Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-24
ARCHITECT FRANZHEIM
Writes Card in Defense of the Guild
The Board of Education Gets Whack.
To the Editor Of the Register:

bOuS, loOi ~ IuSuWUtub upOu mgScll
as an architect, with high sense Of
honor, to protest most vigorously against
the manner In which the Board Of Edu-
cation received the communication from
the architects Of this city.
AS the papers have given a full ac-
count OF the meeting Of the Board Of
Education, giving in detail the entire
discussion, even going so far as TO In
clude senseless talk by some of its mem
bers, feel assured you will allow me
space to give to the public the inten-
tions and fall meaning of the architects,
which was as much for the public well
fare as 1t was for their protection, which
at present the public does not under
stand, only having heard the harsh
words Of the Board of Education who
would give the impression that the arch
fleets were beings lacking all sense OF
honor and ability.
In the first place, the resoluti on sent
to the Board of Education was merely
a copy Of general resolution covering
all competitions held in this county, no
direct allusion being made to that body,
as copy OF the resolutions which l
here give will clearly show:
"In view OF the unfair manner In
which the competitions for public work
have been conducted, whereby men who
are totally unacquainted with drawings
have the privilege of judging designs
submitted by architects who have spent
much time and great labor upon the
perfecting OF the same, that it be there
no hn 70 n
Wheeling will refuse to enter into any
future competition unless there are
competent judges who will decide
strictly upon its merits and select the
most creditable and perfect design sub
mitted in accordance with instructions,
etc, given by parties asking the compe-
tition."
In the past the competitions held in
Wheeling have been most unfair. The
architects have spent hours of hard la
Dor and ceaseless brain work to the per-
feet completion and perfection Of their
designs, only to find that the various
etc., after glance at the
drawings, proceed to ballot upon the
not upon the good points OF
the various plans, but upon their favor
ties. This was most clearly shown In
the manner in which the competition
for the new Jail was carried on. When
the members Of that committee voted 1t
was as though in a nominating
casting their vote oc-
casionally for one OF the lesser
lights with the only intention
Of possibly electing their man, by draw
ing a vote from the smaller man in re-
turn compliment, but they over-reached
and the Board of County
were much surprised
body, for they elected man who had
one vote on the first ballot, and that
man, it has been clearly acknowledged
since, had not the slightest show at the
start. A great deal of evidence Of the
unfairnesS of that competition can be
brought out il desired.
To come back to the subject Of the
resolution, wherein. it said that linen
who are totally unscquainted with
have the privilege Of judging
designs submitted" The Board of Edu
cation act decidedly as though the shoe
pinches and take TO themselves person
ally that which was intended to cover
all past competitions. l will say fur
Their that do not question the intelli-
gence of any member Of the Board and
his ability to manage his own business,
but do question, and most decidedly,
too, their ability to decide upon its
merits the superiority OF one drawing
over another. They nor any other set
of men alive can justly decide ques-
ton of that sort without the assistance
of a person or persons fully capable OF
dissecting the plans and understanding
the "why and wherefore" Of each fea-
ture.
1t looks to me as though the Board Of
wish to cover up their ignor-
ance upon this subject by assuming that
which they do not possess, and crying
insult" to cover up their confusion at
being found out. II this were not the
case they would have read that resolu-
ton in calm and collected manner,
fully acknowledging its fairness. l sin
cerely hope they will read it again, and
see what q mistake they have made,
and how unjustly they have treated the
architects, who asked protection for
and that the better inter-
ests of the people can be served by Civ
ing them the best buildings that the
brains of architects can give.
1t was clearly shown by the success
full architect that the committee OF
the Board of Education could not dis
criminate between good and bad de-
signs, for after making the award the
committee adjourned, and the archi-
tects present went into the room to look
at the successful drawings, and it did
not take them long TO see that which had
escaped the eyes OF the
Board. And further, the successful arch
itect admitted to the architects, when
questioned, that he had some things in his
drawings which were against all rules
Of school house architecture, such as
getting Of light over the right shoulder,
and in such an important place as the
grammar room. Where was the Justly
Board when this plan
came up, and further, how does the COM
nittee account for the change in the
successful drawings, between the ad-
iournment of the committee meeting
and the regular Board meeting TO act
upon the committee selection. Possibly
they did not notice they were changed;
the change did not escape the eyes OF
one who understands drawings fully.
Personally l consider that in place OF
the Board of Education having been in
suited, that l am the insulted party,
and by the Board of Education. / as
Secretary Of the Architects wrote the
resolution and the letter which accom-
panied it. By an oversight | ommitted
one "a" from the word totally, which
caused the remark from DR.. Jepson that
III the architect could not draw any
better that he could spell he didn't
blame the committee" Now | will ask
DR.. Jepson if he ever makes an error?
Col. Miller said that the architects were