Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-06
The Work OF an Architect

From the New York Tribune
''You think have an easy time, do your"
said leading New York architect recently to a
| Tribune reporter.
| The reporters remark was an excusable one
for the worthy designer was leaning back in q
quaint Japanese wicker chair placed near the
| open window OF room to which the blue and
white plaques, the peacock-blue frieze and dull
! green wall gave the look rather Of lady's bou-
| DOR than business room.
AN easy time" went en- the apparent Syba-
| rite. 81 like that. You are like nine hundred
and ninety-nine out of every thousand people 1
meet. 1t Is perfectly astonishing to me how little
! the 1aity.' If may SO call them, know Of the
duties and work OF an architect. Some people
think we are sort OF boss bricklayer, others
that we only know how to make pretty pictures,
and are entirely ignorant of all things practical;
but both extremes of popular Judgment are solid
on one point and that is that we are overpaid
| for the amount of work we do. Let me tell you
something as to that.
1.-TWO years ago had large and important
building to design and superintend while being
built. received the usual per cent on the
| amount of the contract some extras which
amounted to considerable sum, not being In
GUIDED IN the amount on which my commission
was paid. keep diary in which every man in
my office puts down the exact number Of hours
he works on any particular job do the same
myself 80 when the work was done and had
been paid In full divided the amount by the
| total number OF hours spent on the work It
averaged Ii cents an hour for myself, my chief
draughtsman, to whom I pay go week, and
the two other, who get $25 and go respectively.
Good pay, 10 1t not2
Snow, do you know what an architect has to
to me and tell me you want house to cost so
much. Well, I set to work and draw q little
sketch OF the plan to scale Of one eighth of an
inch to foot That is, every inch on the paper
you don't like it draw another. When you are
finally satisfied I and my assistants set to work
and make plans Of every floor, elevations Of
each side Of the house, and sections through 1t
to the scale Of one-fourth Of an inch to q foot
An elevation is view from which all perspect-
i've effect is eliminated. Then write q long
specification describing exactly how everything
Is to be constructed and what materials are to
be used. These drawings and the specification
are handed to the he. builders who base their
or most satisfactory bid IL accepted contract is
drawn up and signed by you and the builder
Then my hardest work begins. have to make
drawings to various scales, most Of them full
size, Of all the various details, inside and out
stonework, carving, doors. windows. plaster
hundred and fifty drawings aremadefor small
house have to 60 to the building every day
and see that the work is carried out and have
to conduct every transaction with the various
osAU oAAA ACCP oA Vyo eOAAA IVA
the work is finished. Then am allowed to ask
for my money, which, as tell you, is 5 per cent
Of the amount paid to the bnisaer. Oh, We get
| lots Of fun for our money!
Architectural drawing 10 semi-mechanical,
| inasmuch a. mechanical aidsare employed, such
a. T-squares, by which straight horizontal lines
| are drawn; set-sQuares, for perpendicular Inca
and bow pens and pencils Tor drawing circles;
| but . great deal Of artistic fee-hand work d
also necessary. Our assistants usually work for
q connie ar wears at q nominal salarv and thnr
receive from e15 to $50 week. according to
| their ability. A managing assistant receives
about 90, and that is the highest salary paid;
| GO or cas- il the usual figure. Az to archifects
In PRACTICE, they make anywhere from $500 TO
| e8,O00 Q year, seldom more than II e. much 81
the latter: Nowadays It is becoming essential
| for a architect to have Travelled Ia Europe for
some time aad to have filled q goodiy number Of
| sketoh-books with jottings and sketches Of
classic. msdisvsl and renaissance buildings.
archaeological, ecclesiastical srchiteotnrs hssn~
entirely 70 u artistic" s--h