The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18

The first part of the structure TO be built
Is 10 be the choir and am bulatory. and
this is so large that it will contain easily
100; its height is l5i feet, and height Of
its tower 100 feet. 1t is larger than most
of the churches in New York city. 1t is
SO large that dozen ordinary dwelling
houses i'll New York could easily be con-
tanned within its limits, and yet III
comparison with the cathedral of which
1t is ultimately to be the choir, it
bears the same proportions that an ordln-
AIRY extension or single story does 10 a
dwelling house. 1t will cost nearly
81 900. 900, and if no other part of the ca
thedral were ever to be built, the choir of it
self would be esteemed an exquisite archi-
tectural structure. perhaps the finest In
New York, and the subject OF as much
professional interest as IS the much dis
cussed and admired Trinity church of
Boston.
There is something of romance in the
story of this cathedral. The trustees. be-
ing desirous TO obtain the best plans by
public advertisement, invited any Amer
lean architect TO submit designs. 1t was a
dazzling opportunity for men OF that pro-
fession. 1t was the glittering prOtes sional
prize of the generation. To win IL ouid
establish for the architect who did so per
manent fame. He would be known per
haps AS Sir Christopher Wren il known in
England, and he would become i'm IMMORTAL
"a Richardson, the designer OF Trinity in
Bos ION, has become.
Competition was SO intense that seventy
plans were submitted, and after a most
careful examination the committee of the
trustees selected four as the best. All of
them were magnificent specimens OF ar
chitectural genus, and the committee was
in great doubt for some time about the
choice 1t was compelled 10 make. The
award was finally made 10 the plans of
Helms Il la Fargo, and everybody asked
who are Helms q La FARCE"
In sky parlor OF one OF the lofty down
town buildings IN New York two young
men had an architects office Neither of
them was 30 years of age. each OF them
looked ike a student, so youthful were
they in appearance, and one filed those
who saw him with amazement, since be
seemed a mere boy with beardless face aud
ROSY cheeks Yet these two young men
had won the great architectural prize of
the latter part of the nineteenth century.
They had gained not only fame, but i'm
mortality, since their names will be ASSOC
ciated always with the structure. but they
had also secured fortune rs we'll. since
their commissions upon the construction
will be more than sufficient to satisfy the
largest professional demands, and VIII
continue FOR at least twenty years. More
over the success was sure 10 exemplity that
proyerD which declares that Nothing sue
ceeds like success" Helms is a Philadei-
phian by birth, and La Fargo is son of
John La Fargo, VINO has gained fame as an
artist.
The success of these young men was due
to no luck and no personal influence. They
won the prize although a brother OF Bishop
Potter, VINO Is most eminent architect,
was one Of the competitors. They spent
five wears Of exhaustng work involving
much travel in Europe and prolonged
study OF the best architectural exhibits
there. Some OF the detail work Of the
drawings was prodigious involving
many hours of wearlsome abor every day
1t required patience, courage. hope and
dreaTy toll. Is we'll as involving no little
expense to plan these designs so that at
last they should be submitted complete,
containing no~hint of serviie imitation of
the best models. and il was this work
which gave these young men the victory
In one sense the work has only begun
Moditi cations OF the plans III some minor
details are made constantly necessary. and
the SUPERVISION Of the work OF construc-
ton will OF itself demand about as much
attention as does the management of
some great corporation.
The ceremonial of LAYING the corner
stone will be magnificent and impressive.
/ The presiding bishop ana many Of the
House of Bishops will be present. and dis
tinguished clergy and iayuen from ali.
PARTS Of the United States have been in
yited 10 assist III the ceremony.
Z. JAY EDWARDS.