Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-10
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
Rev. Nh. Sewall's Plan for Securing Arohi-
tectural Harmony.
A Proposed Bureau to Have Charge O
Edihces-What Might He Done.

rev. FRANK SeWau OF this city, writing In
q recent number Of The American Architect
and Building News. advocating a govern
ment bureau of public building, said:
buildings erected by the government at
immense cost, but of unworthy design,
and calculated to bring ridicule on our
national culture and to be a means Of con-
stantly depraving instead Of elevating the
public taste. are simply a gross abuse Of
the public trust such as no enlightened
nation should submit to; and yet our peo-
pie have had to helplessly face such pro-
ceedings more than once and to meekly pay
over the money to foot the bills. The same
Is true Of public monuments conspicuously
placed. whether Oh streets snd parks or
in the corridors OF the Cap .ol on whose
merit there has been no Competent judy
ment passed as to eitbeX the design or the
location. The people pay their money and
bear the ridicule and draw sigh Of relief
that the thing Is no worse than 1t is and
at the same time are exhorted to admire
the diligence and sound common sense Of
their legislators in Congress-. who have no
time to devote to such trivial matterS' as
architecture and art. Put why should the
American citizen be at such disadvantage
beside the Englishman, Frenchman or Ger
man. who knows that no public building or
monument could be erected in any public
space in those countries without passing
the ordeal of a criticism by a government
art commission or bureau Of public works,
which calls into exercise the best profess
sional skill the nation possesses? Is that
a genuine economy. Is 1t even an honest
dealing with the peoples money, that al
lows the vast sums appropriated for pub
lie buildings, not for Washington ONLY but
for the whole country, to be under the con-
troll. practically. of a single supervising ar
chftect of the treasury, the emolument of
whose ONCE Is so small that no architect
of prominence in the country could afford
n hrof ", opd
those of his subordinate draughtsmen the
country must look for the architectural in
vention which shall give shape to the gov
eminent buildings Of half a continent?
are justified in neglecting on the plea that
greater practical questions preclude them
from giving attention to such minor de-
tails. 1t is no minor detail with a man
who Is building a house for himself at
large cost to secure the very best design
and location for his house, and IL he is
aware that his own taste and education are
defective he is all the more careful, IL he is
man OF wise economy, to secure the1Judg-
ment Of a skilled and accredited archi-
tect.
ION what principle Of justice or economy
can Congress do otherwise In the expendi-
ture year after year of millions of dollars
of the peoples money? And how can ii
administer such a vast expenditure as that
which is required for public buildings of
the United States without a suitable bureau
the country affords. who shall perform
service for the American taxpayers anal
ogous to that which the office of works
and public buildings does for the English
nation and the ministry of fine arts does
for the republic of France? 1t is not the
individual private notion of a few persons
here and there that sees here a great pub
lie need, such as a truly economical Con-
sress. and one legislating for the real in
terests Of the people ought to give serious
attention to. The creation of a commission
Of control has been urged upon Congress
in recent years by some Of our wisest and
most experienced legislators.
The Function of the Bureau.
TT should be borne in mind that the func-
ton of this bureau would be purely admin
istrative; it would not interfere in any way
with the legislation Of Congress In regard
to public buildings, the determining what
building should be erected at what places
or at what cost; nor would it abolish the
work OF the office Of the supervising archi-
tect or the treasury. but rather embrace
this as one OF its chief features 1t would
constitute means OF bringing out the best
architectural ability Of the nation through
competitive designs for public buildings, Of
exercising q careful and skillful supervision
over all the work being carried on by the
government and Of preventing unworthy
structures being erected and the wasting Of
the money Of a generous people In the pur-
chasing OF bogus works Of art. Finally
1nStru-
ment by Congress Of securing the archi-
tectural development of the city Of WASH
ington upon a plan Of broad magnificence
dignity and symmetry such es cannot be
secured py any amount OF random legisla
ton at odd intervals. giving license to the
AMBITIOUS ventures Of any single govern
ment employe or to spasmodic exhibitions
OF economy" by some Congress bidding for
votes. such a bureau should consist of
course. Of practical engineers and archi-
tects as well as Of men Of Acknowledged
judgment in works Of art and these Should
receive pay for their services proportionate
to the time and labor required for the per
Torrance Of their respective duties
Mention was made above of the need of
such a bureau OF public building as being
an urgent one at the present time. This is
III view OF undertakings now in progress
or likely to be begun in the immediate fu-
ture. the direction Of which will very con-
siderably control the aspect Of the capitals
most conspicuous avenue Besides the Con-
gressional Library and the District post
office, buildings now under construction
there are bills before the present Congress
Tor the erection Of a new city hall for the
district OF Columbia, and Of a new building
Tor the government printing office, the
largest establishment Of the kind in the
world. The new District post Office is To-
Gated on an imposing site, occupying an
enure piock on the south side of Pennsyl-
vanfa avenue at the intersection of ID
street The building is to be of granite.
eight stories in height. with a tower. II
VIII stand about midway on the nations
great thoroughfare. leading from the ella ssic
porticoes OF the Capitol at the one extremity
to the grave and beautiful front of the
Treasury at the other The building itself
Is wholly without ornament or grace we
might almost say devoid Of style of any
kind. Without condemning ii in the lea st
as a building suited for commercial or
manufacturing purposes In a crowded BUSH
ness thoroughfare, one can hardly help
feeling that here an opportunity has been
lost for grazing our broad national avenue
with building of distinguished beauty in
harmony with the other government build
ings and capable of lending itself to a COM
prehensive architectural scheme for the
adornment Of the entire avenue. We do not
know who Is Immediately responsible for
the selection Of this design, but we cannot
help regarding 1t as somewhat singular that
the style of a building Of such imposing d.
mansions and 50 conspicuously placed
should be left to the choice Of any single
official Of the government, and decided
upon without any opportunity being given
for the hearing Of suggestions or criticism
from experts Of the profession. or from the
popular judgment
'In the erection Of the District office
buildings now contemplated and likely soon
to be begun, 1t is probable that another
central and spacious square on the south
side Of the avenue will he converted into a
permanent and conspicuous architectural
feature Of the city. In considering the style
to be adopted, will any regard be had to its
combined effects with other buildings likely
to follow, or to the possible architectural
unity of the avenue as a whole? Such a