New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-26
RIrAL ARCHITECTS.


new hut not unexpected art critic mas ap-
neared on the horizon. We say new for the nne
arts have not hitherto been known rs one OF me
snecalties Of his versatile genius. And not unex-
pected. because when Mr.. Plat publicly under
took 70 overrule the Government commission or
architects on the Custom House award 1t was
we'll understood what his local assistants opln-
ion would be on the artistic and other merits OF
the accented plans for that structure. Mr. QulGg
makes the interesting though perhaps supernu-
ous announcement that he Is one with Senator
Plat in opposition 10 the selection OF CaSS "ll
bert as architect Of the new Custom House
building He is opposed 10 him because ne mas
not long been a resident Of this city thouGh ne
now IS He fears that outside contractors VIII
be employed on the work. and his Tstheuc soul
Is offended. as is Mr.. Platt's, at the lGea or
building without good, large, bullying ana
profitable dome He says that II Mr.. Gilbert
MANS should be carried out "the Custom House
..,yould be a specimen Of architecture as hideous
"as the PostOtiice.
In view Of such verdict as that OF course
the opinion Of expert architects must 60 for
naught Mr Gilbert is not unknown III his pro-
fession as a competent designer Of Pubic nulid-
ings All teachers at the Academic des Beaux
Arts NAV approve of his work. Minnesota may
GET him TO build her n State capitol. and all our
hest architects may applaud. That can make no
difference Mr. Quigg says his Custom House
,s as ugly as the Postoffice, and we all DOW 10
him. for Mr. Quigg is expert in this Custom
House matter He may be a little shaky on
+he difference between French and Italian Re
naissance and have rather crude Ideas about
domes. but when It comes to the "practcal' side
Of building a custom house he Is as "slick' an
e,nert nc can anywhere he found If anybody
feels inclined TO question his fitness to deal with
this subject he should recall some or MT
Oulgg's own able and artistic Custom House
plans.
Early in the year 1896 Mr.. Qulgg introduced a
very clever plan into Congress. 1t was one nam
Ing three commissioners at $1,000 year each
TO build a custom house on the old Nall-st site
II did not 90 through. but a year later II ap'
peared in much improved form as result OF
architectural collaboration with Senator Ed
ward Murphy an eminent artist from Troy
which. as everybody knows, is not so far away
as Minnesota. A Troy architect easily Knows
1.-The sort Of thing we want. In the QulgS-
Murphy plan the commission was Increased 10
five one architectural a good one-and 1our
other persons. one of them Hugh ]. Grant
sop-in-law Of this same Senator Murphy. ms
commission was one Of those beautiful bipartl-
san structures such as Mr.. Plat and Mr.. Croker
both delight H. relieved and crowned by an ar
chitect who was TO give IT repute, perhaps serve
as a dome This plan went through the Sen
ate and had the support Of most or the New
York congressman, Tammany ana hepuDHcah'
1t would probably have gone through the House
If Sneaker Reeds attention had not been prl-
vately directed 10 the nature of the JoD. ii II
had been passed the erection OF the custom
House would have been taken practically from
the hands Of the Washington officials and been
intrusted TO representatives. OF the TWO local
machines We have the Albany Capitol ana the
Tweed Courthouse as samples OF pOhucal
architecture The commissioners would nave
drawn from the Government $4,000 a year
after the passage Of the bill, and thus comforta
| bly fixed could probably have spent ten years
| at handing out patronage to their organizations
| Meanwhile somebody would have drawn a
pretty plum Of perhaps S250,00O year In rent
ais for offices required for the Custom House
business while the old building was being torn
down and replaced.
II was q beautiful design. Beside It almost
INV other plan must seem TO the politicians "as
! hidcous as the POstoff1ce." 1t must be espe
cially hideous when drawn by an architect VINO
hasn't been here long enough ITO learn oul
ways" one Of our principal ways being the way
to No 40 Broadway. AS like as not he VIII no
know the difference between a New-York and {
Chicago contractor and may think that so Ions
as the Government Is paying for the building
bis business Is, 80 far his authority ex
tends, 70 get the best work for the money
wherever 1t comes from, and whether It pay
tax to campaign funds or not But yo'
never can rule free people and carry on th
work Of reform In city and State government b.
that method, and Mr.. Plat knows It. The OLE
Quigg- Murphy plan was ever so much better
They were the architects who knew how Il
build custom house.