Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-28
A NOTED ARCHITECTS
OPINION CT AMERICAN ARCHITECT
URE PAST AND PRESENT.
Pay of ArChitCCts-Tortuncs in Building
Plans-CrsZes in Residence Building.
Our Government Structurcs-WilI the

Our Government Structurcs-wnI the
Monument Last-A New White House.
GSpcctaI Corrcspondencel
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22-Mr Smithmeyer,
/ the architect Of the new national library
building. is one of the most advanced men in
his profession He is tall. gray whiskercd, as
straight as West Point cadet an Austrian
| by birth, and as courtly a. a French diplomat.
| He vas sent abroad by congress to study the
| great national libraries there. Sixteen years
| ago he was employed by the government as
| one of its superintendonts, and has since been
consulted in nearly every one Of its great
architectural enterprises. Mr.. Smithmeyer
has bcen practiring his profession in America
! for the past several decades and he is one
Of the pioneer architects of the country. l
chatted with him to day about his profession.
Said he:
"Architecturs is fast growing in the United
States. Twenty or thirty years ago you
could scarcely find an architect outside Of the
large cities Now there is an extensive archi-
tectural institute in the east and another in
the west, and there are many hundreds Of
architects scattered all over the country.
The day will come when every city of 5000
or 5000 inhabitants will support q good
architect"
How docs the profession "f architecture
psy"
at depends upon the man and the opPor
tunities be has know architects who earn
more every year than the president Of ths
United States, and there are others who make
scarcely anything The best architect. can
do nothing il they can get no opportunities,
A painter can show what be il il he has but a
little paint and canvas, but An architect must
have s client, and. IL possible 4 wealthy one
before he can manifest his talent and ernbodv
his ides in m,terisl Shspe There are arChi-
tects in New York. Philadelphia, Chicago
and Boston who mske from $4,000 TO t75, 900
q yearl The architect Of the Mills building
in New York, for instance, realized, l am
told, sea. .OO0 in Legitimate fees. The schedule
OF charges for professional services for mem
bers of the American Institute of Architects
and for those Of the Western Association Of
Architects IL per cent. on the cost Of
the building This includes the plan
ming and superiutemdins its construction.
We get sJOO for a house that costs $40 900;
s., joU for one that costs s5oooo; 50, 900 for
one that costs $500 0JJ. etc
What do YOU think OF American archi-
tstursi"
There Is no distinctive American archi-
lecture There is a kind Of vernacular style
exhibited in our continental and frame struct-
ures. Just now We are passing through a
SERIES Of stages which will unquestionsbly
develop our taste. and in time will he
able To- boast of much better results As vet
architecture. il = matter " fashion with US,
and our architectural fashions change al
most as rapidly as do those Of tn" modiste.
the t,i}nr. h,tter etc But there are good
reasons for Expecting great progress in this
line. Our people are au rmurntlv practical
people and we live in al age of reason. Rea-
son dictates how the srrhItect mast he gov
-rned in his cOmpoSitiOu and designs Guided
by this he v i'll hs shl" To discriminate and
discard the errors winch vhims, fancies and
vagaries of the fashion h,ve introduced in
IlhleIn pulNIll.- tilt~ hptaDlN WHICH week
to subvert utility and comfort in the at
tempt to copy traditional forms. He must
he convinced that inssmuch as there is no
known style Of architecture 50 pliable as TO
meet the manifold requirements of modern
times that it has first to be subjected TO a
modernizing process, 80 to speak, and that
this process consists in selecting and applying
~ IL
or styles which can he reasonably brought in
harmony with the necessities Of the pro-
gramme imposed and thus 10 let art adorn
but not govern our household" Reason will
dictate in the preparation OF his designs for
dwellings that the human abode, be 1t ever
So humble should he healthy and corre-
spondingly comfortable, and be will not per
init any transgressions Of sanitary laws by
which the grsndest and most luxurious pal
aces might bs Transformed into hospitals for
their inmates.
In due time our architects will understand
that architecture Is the result OF habit, re-
liSion and other characteristics Of the people
in their respective localities of climate and
the contiguity ot tatlding materials. The
mere initiating of a fsrm Of architectural
structure fitted t. . prevailing whim or
fashion, ia an set unworthy Of a true archi-
tect, who should not be q follower but leader
Of public taste. because then only can he
fulfil his mission and become . public bene-
factor BY his creations. The conviction that
architecture is based upon sound reason and
directed by good taste and sense, must and
will govern and mold the forms Of his pro-
auctions, and they will naturally conform to
our need, and customs, and adapt them
selves 10 the practical requirements of public
and private life, . result which will be SO
eloquent, truthful and unaffected in its sx-
preston a. 70 he easily understood and ap-
precisted by the people among whom it Is
used, owing to the sympathy ii will arouse
and the absolute harmony established be-
tween their requirements and all legitimate
fancics
Il should be the aim of tho modern archi-
tect to enhghten the public mind, to no
longer make . mystery Of architecture by
Disgusting, sphinx like, its chief aims and
uses, like coverings Of past ages, but 80 com
pose his Book of Stone, as an old poet called
his profession, that the language of form
may be interpreted by the eye of the public
and that they may read its meaning in plain
language, and not be put to the embarrass-
ment Of trying TO solve the riddle Of ancient
hierogyphics, or making translations from
foreign Uses and habits for the purpose Of ar
living at its comprehension.
Is il reasonable for instance that we should
.augh at the men who would walk our streets
and engage in the business and professions Of
today, incOnveniently costumed in the