The San Francisco call., 1896-05-30
The Commissioners in a Quan.
dary as to Which Designs
to Choose.
THE GEOMETRIC IS FAVORED.
Human Figures Sad to Appear Fore.
shortened on Concave Trans.
parent Surface.

Auditor Broderick would like to have
four or five domes on the City Hall, in
stead of only one.
He expressed that opinion yesterday
afternoon in the library of City and County
Attorney Creswell as he was examining
the designs exhibited there from which a
selection is soon TO be made for the
mosaic glasswork to form the inner dome.
There are acting Mayor Taylor, Mr..
Creswell and Mr.. Broderick, as City Hall
Com mmissioners, who must make the selec-
ton, and upon their judgment must stand
or fall this City's reputation for good taste
or the lack OF it.
Fortunately these gentlemen cannot
possibly go wrong to any very great ex-
tent, not, perhaps, that they might not do
so from an artistic standpoint if an oppor-
tunity presented itself, but from the fact
that all the exhibits are good, like excel
lent wine, matter OF taste alone making
one more appreciated than the other.
The Commissioners advertised for bids
some weeks ago inviting competition on
the contract for the mosaic glass dome
which is to adorn the inside of the recently
constructed bronze dome, on the apex of
which Rupert Schmid's beautiful statue
OF Justice has been placed as permanent
fixture.
An outside figure of S. square foot was
stipulated for the main panels, twelve IN
number, and for other and less important
work an allowance of So and 81 so was al
lowed as maximum figures.
The bids were opened a couple of days
ago, but only two concerns followed the
lines indicated, the others bidding for the
work at set price for the entire work.
fOil ~
Art Glass Works, $19, 7S1, SIS, ,945: Thomas
c. Butterworth. $20,779 4,839; f. N.
Woods IL Co., $l5, ,695.
These figures were Jumped, giving a
maximum and minimum price according
as to the desire of the Commissioners to
select figure or geometrical designs.
Two other firms entered the com petit
tion on the so much per foot proposition.
They are w. p. Fuller g. Co. and the
Pacific American Decorating Company,
both making bids on the total work sew.
eral hundred dollars less than the other
bids, the Pacific American Decorating
Company being the lowest.
But then, speaking of art, it does not
seem in good taste to mention the coast,
although the Commissioners do not ap-
pear to be of that opinion. They have
caused the various competitors to file their
drawings and each day they survey them,
shake their heads and 60 away undecided.
The cost of that beautiful dome is the
stickler, and they are not in a hurry to
! make choice of designs for fear of criti-
cism as to their judgment. 1t is likely.
therefore, that with the designs being so
nearly even as to beauty and merit the
| lowest bid will take tue contract
From an artistic standpoint this CITY
may well be proud. She may be "iay,h
according to Foil, Lottie Collins and James
| J. Corbett, so far as singing, dancing and
drama go, but she certainly can produce
artists in mosaic glasswork of which any
country might be proud.
Thomas G. Butterworth has furnished
| the drawings of the work he proposes
doing if he is the successful competitor.
The main features he presents are figures
in heroic panels Commerce." twelve
feet in height and proportionally built,
seated on winged chariot, is one OF
the main panels. Others, representing
"scenesy," n Drama ma ..iI .hiiteratnre Sci
designed. Mr.. Butterworth's work goes
mainly to figures, his success at which in
church windows has made him a name in
this country.
The California Glass Company also runs
mainly 10 figures, allegorical and other
wise. As matter of fact nearly all the
bidders excepting the Pacific American
Decorating Company have run in the old
time style, copying beautiful but we'll
known models.
The last-named institution has devoted
its efforts principally to geometric de-
signs, claiming, with some degree of logic,
that the panels placed in the dome must
be concave in shape, and being transparent
as well, perspective cannot be obtained
Hence excepting when viewed from a pre-
else point of vantage, the human figures
must necessarily be distorted.
As there are twelve panels to be viewed
but one figure could show up we'll, while