The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-12
FIGHT ON THE PLANS.
Choice Of State Worlds Fair
Commission Rejected.
BURNHAM's ARBITRARY ACTION.
Architect Richie Accuses Chief of Con
struction of Stretching Authority
to Crafty His Rivals.

For several days quiet intimstions have been
made by architects in the city that ". A.
Richie would not get the JOB OF supervising
the erection Of the Washington building az the
Worlds fair for which his plans Won first prize
These statements were followed yesterday by
the positive information from Chicago that
d. a. Burnham, of Chicago, the chief Of coz
struction for the fair, had rejected Ar. Riches
plans and adopted those of Warren z. skillngs,
the winner OF the third prize offered by the
executive committsee OF the Washington com
mission
nr. Richie was asked last night whether he
had received any information TO tnis effect.
He admitted that he had. and said:
"whsn the executive committee made the
award Of the first prize to me, the second 10
Bullard Il Hayward, of Tacoma, and the third
% Warren r. skiIiings, there Yves general
howl of remonstranee from al the architects,
because had met them in com petition dozens
OF times and almost invariably got the work IL
was intimated that. though my plans had been
adopted, Mr.. Burnham, the chief of eonstruc-
ton At Chicago would reject them. Some OF
the architects who were IN the competition had
worked in Burnham's Office at one time and
Others had worked in Chicago and had friends
who, they confdentially claimed, would see
that my plans were rejected When my plans
were taken to Chicago for Mr.. Burnhams ap-
prevail. he Immediately rejected them and
adopted those Of Mr.. skillings.
'1The question may arise at the meeting OF the
state commission at Spokane next week whether
that body or Mr.. Burnham shall decide the style
OF building Washington shall have In the call
for competitive plans, issued BY the state COM
mission, some OF the conditions are:
First prize, $500; second prize, $500; third
The architect receiving the first prize is 20 re-
eeiye as compensation for experimenting the
erection and construction OF said building per
i'm
first preInium 20 be computed as part OF such
compensation.
Material to be estimated equal in amount to
commission and construction. First, second
and third designs TO become the property OF
the commission.
The submitter of design selected for first
prize shall, before receiving payment for same,
furnish good and sufficient bond that the work
can be completed within the amount OF esti-
mate given.
"Under these conditions the fact that my plans
received first prize elects me architect for the
building, and though ! may have 10 alter my
plans 70 overcome the objections which Mr..
Barnham has raised, this Will probably be or
deTed done by the state commission, because in
adopting my plan the commission found fewer
Objectionable features in il than in that OF Mr..
skiliings, as evident from the respective
places given them in awarding the prizes
"Mr. Burnham has authority to reject plans
or suggest notifications but not to accept any
This authority rests with the executive com
mittee OF the state commission. This appears
from this passage in his circular of Noyem-
Der 30:
Working drawings of all designs for the state
buildings must be placed on file in the office of
the chief OF construction, and his acceptance
OF the design IN writing must be obtained be-
fore the work is commenced.
Preliminary studies for these buildings
should he submitted to the chief of construe-
ton soon possible in order that he may in
dicate his opinions before the work of prepare
ton is lar advanced.
preliminary studies were submitted in this
case, and, while the work of preparing detail
drawings Is partly completed, il is not yet too
late TO make such alterations in the plan as Mr.
Burnhsm may direct, and thus overcome his OBJ
jections."