New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-02
PETITION TO TIE PRESIDENT
~t.vRrP OF WE'LL KNOWN ARCHITECTS
GIVE THEIR REASONS FOR me-

VISION OF The 4 u AM
A. tho Fifr Avenue Hotel whore Information
is frequently given ont 10y the Kepunh'di' '''"
ors conios of the io'.or printed herewith We're
given 10 newspaper men last evening II was M
derstooc 10 be Senator platts excuse Tor oppos'"S
the selection of Cass Giherts plans for me ne"
Custom House building on the Bowling Green site
in his city. The letter follows
Now-York. October %. 1892
Sir: The Undersigned. architects who have sub,
mittod designs COR the custom HoHse t.'.'l' dor
be- erected AZ Nsw-Y0'k CITY, ask you j' CON. "ci
'he proc.edings by which the designs q Mr. ass
Gilbert have been selected NY d "lIi. . - ' tsr
70 cause the award Of the commission 10 'e sci
on May H. 1892 tho secretary or the Tre ,.,5Ty
issued Invitations TO twenty 1rehii'ci@ l,r' iiSe
The undersigned. 10 submit DESIGNS I'm hDnott,n ,
competition stating in%' q ,d fvgo nrom nent
and disinterested architects would BE- appointed 10
pass upon the merits Of tho plans sunmii''H 1 mo
Each Of us entered into ihe coinp'..,'. "' rsilina
pared plans with great labor ana eNl'iiS: ma
helie,nr hat The Government would n good iai,n
choose prominent architects above tbir nro-
cccdings properly and render their decision Only o."
In JULY the Supervising Architect asked each
competitor TO suggest the names OF Two sn
salsls,lggG TO XIX Nes Dav Of Phiadcipaa. who
vas aftrrwari selected as commissioner. iui ~,
Thomas H. Kimban. of omaha, who was selected
as the other commissioner. unless me- '..ii,.r,
Sybo mas failed to answer the inquiry addressed 10
.f fIa
suggested by Mr.. Hardenhefs. WHO IS 100 III nov nov,
10 answer the inquiry tn9nsn M pr ' ,,,cb e,,
!, vas commonly p,eacted agrqs the or5 q% %@@d
90 to Mr. Gilbert but the rumor hen seemed 10 ne
fo-uded only on the facts hat MI 1lineIl .an
i ma bed ,renoyed rom Minneapolis 10 NewYork
at about he time when he vas chosen AS one Oh
II now further appears that the snperyi=, M.
Architect who not only himself acted as one OF me
.f
arfivolv i'm the selection Of the other judges WIS
For many years Inc partner in business or III" SUI
The Other judges, was formerly an 'mpi"Fc ci ne
successful competitor. I'm our JnGsment. lnI,nr'.
Mr Kimhall Is not prominent architect SUCH ~
the invitation 10 the competitors promised. ne y
%"gn If the American institute OF Architects
lie ia without great eNporienrc ana nls Ss,c.'lo ION
seems to have been based CHIEFLY on d.. i',il'i IT,
iaions 10 the Supervising Architect ana me sue
According to orr Information. The commissioners
acting ali together first eliminated from consldera-
t lion an ne GV' the rcan,ns plans one Of which
was that submitted hy Nh. Gilbert. the supervising
rl,arion 10 Mr. Gilbert Tho elimination of some
plans done by AL three ol me pasrS 1H' me
or more I'M az, Of The s,,porri-ing Arch.,ec; In
].tssrauimg from the final decision between Alr
oIl''or , alh wien afrec,s his decision in the
r,.,ons cininafion Of some eighteen plans. FOR
Il, each elimination he had 10 pass on the reiailt"
% Is q each pn F@r,her IN making The mai
decision between the two or more the competitors
wore entitled 10 decision hy three impartial
Judges and the decision ~ the two failed 10 ril
fhe terms of the competition These iIr"-uIAll'l'@
are snch AS would vitiafe any award IN la"
We have also been informed fnat before inahlng
their decision the Commssion"rs or .oinr or mem ,
moi I'm Now York In tne Office Of The sl'c'Ssiu
comuofit0r We also informed that the CON-
rrissioncrs eliminated FIR 'rn their consder ION AZ
OF the plans Of rho competitors. 'Nc'pt Mt. I'll
lerf's ard one two others. within about "o
DAYS after the plans We're op"ned. and that in"y
made their final decision within I'VE Gays after the
plans opened. proving. I'm our judgment mat
no proper consideration could have been given 10
the twenty plans submitted
II has been announced thar the award VIII be
made on November / We ask you 10 investigate
these matters before the making q the award.
and II IN your judgment. the proceedings have not
been entirely regular thar You viii cause me lp-
pointment Of a committee. upon whose judg-
ment on merit only. the competitors and All other
persons may rely.
II is With the greatest reluctance that We bring
this matter TO your attention. and we only 40 so
believing that are justly dissatisfied and that
your interpOsiiion Is necessary
ROBERT w GIBSON FRANclS II. KIMDALL
ISRAEI.S & HARDER JAMES r. BAKER.
BRUCE PRICE TRoN BRIDGE q LIVING
DApY BERG SEE. SION
! GEORGE MARTIN HISS. CLINTON g RI SELL