New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-19

stored to what IL was Wnen IL came tIoih im ausoi
hands, let Il be put under strict contracts with lead
ing builders and with full bill Of quantities an
nexed. by which every cubic inch OF stone onch'
iron. cement, or any other material when Is 70 80
INTO the building may be described. known, priced
and settled for at exactly the figure put down
against it in the quantities. That such apaper
seems never to have been prepared for tho "modin-
cationsD or referred to for the settlement OF tue
work since the one which had originally prepared
shows at leust such shp-shod and uncertain way
of working as must make every architects blood
run cold who reads it, Take single question OF
the Investigating Committee, and the answer
thereto, as given, p. TIL Of the Report: 20 Your
plan and specifications were simply nucleus OF enl
bryof A. We have never paid any attention at Oil
to the orig iual estimate"
Fourth Having thus started this unfortunate
building on the road TO safe, honest and econom-
zeal completion let everybody concerned adopt the
motto of bands off," Let the captain sail his own
ship let the architect finish his own building WIN
out interference, and above all, without modinca-
tons" If he goes wrong-if he exceeds his powers
or abuses his authorityhold him responsible ior IT,
impeach him and turn him out. But Keep nus
chievous Board, who only want to gable over 'hen
own consequence. or advertise their own patrohaso
away from the slightest concern with the AFFAIRS OF
the building.
Ffnh. Let the architect understand that the works
ara IN bo now FASTENED to their completion Inc
State is now losing, annually, the interest on
OOO-as utterly losing $4,000 every year as II
il were thrown into the sea- Letthe same spirit ana
yigor be infused into the works which We are all
conpelled to use in our private practice. AZ INC
solid aud massive structure of the Equitable LiIe
Offices could be begun finished, and occupied wllhi
two wears time and the scarcely less spacious Drexel
Buildng in one shall the walls Of the State Capitol
lan0uish along just above the first story only, on
the eighth year of its construction Architects are
held to pretty rigid accountability by their private
clients and of 10 per cent even either OF
time or money. the original intention, Is rarely
hardened Is one supposed to be a6solyed from all
these obligations when he works for the State Is
question which is well suggested by the lnVestgat-
ing Committee on page 7O7 of their private transac
tons.
Ihaye occupied much Of your space, Mr.. Editor,
with these remarks but it is not only because
have always felt most sensibly the injustice done
me by taking my own cherished work making what
the Patent laws call "cOlorable alterations" in it,
and giving il to another person to execute as his at
an enormous outlay but also because the experience
Mt ALBANY so far, tends TO prevent the State from
ever undertaking another great work; and further
casts rcproach upon the wn0ls business OF build
ing and tends to bring the whole body OF carelul
and intelligent architects into most undeserved
disgrace might indeed overlook the hrst-named
consideration, the wholesale appropriation OF my
own brain work, as satisfied that we arc all OF us
liable to such things in the profession, ever since
that well-remembered scene of Dickenss, in which
Martin Chuzzewit, on his return from America,
finds Pecksnif engaged in laying the cornerstone
of grammar school, and Indignantly exclaims
mil Il
vented it, did it all lie has only put in four WIN
dows and spot the design" But for the rest. to sit
still and SOC twenty millions mudded away by q
Board" on building, which one knows could be
built in better and appropriate style for four
this indeed is q sting aud shame and reproach
upon all connected both with the art and the bus-
ness of building, which it is most CALLING and intoo-
rable to bear. L. at least, have resolved to free my
own mind upon the subject, and no amount OF mis-
quotation of muddled reference, or Of confused aud
inaccurate denial will ever. il can help it, be able
to draw the public away from this one idea. viz
that the State Capitol at Albany was begun at
four millions of dollars and might easily have been
built for that sum, but that it has been no
cussed somewhere into twenty millions, and
that this result has been achieved by
n Board of Commissioners" Just how
this been done do not pretend to know although
it might easily be ascertained in few weeks work
BY a real expert IN measurement. and ! ON very
much OF opinion, after reading the testimony taken
before the Investigating Committee, that the Board
and their architect don't begin to know Themselves.
Pcddling ont hero little and there little; buying
some cement at one time, some brick at another
and measuring in a confoundod ENHANCEMENT OF
feet yards rods, perches aud thousands, but taking
care, through all, to maintain the consequence of
tho Board" if the people of Now-York now omit to
give them and their doings thorough purgatIon'
all can say is that they richly deserve 10 be let
into further interminable mOrasScs Of debt and
accounts to the end Of the chapter. Very respect
fully YOURS &C. ARTHUR GILMAN.
NeIs- York, Jan. IL, 1878.