The morning call., 1893-07-23
CLOSE OPINIONS.
The Architects Big Talk
on the Tower.
Non-COmmittal Statement to the
New City Hall Commissioners.
Polk's InCisive Logic.

There was no unanimity of opinion
among the two score or more of architects
who were in attendance at the meeting of
the new City Hall Commissioners yester-
day.
They had been invited to give profess
sional opinions upon the plan proposed by
Architect Frank O'Shea fer the completion
of the building and the erection of a
tower. Several architects made lengthy
speeches, explaining that they could not
pass Judgment upon the plan without
spending from thirty to ninety days in
study.
A number sent letters containing their
opinions, and some sharp remarks were
made By some upon other members Of the
profession. The practical results of tine
sp-called conference were not marked.
Architect Shea had his innings first. He
replied at length to the published crit-
Ci5ms which b al been made upon his de-
sign by Wright & Sanders and Pissis &
Moore. He became sarcastic at the ex-
pe ST Of the members Of these firms and
said these gentlemen had not seen his de-
sign when they passed judgment upon it,
They had looked at the aboI tive creation
of the fertile mind of an Examiner artist,
and then assumed 10 themselves the im-
purtance OF voicing the unanimous opin-
ions of the hundred architects of the city,"
After describing his design in detail.
Architect Shea read Endorsements OF his
design from the following architects and
artists:
Morris Goustran Especial delegate from
the city of Paris to the Columbian Exposi-
iion), Edward R. Swain, j. B. Maiheson.
Amadee Joullin, Rupert Schmid, Frank
Happers berger. j. II. Llttlefeld, p. w.
Bush Qoyal mrdalst of Denmark and Ger
ma ", Samuel Newsom, Emil S. Lemme
(archiect of the Sutro maths),. William
CGrlett architect OF the Phelan building).
G. H Wolfe (architect Of the Flood build.
ing).
A communication was read from Clin-
ton E. Day, IN which the architect said:
If my opinion were asked as to the DE-
sign for the proposed tower | can think of
no better answer in brief than to refer to
the vignette in your lelterhead. AS there
shown the central figure seems eEt rely in
keeping with the style and mass of the
building, and it completes the design with
out any straining for effect, which is very
apparent in some Of the published draw
ings."
Willis Polk Jr. was in Castle Crags yes
terday, but sent the following telegram to
the Commissioners:
II suggest that design for new tower be
4 iciiCu W CulHlDitIfc VI dICuitcCIuLd di
experts composed Of D. II. Burnham,
Hrnry Van Brunt and Professor Ware"
Burnham designed the Mills building in
ms city, and IS now in Chicago. Van
Brunt Is called the father Of American
architecture, and was formerly professor
OF architecture in the Massachusetts, In-
stltulr OF Technology. Professor Ware
ocrup!es the chair OF architecture in Co.
lumb mbia College. and frequently acts as a
1uQgH In conn iltions for Ip>ipus
Before ieaVingthe city, Mr.. Polk strongly
expressed Ills dlsapproval Of the proposed
tower Of Architect Shea
ANY set of public officials" he said,
who presume to sit in judgment upon
purely technical matter are certainly mis-
GUIDED. Any design which might be So
lecled ny such misguided officials would,
900 times out of 901 be bad.
The proposed tower Is certainly bad,
ANY such design as that submitted is rldlc-
ulous, ard any architect who would in vent
such composition is archltecturally in
In all weIl-regulated cities.
such matters are left to professions al juries.
the Worlds Fair build ngs-.he most mar
velous achievement. artstically, known in
architectural history.
''Such thing would be impossible in
SAP Francisco. because the entire tribe OF
SOFA lied architects is responsible for the
hIdeou-ne,s of Market street, the West rn
a ddition, and all parts Of the city except
the Latin quarter or the old part. Should
Mayor ElIert wish to do something really
lauda bic, n should pull string and pre-
cipltate all these architects from the COM
mi mi-sion's rooms to the bottomless pit. If
such lovely result could be obtained"
concluded Mr.. Polk, II would willingly
sacrifice myself among the herd"
L. Bridges thought that the original
plaI If the hall should be carried out.
There ought to be another story. and he
favored mansard roof.
Architect La Roma accused the Commits
'ioners Of trying to secure cap advice.
Mayor Ebert tartly replied that Mr.. La
Roma was not obliged to be present to
give his advice If he did not wish to do so.
Sev~ral other architects made non-cOm-
initial speeches. The commission ad-
iourned until next Saturday. withouttaking
actluh.
Groves OF orange. rich In perfume,
With their odors freight the breeze:
SOZ DON'T In healthful fr" "grance.
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