The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-09-25
GOOD THING FOR THE CITY
It viii Result in Far More
Artistic Buildings.
"THE CALL" is COMMENDED.
its Architectural Contests Were FL svatin z
and VIII Be Of Lasting Benefit,
the Artists Say.

"THE CALLS efforts toward improving
the architecture of San Francisco will assur-
edly be OF lasting benefit" said Secretary
Martin of the Art Association to CALL
reporter yesterday.
''lt is wrong to think this city has not a
distinctive architecture. Every great city
has Compare the average buildings of this
.!tv with those of-say New Orleans or Bos-
ton OF Philadelphia, and you will find 3 very
wide ference in their architectural con-
structioD.
"Doyou know how such distinctions in
city architecture arise?
SITS just ike this.
Jones makes a fortune and builds a
home. Perhaps he exercises a little artistic
Judgment in selecting his plans. perhaps he
don't.
Then Brown gets rich. He sees Jones
house and admres it, That's the kind Of
house want he tells his architect. only
want a closet more or less here or there
and a corner bitten eff or added here or
there
smith wins the capital prize in the lot
terry and be builds a home. Browns just
suits him with a trihing addition or sub
traction.
"And so on It goes. until we find mile
after mile Of houses almost as much alike
as two peas in pod.
That's the way the bow-window craze
started and grew TO be such a hideo US ab0I-
ton. Why, cut on Howard street. for
instance, YOU can't find house without a
bow-WiudOW for two miles at stretch
except mine. and it has no windows at all
And il all grew out of the fact that one
daV long ago John Smith or George Jones
built the first bow window residence.
Now I'm satisfied that il was an excel
lent thing for this city that IHE CALL TOOK
up the question of architectural business
buildings and homes.
at has created good deal Of talk among
those interested in such things and has
brought the matter Of artistic buildings
prominently before the public.
"BOth subjects were discussed by The
CALL on broad and liberal lines, and l am
satisfied that the artists voted c0nSclen-
tiously.
1T was g very important subject TO dis
cuss. and HE CALL handled II IN such
way as 70 make it Of enduring benefit to the
city.
will leave its lasting impress for the better
on the architecture OF this city.
ITS just as cheap to build an artistic
home as one that IS not artistic. The fault
has been total apathy on the part OF build
ers as to the artistic proportions or finish
lngs on their buildings
The CALLS architectural symposiums
have done much 10 mend this.
They were very generally read, and with
the best Of results
Julius Luduvlci, the pastel painter, is OF
the same way Of thinking.
He said lie thought The CALL deserved
great credit for its able discussions OF such
el-vatjng questions.
Art ic
plshmeut 1t IS in the highest sense utili-
tartan. aud what could be more useful. more
eleVatiBg and more refining than TO See the
beautiful and the artistic IN our business
and residence buildings?
THE CALL has done splendidly in this
cause l only wish the question could be
kept before tho public for a gfea er length
OF time
MANY reOple have spoken to me Of The
CALLS architectural contests and on every
hand | found tie most lively interest mani
Tested IL their outcome.
in after wears all this will tell. OF that
I am satisfied"
Lee Lash, the painter, said he thought
The CALLS interest in artistic buildings
ID this city would be of lasting benefit
1T was very cTeditable piece Of work
on tie part Of THE CALI. 1t was a good
ching 10 do ana was we'll done.
Il opened the eyes of a great many
people 10 the possibilities Of artistic i'm
prOvement along lines where the artistic is
toO generally lost sight Of in the desire TO
erect profitable structures
The next thing in order now is to have a
vote on tie most unsightly Of the homes
and business buildings.
such a discussion would have the merit
Of keeping alive TIE interest already
awakened by THE CALL, and then, you
see next to knowing what is the most
beautiful il is often best 10 know what lack
beauty the most"
Arthur F. Mathews. the painter, was in
clined 10 be rather pessimistic on the sub
jet.
1t was most lauds bic thing in THE CALL
20 breach such a subject, he thought, but
would its discussion be Of lasting benefit on
the CT Us architecture?
That was an open question.
Still The CALL should be encouraged.
and the discussion did great good while il
lasted, there was no doubt about that.