Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-01-07

A Communication from Mr.. Coste.
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EDITOR ~SENTINEL-To those who are in
terested in building Improvements, would
say q word, as a great proportion OF the
people outside Of the large towns and
cities are comparatively u~nacquainted with
building, and especially with the use and
value Of drawings in the construction Of
buildings. Therefore I propose to suggest
some Of the advantages arising therefrom,
and will also point out the necessary pre-
liminary steps to be taken in employing an
architect. To the educated architect or
business man of intelligence, it would
seem like a waste Of paper and ink to
attempt to show that buildings mo be
properly built without tho aid Of carefully
made drawings; nevertheless, as there are
thousands who have little or no knowledge
Of their use, I will endeavor to show what
some Of their advantages are. and the ne
cessity for them. Before proceeding to do
SO. however, I desire most emphatically to
caution the reader against confounding in
his mind the idea of plans, as sometimes
made by incompetent pretenders or build
ers, with architectural drawings made by
an architect who is properly educated in
his profession. As well might you en-
ploy q nurse to prescribe medicine for you
when sick, or q butcher to amputate a
limb, as to employ one Of these unscrupu-
lous and unschooled p~retenders to make
plans for your buildings. A proper knowl-
edge Of the principles Of architecture, and
the art Of building, is only obtained by
long years Of ineessant study, which, for
the want Of proper books and time, places
it entirely beyond the reach Of the mere
practical builder to obtain a 1.-THE Of the
knowledge Of buildings and their ap-
planes which a good architect should
have. People often suppose that the
making Of a picture representing a build
ing is what constitutes a person an arcbi.
tect, but this is en- error. There are
many mechanics and builders who have,
as any person may in leisure hours, acquired
the use of drawing instruments and paint
brushes, so as to enable him to draw and
color something that will resemble a build
ing while not one in twenty of such indi-
viduals, working in an architects office for
five years, could attain a sufficient knowl-
edge of the business to enable him to make
a correct set Of drawings for the common
est kind of a building, 80 that they should
be ready for use, without being subjected
to the most vigilsnt scrutiny of some
competent architect.
The requisite qualifications of an archi-
tect are First, to know how to design
well, and for this he must have a large en-
dowment Of mechanical genius ; at least a
respectable education, and a thorough
knowledge Of architecture in all its varied
styles, as practiced in the different coun-
tries where it has fourished in past ages.
His next, and very essential qualification,
is a thorough knowledge Of the construc-
ton, nature and strength of the materials
be has to use, and the numerous and vary
ing appliances that may be braught into
requisition for meeting and obviating the
difficulties thrown in his way to the carry
ing out Of the designs which his genius has
conceived. II he be deficient in this re-
spect, though he may design ever so mag
n%ifcently, his magnificent designs become
mere failures. Therefore fit is, that an
architect should possess a thorough knowl-
edge Of this important branch of his pro-
fession, for without it he can do nothing.
How should an architect be ~employed2 1t
is sometimes the case, especially in the
erection of public buildings, that architects
are invited to submit plans in competition.
This, however. Is a pernicious way Of OBJ
tanning a design.
In the first place, to enlist the best SER
vices and talent of an architect, it must
be understood that he will be properly re-
munerated for such service, for nothing is
more practicable than the lawyers maxim,
''that advice not paid for is Of little value"
and no man Of talent will waste the time
to make a good design when he stands but
little c~hance-say one in ten-of getting
paid for his work.
Another, and one of the worst features of
obtaining plans in competition is, that there
is so great an inducement held out for the
practice Of dishonesty on the part Of the
competitors, and in this those who expect
to be the gamers by obtaining a large
amount of sratuitous labor from the archi-
tects, are often themselves pretty thor
oughly victimi2ed. Therefore, l should
say, if you want the services Of a good and
competent architect, employ him and pay
him well for such services.
GEO. F. CosTERIsAN, Architect.
Eureka, January 8, 1880.