Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-28

| etc, that they would have been satisfied to
| suffOCate in low rooms; or II there was no
| tax on windows and window glass, and the
beautiful, pure and large plate glass Of our
| times could have been had in their markets.
| that they would have been Contented with
| so few windows and employed the small i'm
| pure and costly diamond paneS. admitting
! only half the light Of day in their sCant win
| dows! What excuse have We, then, 10 offer
| 10 common sense when seeking to retrograde
into the imitation Of structures muuifcstly
built for the economies of a pristine age, ex-
cept that we are the dupe Of the fashion to
reproduce old styles
What is the present architectural fash
ionr
1T is phase OF the Norman somewhat
mOdeInized and Hdaptel 70 the present wants
This style Is directly opposite in its character
iStics from the Queen Anne. Is severe to Clum-
siness and will undoubtedly have its rum
What do yOu think viii be the next fash
ionF
"RomaneSIue and Gothic will surely follow
the present fashion And after that time we
will have arrived at tine period when fashion
in architecture will have to take a back seat
and individual Judgment based upon refined
taste will reign III the land. Our people learn
quickly. and our stages uf progress are much
shorter than those Of other countries We
have such a cosmopolitan population, and we
import 50 much Of the brains and experiences
Of the old countries that We go further ahead
ip n decade than other countries do in cent
ury.'
How about our public buildings"
The architecture " Our government build
ings is more pret"ntious. hut Is nctually be
low the averaC" private architecture in New
York. Chicago. Boston. Philadelphia. etc
The pubic buildings are big. and the costly
materials used in them, such as fine marble,
bronzcS, rich fini.hincs, etc. run through
them all There is little artistic conception
in them, and they are lacking IN those ar,.hi-
tectural qualities which should he found in
the works Of great nation. The trouble
with our government architecture is that the
immense amount of routine work which
occupies the attention Of the supervising
architect, who makes all these plans the
very nature Of the duties which devOive upon
him, and the fact that he is at no time free
from interruption. leave him no opportunity
for the proper study of his designs. This
work is done under all the disadvantages of
want of time and almost entire preOCcupa-
ton with other matters, which must
always result in Imperfect and unSatiS-
factory work Government buildings
should be let out for competition to the best
architects OF the country and the best plans
taken In this way we would have d variety
Of designs and the best talent in the United
States 10 draw from
What DO you think OF the Washington
monument"
1t is not he conception Of the present
age but that Of past age 1t belongs to
our first stage Of monumental architecture.
to the period when the first rays of monu-
mental architecture dawned. when bigness
ruled supremely. 1t CORR ponds 10 the idea
that some people have Of America. in that it
is a wonderful country on account Of the big
ness of its territory. This desire for bigness
is always the first stage Of nations monu-
mental architecture, You find it m the
pyramids in the Tower Of Babel and in the
Washington monument We have gotten
over that now 10 a certain extent and are
now in the second stage in which we want
our national structures not only big but
gaudv Nations are like individuals, and we
are now in the position Of a Young son who
has suddenly Inherited all his fathers i'm
llltllNf NtSiitli " - lnt Nhlte OF a
thing by its cost and we throw our money
around more with an idea 10 show that we
have it than tn bring usefulness or beauty
out Of IT,
What do You think Of the durability of
the monument.
How long il will last is question that
time only can decide The experiment of a
structure Of this size has never been tried be
fore. The monument weighs nearly lOO, 900
tons and You can see how time has affected
its lower half The difference between it
and that which was built during the last few
years is very plainly visible"
What are the chief faults OF the public
buildings Of Washingtonr
The chief one Is that they are not fire
proof. The main Old parts Of the Capitol
have w"oden ceilings and roofs and fire on
either side OF the great dome would bring it
down to the ground. It would consume the
national library and would destroy millions
Of dollars worth Of property. The state, war
and navy department is not strictly fireproof
and should big fire break out in the treas
ury department nothing could save it. The
White House is not hreproof. and in fact the
only public bu,idinG in Washington which is
fireproof are the two wings of the interior
department which We're rebuilt after the fire
OF a few years ago.
Another great fault of our public build
ings," continued Mr.. Smithmeyer, lis that
they are too small The great increase of
the public business has outgrown them The
Capitol ought 70 be twice its size, and almost
all the departments have their clerks scat
tered about i'll rented and insecure buildings
There was a scheme for enlarging the White
House before congress and some legislation
will have to be done to give the president
more room. Congress has the matter in
charge. There ought 10 be an addition TO
the White House President Hayes had the
right idea of ii. He told me one day that
he thought the Old building should be en-
larged in every direction, but be preserved
on account OF the historical associations
Here said he, our presidents have lived
and here have been enacted many of the
chief scenes of our nations history The old
White House, the White House of our presi-
dents, should stand as long as the country
stands. 1t should be kept sacred to the
memory of the past
Il think President Hayes was right" con-
tiuued Mr.. SmIthmeyer, we could add to
it and make a beautiful building This is
the way most of the great palaces Of Europe
have been built, and think it is the way in
which the presidents mansion will be i'm
proved some day
FRANK G. CARPENTER
interviewing Col Bob lngerson.
Bob lngersoll has a peculiar way of being
interviewed, said reporter. How is thatt"
Il will tell you. An expert stenOSripher
travels around with him all the time,