The record-union., 1899-08-16
LOOKS LIKE A GOLD BRICK.
ARCHITECTS BID ON AN AIR
CASTLE.
A Laughab1e Situation Develops
Before the State Commission
in Lunacy.

There was some amusement at the
o1nceS of the State Commissioners IN
Lunacy yesterday, when two rival
architects-T j. Mccarthy of Los An
geles and Thomas w. Goff of San Ber-
nardino-appeared before Secreta
Carriere, each carrying a bundle of
plans and specifications for additions to
the Southern California State Hospital.
Mr.. McCarthy's mien was that OF
victor, for he carried formidable doc
ument labeled Majority Report" and
this meant that three out of the tve
Directors of the Southern Hospital had
given him the seal of recognition as
the architect whose plans were author
lied by those legally qualified to speak
Quietly, yet with a burning ambition
to beat his competitor, MIR. Goff carried
a roll of designs formidable TO look
upon-almost as large as the pictures
of Christians pack in old editions OF
Bunyan.
Mr. GOff, however, bore the humilia-
tion of a minority recommendation.
Two of the Directors had chosen him,
and he felt that he had a call to ap-
pear and speak for his plans, like any
honest man. 1t was evident that the
local board had split on the sunken
reef of politics. So it seemed to be
anybody's fight before the Commission
in Luacy, which the competing archi-
tects looked upon as their last resort.
Like the man described in the old
school readers, the Secretary sat alone
when the gentleman from Los Angeles
entered, followed by the man from San
Bernardino, and he laughed when he
thought of the architects and their
fierce battle for that prize. He viewed
their designs with a delicate eye OF
scrutiny, admired the drawings and
chose his words cautiously, lest he
offend one or the other.
Yes" he said, "the plans are good,
very good'-and again he studied the
drawings of two splendid castles 0asy-
'ums) in the air, both ropes of sand.
Three stories and an attic loomed
gracefully in the front elevation, drawn
in colUrs as rich as the pictures of BIZ
BILE lands. Above these rose a tower de-
signed TO overhang the Babel of voices
in the asylum. 1t was a thing Of beau
ty, luminous in rich colorings.
Finally luncheon hour came, the
offices were closed, and the architects
and the Secretary discussed cracked
crab and Sauterne at a downtown res
taurant Business was dropped and
there was never a word about arch
itecture or asylums. But the Secretary
could not lose the architects, for after
noon found them still explaining their
designs. When they had gone the Sec
retary laughed a deep, hollow, resilient
laugh-and this is why:
The law gives no authority to the
officers of the Southern California Hos
pital," said a legal light at the Cap
itol either to advertise for plans, as
they have done, or to adopt any archi-
tectural plans or designs. Forty-five
thousands dollars were appropriated for
the building of a wing to the main
building or cottages for ward pur-
poses. and for furnishing the same, etc.
Everything pertaining to these i'm
provements is handled by the Commis-
siOners in Lunacy. l chance to know
that it is the opinion of a majority of
these Commissioners that cottages
should be built for ward purposes. SO
elaborate plans for wings are as useless
as a fifth wheel to a wagon"
The State Commissioners may ksep
the plans as ornaments, and they may
write the architects a formal letter OF
thanks for submitting them, but the
architects will doubtless repeat the old
question. "cui bono?"-what good?