New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-06
\ NEW STATE ARCHITECT.
GEORGE L. HELMS TO SUCCEED ISAAC
G.. PERRY.
MR. PERRYs WORK on THE CAPIToI-EMI-
NENT FITNESS OF THE NEW
INCUMBENT.

INCUMBENT
Albany Feb )SpeciaD.-Governor Roosevelt
has just given new proof OF his desire TO i'm
prove the administration Of the States affairs
by announcing that he has decided to replace
Isaac G.. Perry. the Commissioner Ct the Capitol.
with George l.. Helms Of the firm Of Helms &
Lafarge the well-known architects Of New
York The appointment will be a continuance OF
the policy which has substituted Colonel John
~ Partridge for George W. Aldrdge as super
intendent Of Public Works; Jastrow Alexander
for Lightning Jim" Stewart as State Gas Meter
Inspector and William NJ Collier for George p.
Lord as Civil Service Commissioner. In every
instance the new man promises TO be more
efficient servant Of the State than the man he
replaced.
The Governor expressly disclams any reflec-
ton on the character Of Mr.. Perry's admnstra-
ton OF his office. He simply believes that the
States interests will be advanced by making
the change.
Mr. Perry will retire from the office In de-
served honor lie was successful architect in
Binghamton In 1883 when he was summoned
here by Governor Cleveland and appointed Com
missioner Of the new Capitol. There was great
danger at the time that the people OF the State
impatient over the slow progress Of the Capitol
and its tremendous cost. would support policy
of completing only part OF IT. and that part in
a spirit Of the most niggardly economy Mr..
| Perry realized that the Capitol was a work
which the rich State Of New-York could we'll
afford to carry out on a grand scale. He con-
Quoted It with a spirit OF honesty but he did
| not begrudge the dollars.
HOW MR. PERRY WAS OvERRULED.
No part Of the Capitol looks cheap and stingy
! .l,a Of
portcos on the north and south sides. and Mr..
Perry was not responsible for these. \ Capitol
Commission which had as its members George
W Aldridge Archimodes Russell. an architect
Of Syracuse; Campbell W. Adams and Charles
| T Saxton. abandoned the tower design for the
eastern front Of the building. Mr. Perry direct
ed the expenditure Of Sl0O0,O00 in constructing
| the handsome approach 10 the Capitol on It's
! eastern front and his plans also contemplated
! bringing the central part Of tho Capitol forward
| some twenty feet. and then Gaping the front
with a handsome tower. The Capitol Commits
| sion at the time. however. had no thought ap.
parently but to roof over the structure and de-
clare 1t completed. Mr. Perry's design for the
eastern front was thus ruthlessly modified. anC
the 81 900 spent on the eastern approach
was virtually sacrificed. The consequence OF
this proceeding is that the eastern front. whicf
is the one the visitor to Albany first secs as h
walks up the State-st. hill. has an unattractiv'
appearance 1t may be that Mr.. Helms will fee
called upon TO recommend to the Legislature
tho carving out Of Mr. Perry's plan.
Mr. Perry will doubtless retire from office witt
considerable satisfaction, on account or tbs
completion few months ago OF the grand west
ern stairway Of the Capitol which was hi!
design also This Is a large double stairway o
red Corse Hill sandstone. handsomely carved
Possibly also he will take pleasure in tn
thought that he constructed ventiating SMART
I'm the Capitol, and Jet in sunlight at varlou
places thus greatly improving the sanitary con
dition Of the building.
DUTIES OF THE STATE ARCHITECT
In recent years the Commissioner Of the Capt
tol has been rather a State architect than
Capitol architect. and has had charge Of I'll
designing Of large number Of armories, norma
schools. hospitals and other public buildings
The handsome buildings Of the great stat
hospital at Ogdensburg were all planned by Mr.
Perry as we'll as those now under construction
AT Central Islip and elsewhere. He has beer
the architect Of about twenty State armories
The extent of his work may be judged from TN
statement that the buildings whose constructor
/ no was supervising last year had expended OF
them 81 900 OUD The Governor thinks that
Younger man like Mr. Helms. IS better ntted 10
these duties than Mr.. Perry. Mr.. Helms Wa
recommended for the office by George ~ Fost
president Of the American society or ATcHl
tects John NJ Carrere OF the society OF Beaul
Arts: w r. Ware. professor Of architecture II
Columbia University; Stanford White ah'
/ Charles F. McKim. Of MckIm. Mead w mt
Dean f. A. Hoffman. Of the Cathedral OF -
John the Divine; Bruce Price president OF IN
Architectural League Of New York Robert l.
Gibson Lamb & Rich. and Caldwell Morgan
Mr. Helms and Mr. La Fargo were the archl
tects Of the Cathedral OF st. John the DIVINE Il
New York. 49,, C..i.,
The salary Of the Commissioner Of the CapNo
is $500 year.
PFiL ANTIQUE OAK.