The Washington times., 1895-01-13

Mr.. peIz's Comments on the New Library
EDITOR TIMES: Dean SIR--I have few
words to say regarding an article in your
paper of January 2, under the caption How
the Quarrymen Lost the Strike The state
ment there by Supt. Green, of the Library
building. may give some incorrect impress
slols, which am interested TO have cor
rected.
In every true sense am the architect OF the
new building for the library OF Congress.
From 1873 to 1886 was in partnership with
Mr.. John l.. Smithmeyer. and prepared the
different plans for the proposed new library,
which were submitted to Congress by him.
The first OF these received the first premium
IN public competition, and one OF the last
was the one adopted. Mr.. Smithneyer rep
resented the firm before Congress onai COM
mi;tees: | made study OF the plans; we
constantly assisted each other by counsel ad-
vice, and criticism. The plan adopted bears
beth our signatures "a architects, and ls now
on file in the Office of the Library building In
MIR. Green's custody.
When Gen. Casey was paced in control OF
the building he appointed me architect, and
prepared the plans for the structure as
built. They were notifications OF the origi-
nal plans, but were signed by myself only as
architect. These drawings also are now IN
Mr.. Green's care He put his name TO every
one of them rs ''suI erintendent and engineer
and sent then all over the country IN blue
print reproductions TO bidders Tor The yari-
Gus branches of the work. Reproductions
were bound with Gen. Caseys reports. 1 am
mentioned in these reports as having pre-
Jared the plans.
II is true that Mr.. Green prepared the
specifications for the granite work. and they
are models of their kinds; is only pity
that after all the legal precautions they con-
tain to secure a Uniform color, Mr.. Green, in
a weak moment. should have allowed the
millionaire president OF the New England
! Granite Company, Mr.. patterson. TO substi-
tute the Maryland green stone Tor the Con-
cord blue in the rotunda. But it is easier to
/ oyerawe small contractor than TO hold the
/ millionaire with an iron-ctad agreement.
To every ono with eyes to see and who
cares to think. 1t must be clear that Mr..
! Green has marred the building beyond re-
/ demption. The green stone of the rotunda
! looks off eoor, and with the blue makes
very inharmonious and dsaCreeabe union.
/ You need not ges very far away or up in the
I air 10 see II either. II you are not color blind
! you can see ii ON Second street across the tall
/ fence. or in the Capitol grounds anywhere
near the Capitol, on the steps. and when you
! have seen the difference once you see 1t
always and you. feel sorry for the building.
And time will OILY intensity tho ugliEess of
! the inharmonious combination
/ In regard 10 the reductions in ornamental
work oi the middle and upper cornices max
I ing them coarser, l suppose, OF course, The
government has an equitable credit The re-
ductions were extensive and affected all
I cornices above the basement around the 500
/ feet or so. put cannot remember that in this
/ particular contract any WORK has been added
as IA Offset. as suggested by Mr.. Green. |
wish TO say that these changes were made by
this representative OF Gen. Casey against my
protest. Trey are the contrary of Improve
/ mcnts, making the articulation coarser. Mr..
Green says. they think they have improved
the work by changes in my Ilans. The
changes for the interior decorations OF the
rotunda have been made by Gen. Caseys
young son. who has recently established him
I self in New York as practcing architect.
1t should be d cause Of regret TO every art
loving citizen that this enduring structure
should suffer 50 ny interferepces, live in
4 constant fear for my building and often pray
that it ray not be utterly ruined by tLese
"improyers." Yours very respectfully,
pAuI. J. PEIZ.s
Architect OF the Building for tie Library OF
Congress.