, 1873-10-16
THE: ARCHITECTS.
Annual Sesgio Of the Ameri-
can Institute.
Interesting introductory Address by
+. Il. Wight, OF Chicago.
Why Architects Should Be Friendly
to One Another.
The Objects Of the Institute
Explained.


Something About Chicago's Court
House-Plan War.
Tho American Institute Of Architects began
it's seventh annual session yesterday morning in
tho Open-Doartl room, In tho roar Of tho ohaln-
bor Of Commerce building.
In tho abaonco of tho President. Richard Up
fobn, Esa, tho mooting was called to order by
tho Secretary, Carl Pfeifror, ESQ., who intro.
duced T. 3. Wight, Of tnis city, who delivered
tho annual address, which is substantially as
follows:
MIR. W1n1rT's ADDRESS.
After warm culogy Of Mr.. Upjolin, and Of
Mr. Doyington, tho Second Vico-prosdent, ho
welcomed to tho meeting mud to ita privileges
all practicing architects Of standing, ovcu not
members of tho Institute. A. special circular was
also issued annually to them to explain tho nature
Of the organization. Under this policy the In
Rtitute quRdrupled in membership In 4 fow years,
and tho policy OF holding nnnual conventions,
doubted at first. Ind boon crowned with Huccess.
The Institute was no exclusive or sectional body.
This was a National Convention Of Architects,
of which tho Institute was ouy the machinery,
which was constantly In motion. twas oconom-
icay administered, md had no salaried officers.
1t operated for nil, and it's benefits woro enjoyed
By all alike.
ITS OBJECTS WERE
"!o unite in fellowship tho architects OF this
continent" Which was clear enough, and yet
sounded strangely to aomc who practiced In
isolation. 1Io Ind been asked If archi-
tets really were friendly to one another,
anil, II tho community entertained such an i'm
PRESTON, they would reasonably suppose archi-
teeta capable Of anything baa Business men
would not boevo them honest, unloss they
troated oach othor 1onorably. The eolf.enforcod
isoaton Of arcltecta had boon tho source OF all
the tnisfortuues Of tho profession. III tho ab-
aonco Of friendship. s!andering was an easily nc
Quircd accomplishment. tbs innocent had eth
or gone in disgust to other occupations or adopt
the tactica Of tho loss scrupuloua to earn a
living.
uSsonUpULous oL1ENTs
havc taken advantage Of this stnte Of affairs to
drive sharp bargains. whereby they hlve pro-
cflrcd tho soryicea OF architects at rates so low
that thoy l,ayo boen forced to resort to system
Of colluaion with builders and persons furnish-
ing materials, whereby they receive com,
missions for fayors granted. or blood
money for noslectiug to compel tho faithful
execution Of contracts. Uuscrupulous arch1.
pretending to work for merely nominal relnuner-
alton, havo made their living by forming COM
blatlons with rings Of contractors. or favorinS
tho uso Of certnln materials all OF which is
virtual robbery OF their clients, for a that thoy
receive comes out Of tho price pad for tho work.
They have Bet an example which weaker brethren
hayo too oiton followed. Theso were Hou1o Of
the practices which Ind cursed the profession.
could not bo denied. Tho only euro for them
was the cultivation Of spirit Of friendly rea-
tons, and n union for mutual support. BY this
means the ntcrests Of architects mud clients
MI ftrf Hn atsttcn +11n1
dcnco, 30 essential to tho successful prosecution
OF work, would be entab'ishod OIL a sulo aud
lasting basis.
THE OBJECTS OF THE INSTITUTE
were not only TO nnito the architects, but to so
combine their efforts us to promote tho artistic.
scientific, and practical efficiency Of tho profos-
Biun. An encouraging advance has been noticed
in manV directions, mud tie influence Of tho
building Laws in many cities were duo to its in-
dluenco, md tho great advance in the art, seon
by tho numerous buildings erected in our largo
cities, was largely due to tho spirit OF emulation
among members OF the Institute.
Gentlemen, it is q happy circumstance that the
Convention should be held this year in Chicago,
especially at tho present eeason, which COM
pletcs tho second year Of her resurrection from
claim the privilege Of thanking you In her behalf
for tho compliment you have bestowed by your
unanimous vote IN fayor Of holding tho seventh
Convention In our city. How much
appreciate tho honor conferred upon them by
this meeting they will assure you this evening,
when you become their guests. Tue new city
will afford you q sonaation altogother novel, mud
will be Of especial interest to you above all 9th
ers. It is useless to look through history for n1l
account OF tho building Of tho substantial husi-
hess portion OF . great city within period OF
tvo yenrs. Wo lave hoard Of, and some of TIL
hive eeen, those remarkable frontior cltiea
which have como into existence within the peri
oil Of a few weeks; but thoy wore cities Of
boards and shingles. A continuous limo ot such
buildings, ono-alld-a~haf n'ileB in longtl, was
erected in this city, for temporary uso. in peii'
cd Of ONO month, and now not n yeatiso of them
remRina. ualf tho spRce covered by them a yeal
ago III now cultivated para, embcllHhed by land
scapoart to the hlglet degree, aud tho remainder
is coyered By tho new Exposition building, {
structure which ranks with tho largest in oul
country.
IN IT'S SENSATIONAL Aspects
the new Chicago IL city OF substantial build
ings commenced two years, $50, and covering
sionate view Of the professional oye 1t Is ths
growth of necessity which knows no waiting
and as such Gun make 10 claim to perfection. Al
who1o it may bo tho wonder OF tho world 70
in It's parts 1t cannot fail to boar tho impress OF
llayty execution. You will doubtless lind mucl
to praise and much to oriticise. With but fov
exceptions yon will SEQ tho work OF Chicago ar
chitecta aud Chicago mechanics. You will else
aSo a. M e f0i oa5 3o burno1 mna ds
trict, with what has boom built Of tho now, max
iug duo allowance for tho additions OF those twt
ycurs in tho nnburnod pnrt, which have n!so boot
considerable.
At SUCH 4 TIME A8 THIS
the architect may find all appropriate poriod fo
critical reflection. We hayo passed through twt
gears Of great activity. Our experience haa hat
all tho clalnonta Of batso But this contest viii
crude materials with tlmo and the clements,
has been a work Of creation mud not Of dcstruc
tion. No aro tio tllers OF III old soil, aud nov
We bohold mir tloll o'ergrown with good fruit
yet rank in part liho l,asty vegetation. Will
calner skea wo may now look for better fruit
With tin,o aud thought bestowed, We may conil
IDENTIFY hope that tile fututo nlAy bo brighter il
roHlllts t!an tho present; that architecture ma,
hero tako thut High rank which tho importance
Of this city warrants; md That l!or practitioner
raY tc ael!sh!o Of toir higl, calling, and fulfil
tho prolniEo conveyed In tho worlss which tho,
have set before lB.
Tho speaker then urged tho necessity TO
Uniformity of prartico, and suggested the Com
H. Ijy4 kcn ntkn,L5 ft,I