National Republican., 1885-06-15
Iotal .,...""....."..,...
EASTERN LEAGUE.
Uncle sam,s New buildings.

EDITOR NATIONAL REPUBLICAN: Apropos of
the public buildings which were authorized to
be erected in various parts of tho United
States by the last Congress, the plans Of which
arenow being prepared in the supervising archi-
tects office, 1t Is well to bear In mind one fact
they will be orectedin accordance with these
plans, whether good, bad, or indifferent, and
the country will most likely be burdened with
IN increase of the class of structures which are
utterly lacking in those architectural qualities
which should be found in the works OF q great
nation. That class of structures clearly mis-
represent the standard Of architectural art in
our country and times, and by their meretri-
cious ornamentation, by the profusion ofinap-
propriate, useless, and costly piazzas, balco-
nies, turrets, towers, domes, minarots, &c. on
the exterior, and by the use OF extravagantly
expensive furnitures, fixtures, floors, trim
mings, &C.,. made Of the costliest woods.
pervert and corrupt the public taste and waste
the public money. Whether these designs will
be executed tpel or ~ whether the material
and labor required IN their construction will
be superior or inferior and their cost reasona-
bic or extrayagant, are very doubtful ques-
tions. The lack In the proper architectural
qualities of these designs must be ascribed to
the pernicious system prevailing in the office
where they are prepared This superannuated
method induces neither strife for excellence
in design nor q struggle against exorbitant
evolved, and ambition Is wanting: The only
incentive the official designer of our public
buildings has Is to do that which may enable
him to hold his place. In competition the
skill and experience. A Just ambition gives
the keenest edge to their work. II Is through
competition that such men are found. The
end of competition is excellence. The evil
tendencies of the prevailing system exhibit
their detrimental influence In ourpublc works
when compared with the practices of other
civilized nations II Is not an uncommon
thing TO find American architects striving in
foreign fields in competition for public build
ings, while barred from participation at
home IN the, designing of their own.
II would be much better to ascertain and put
into practice the best means OF preserving the
health and comfort of Unclo Sans business
houses than to be preoccupied with their deco:
rations. Indeed Il Is much more honest and
useful to know how to build a house well, and
make 1t wholesome than to cover 1t with a
chance.medley Of decorations, without reason,
proportion, or stint
The department regulations which, up to this
moment, govern the supervising architects
office, sprang into existence from dire neces'
sity of the Secretary of the, Treasury in 1853.
At that early day OF our national development
the government erected one or two compara-
lively small buildings per year, and architect
ural talent and skilled mechanics were scarco
In the country. Now we have 1856 buildings In
course OF construction and repair, and forty (iO)
new ones TO erect, as authorized by the last
4Hh) Congress, At an aggregate cost ot four
millions ga 000,000) of dollars In 1858 the ex-
penses Of that office for skilled force did not
exceed S25 600 per annuni, while they now
amount to S2S00O0 per annum. The old regu'
lations are therefore obviously unfit Tor
our time and condition. The question
rises: Is there no remedy? Cannot
Secretary Manning, in the absence of any CON
gressional enactment, reconstruct these regula.
tions and make them suitable TO the present
time and conditions. 1t would seem that the
many evidences Of the unsuitableness Of the
existing method OF designing our public build.
ings and of managing the business of erecting
them, scattered all over the country as they
are, should not only Justify but demand re-
construction. The department ought 70. be
able TO deal with this matter. Secretary Man
ing certainly possesses the power to amend or
entirely annul any and all regulations Of his
department, II he finds them detrimental to
the pablo good, and substitute othors for them.
There are many architects of skill, experience,
and ambition In the country now who would
gladly enter into competition for tho designs
OF Uncle Sans buildings, II fair inducement
il offered. But how shall wo ever get suit
able buildings so long as the preparation Of the
plans and the management of this enormous
building business is solely conhded 10 the dis
erection or caprice of an underpaid official who
being of political origin-may be ignorant
of the first principles of architecture.
WASHINGTON, d. O., June ii. !. l., ).