The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-21
AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE.

SOME OF THE CAUSES OF IT'S FAILURE-THA
sTTTUrE OF ARCHITECTS.
The greater part of tho morning session of the
Convention of the American Institute Of Architects
yesterday was consumed IN routine business, but
just before adjournment Mr.. W. A. Potter read
paper ''Some Of the Causes of Failure in Ameri-
can Architecture" Ho said by way OF preface that
some exception had been taken to the title Of his
paper too sweeping. but the work Of few accom-
plished and competent was not Amer
lean architecture" "If most OF the new build
ings in this city are the work of American
architects" he said. "then American architecture
is q failure One Of the causes of failure
the want Of preparation in the persons teach
ing the art of architecture. Incompetent men were
making American architecture ridiculous. Build
ings often constructed without regard to the
uses to which they are to be devoted. This is the
fault of architects who bringing the art into
proach. Architecture is q tentative art-it is not
absolute. IL is divisible into two parts. the scien.
tific practical and the aesthetic Another reason
why architecture fails il because architects do not
realize the importance Of 1t. Many architects prac.
sr' work w. with pride in Mr. posr
asked, and answered, mot one in twenty" One
can judge readily from the buildings or almost
any American city or town from what part
of Europe the majority Of its inhabitants
came The necessity OF the future il to
make the diverse tastes OF heterogeneous
people q homogeneous whole in architectural art.
We cannot hope to equal the artists of the Middle
Ages, but do better things II thoy wanted.
Unfortunately, ignorant architects have ignorant
public TO work fora public which ndmires that
which it ought to despise In conclusion Mr.. Potter
advised his brother architects to become their own
critics. and no longer to be the blind leading the
blind.
ITALIAN sTARcAsEs.
A paper by Mr.. L. L. Potter. OF Newport, was pre-.
sented in which the staircase question elabor.
aely discussed Italian staircases especially engaged
Mr.. Potter's attention, but they received American
application. Keferrtng to tenement houses, ne
said the starways in case OF fire generally burn
first. When life is lost in this way some one
writes to the newspapers suggesting the adoption OF
the Italian methods Unfortunately these staircases
are founded on system of city lots wholly diner
sns asen ou snea
Mr.. Potter's opinion that they would be costly and
inconvenient with us, and that the space required
for the walks would make 1t impossible to introduce
them into our twenty-five foot tenements Forms
in building are not matters of choice with builders.
but imposed by conditions over which the
builder has control.
COAL BINS AND REFRraERAroRs.
Mr. cady read paper oy 81 NJ t carr . On
q house nearly perfect SO for "a wholesomencss 10
concerned, where q ssnitarian would fail The first
requisite of q healthy house Is freedom from damp
ness Wherever 1t is possible, Mr.. Clark thinks
there ought to DO drain under the walls Of houses.
and the walls themselves should DC SO constructed
masonry. There can be no Justification for the
opening of the basement OF city dwelling house
into sewer. In his sanitary house the essayst WAS
inclined to keep the coal bins out Of the cellar. and
to give the coal vault to itself. and to abolish the
wants to abolish all dark spaces and to provide
plenty OF Windows and fresh air.
The following officers elected for the ensuing
year observation-disclosures U. Walter. Secretary
IL. NJ. Congdon. Secretary of Foreign Correspond
dence- W. 7. Longfellow. Publication Committee
Il. 4. Littel T. Nj. Clark, A. j. Blow. j. McArthurs
Jr., and Il. Nj. Upjohn. Committee on Education-
Russell Sturgis. Jr.; William Il. Ware. W. @. Rsker.
James M. Wilson and IL. H. Richardson. Trustees
at LARGE. q. Haight j. O. Cody. H. Al. Hunt and
w. A. Potter.