Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-15
TEE Kew pavilion.

| -
cut. there must be the most rigid economy
| of expenditure. The Directors have al.
ready called for plans, and specified that
the building shall be 400 feet long and 200
feet wide. Notwithstanding this we sug-
gest that the new hall should be in
keeping with It's surroundings. There
should be no disparaging contrast, at
least. That it should be crueiform
many think best. for that style will
enable engagements to be made without
destroying the architectural plan of the
structure, and this cannot be done accord
ing to the call for plans. That it should
be made as nearly fire. proof as may be must
be conceded, and therefore as much Of
iron and glass should enter into its compo-
sition as is possible. Strength is an essen
tial feature to be secured, and OF course
the floor area will be made very large by
the introduction of galleries with prspor'
tomato requisite hight, and provision made
in one for well.lighted art gallery. 1:
would have been better for the Society per.
haps to have offered given number of life
memberships as the only premium for plans.
We understand that already one competent
architect of sister city proposes to sub
NIT plans without fee, and it is probable
that others will do likewise. AS for ex'
ampIes of like buildings, we have the
whole world to choose from. The century
has been peculiarly rich in exhibition halls
and doubtless drawings Of all the notable
ones can be secured with very little delay.
The Board has given notice that the build.
ing plans must be based on cost of &c.
900. Probably the Board reserves $40, DOC
as saving sum for extras, modifica.
tions, ETC.; but the Law requires that
$50, 900 shall be expended for building,
and no part of it for other purposes. The
law and the contribution of the people is
for building worth and costing $4,000.
A contemporary states that part Of the
reserve is to be used to purchase machin.
cry. We trust this is an erroneous state.
ment, The law clearly prohibits it.
If the Board can use $1,000 fol
machinery it can use $4,000, and
thus defeat the spirit of the law.
We think the Board has made a serious
mistake in designating the style of archi-
lecture as similar to that of the Oakland
and Sacramento railroad depots." It would
leave the architects untrammeled. The
Board will thus receive greater variety Of
plans, and be more enlightened as to the
proper architecture for such structure.
Certainly to limit the bidders on plans as
to style is to unnecessarily narrow the op-
portunities to secure the best building. To
exclude the cruciform style, as the call Gp-
parently does, is ts cut off the great ad
vantages gained by wings or radiating
arms, in any one Of which certain depart
ments of the exhibition may be placed that
would mar the whole exposition if not
thus partially cut off from other depart.
ments. The cruciform style also enables
one of the arms to be used for the public
assemblies held during the fair when par
tial quiet is desirable) without incommoding
all the departments of the exhibition. As
the law directs that not less than 400 feet
feet square of ground be set apart "for
erecting thereon building" etc., it fol-
lows that with wings giving four fronts a
far more presentable structure can be had
and no space be lost but the Board have
seen fit to limit the width to 200 feet 1t
is doubtful if it was wise to advertise for
plans. The California Architect is author.
ity for the statement that among the archi.
tects of the country the competitive plan
for premium to the winner is in great
disfavOr and not responded to. Of two
hundred and fifty good architects in the
State, but three submitted plans, under the
call for them, for the Soldiers Home.
The ethics of the profession now
prefer an invitation to number to
submit plans, each being allowed COM
pensating fee for his drawings.
There is no intention to be captious in
this matter; the force of the exception
taken is too great to be quietly ignored.
There have been erected exposition build
ings totally dissimilar to the "depots, y
and which the Board may find better mod
els by far. It would certainly profit it to
give the architects free field for sugges.
ton. If the building was intended to be
set in from street, like the Mechanics In.
stitute Pavilion of San Francisco, the
architectural style would be matter Of
little moment; but as it is to grace the
central plot Of handsome park, with like
exposures on all sides, the architectural
style is of the highest Importance. A mis-.
take made in this respect might furnish an
excuse to the Legislature to direct the re.
moval of the building, and such things
have been done. The construction of the
edi6ce will place the State Agricultural
Society upon much higher plane. Its
greatest obstacle in the past has been lack
of inviting facilities to exhibitors. This
is now to be wholly removed, and as re.
suit the exhibits will not only be larger in
number, but the directory of the Society
+, will no longer labor under the necessity Of
making extraordinary, and often humil.
iating, exertions, as in the past, to secure
certain classes of exhibits. The Society
will be more independent, and will be en-.
abled to offer greater inducements for the
more desirable classes of exhibits of the
products and industries of the State. The
State Fair will be less bazar of merchan.
disc than heretofore. From being a solici.
tor, the Society will become discriminat.
ing judge as to what shall be placed in the
hall, and this one fact goes very far to dig.
nifty it.
YOSEMITE.
1t is matter of sincere regret that the
Governor was led to believe that it was his
duty to veto the appropriation for the con
tinuation of the work in the Yosemite Val