID this plan, though con.
sucted Of pretty much the same msTs ate as 10
less 9aaS1 IN but s st the same Tune
great deal less admirable in conception. This
main bSdng, as the Other occupies the cen ira
BY $50 feet, surmounted BY handsome dome, upon
height Of this dome is SO feet. Memorial Hail is
surrounded BY colonnade OF elaborstely orna-
rally denominated as Q styobate This stylobate
forms Q continuous ARCADE and directly over 1t
there In q gallery. The walls around this arcade
are formed OF panels which, along with correspond
ing panels In the ceiling, are emblazoned with APP
propriate embematic designs East and west OF
this building, intended to be permanent, are
TEN PAvILIONs,
each OF which IL 500 feet long and so feet wide,
while as we near the centre Of each their width
swells to the enormous extent OF leo feet. All the
avenues run north and south. and the pavilion
sections are uniformly parael-an arrangement
which takes into account wind and storm and all
atmospheric conditions Of air and light. The roof
Is metal, the floor Of wood, while all the windows
are In Q continuous line and are each twelve Ieet
high. There are four stairways connecung me,
eight others, formed OF ron built to connect eacn
fthe sectional pavillons with the galleries winch
surround them. ,
the various suildlnss Of this design are SO 10.