Evening star., 1901-10-09
AS PROFESSIONAL ADVISER
ARCHITECT TO ASSIST IN PREPAR-
ING HOSPITAL PROGRAM.
Action of Commissioners Preparatory
to Securing Plans for New
Municipal Institution.

The District Commissioners today issued
orders appointing Mr.. Edmund M. Wheel
wright, the architect, as professional ad-
wiser to assist the Commissioners In pre-
pairing a new program Of competition Tor
plans for the new municipal hospital ana
in the selection Of the design. MIR. Wheel-
wright's compensation is fxed at $1,000 ana
is to be charged to the appropriation LOT
the preparation Of plans, specifications ana
estimates of cost for the new hospital, pro-
vided by the last District appropriation
BILL The amount at the disposal OF the
Commissioners is 5000. and the remaining
So, 900 is to be used for the expense OF pre-
pairing the programs and in the award or
prizes to the successful architects. There
will probably be three prizes. or course
the architect finally selected Will receive
the usual commission on the cost OF the
buildings.
The appointment of Mr.. Wheelwright by
the Commissioners is the result of a hear
ing on the subject of the hospital program
granted representatives of the American
Institute of Architects the 25th of Septem-
ber last At that hearing the architects
presented their views to the COMMISSION
ers at great length. They dwelt especially
upon the advisability Of appointing a pro-
fessional adviser and of the advantages TO
be gained thereby. Engineer Commissioner
Beach said he thought the architects ana
the Commissioners had views in common
on the subject, but he said the limited ap-
preparation at the disposal Of the Commls-
sioners made it difficult for them to carry
out these ideas. Mr.. Wheelwright was
suggested by the architects as the man
whom they would be pleased to have the
Commissioners associate with them IN ther
work. This gentleman has given extensive
study to hospital designing, and is regarded
as an eminent authority on the subject In
all it's details.
Circular Letter.
In connection with the appointment of
the professional adviser the District Com
missioners today sent out the following
circular letter to the architects:
'On August 90 1901, the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia issued a pro-
gram of competition for a municipal hos
pital for the District Of Columbia, copy
of which was mailed you. On September
% representatives of the American Instf-
tute of Architects appeared before the
Commissioners and strongly urged that the
program be changed in important particu-
lars A notice of this meeting was sent
to each architect, who was furnished with
a COPY of the program in order that the
views Of all interested might be obtained.
AS no objection was made to the proposed
changes, the Commissioners take 1t for
granted that none exists, and notice is
hereby given that it is their intention to
amend the program along the lines sug
gested by the committee of architects. A
COPY of the amended program will be
mailed you as soon as 1t can be prepared.
The amended program will state the date
when plans will be received, and ample
time will be given for their preparation"
Program Suggested.
The architects asked for a new program
which would provide as follows:
''F1rst-For drawings at small scale.
"Second-A selection Of perhaps three de-
signs from those submitted
''Third-A second competition, by the au-
thors of the three selected designs, at q
larger scale.
"Fourth--A selection Of one design from
these three.
''Fifth-A division of one-half Of the sum
at the disposal Of the Commissioners be-
tween the two unsuccessful competitors in
the second competition.
''Sixth-That the author Of the success
full design be recommended to Congress as
the architect of the hospital.
"Seventh-That the question of compen-
sation to the successful architect be
stricken from the program.
"Eighth-That ample time be given for
the proper study of SO important a subject
"Ninth-That a professional adviser be
selected at once and the new program pre-
pared in consultation with him.
'Tenth-A payment to the professional
adviser of one-half Of the sum at the dis
posal Of the Commissioners