The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-10
FOR NEW CITY HALL
TwENTY-oNE ARCHITECTS IN COM
PETITION.
COSTS THEM MONEY, TOO.
MORE THAN $4,000 REPRESENTED
IN PLANS.

Successful Architect VIII BE super
visor ana VIII Get Usual Per
Cent. Commission-Buildin Com
nittee of Council VIII Open Plans
Tomorrow Afternoon-The Impos-
sibIe Ones VIII Be Thrown Out at
Once-Not Believed That There
VIII BE Unanimous Verdict and
Council VIII Finally Act-Old Ex-
change to he Sold at Auction.
At the lowest calculation $4,000 will
be expended by architects in an effort
to present acceptable plans for new
City Hall for Savannah. 1t is stated
that no architect can present his plans
for less than $500. and there will not
be less than twenty-one in the competi-
ton.
Several plans turned up at the City
Exchange yesterday, but none will be
opened until the Building Committee
of Council meets tomorrow afternoon
at 4 o'clock The committee met yes
terday and talked the situation over for
a short while. 1t is not believed that
there is any possible chance of the
committee presenting a unanimous re-
port, and after all Council will prob
ably determine what plans to accept.
All of the plans will be opened at
the same time, and the committee will
agree upon those plans that cannot be
considered. Then the select few will
be taken up and a majority and NIL
nority report will most likely be pre-
sented to the Committee of the Whole.
A majority of those who are interested
in the competition will be in the city
while the plans are being inspected
and the members of the special COM
mittee have a busy time ahead of
them.
Architect of Congregational Library.
Among the twenty-one architects at
tracted into the competition for the
plans is Col. John L. Smithmeyer, arch
itect of the Congressional Library,
Washington. He will submit plans in
association with Gignilliat & Smith of
Savannah.
Col. Smithmeyer has been fortunate
in designing his buildings within the
amounts appropriated for them. In the
case of the Congressional Library,
built from his plans, $500 900 of the Ap-
preparation made by Congress was
turned back into the national treasury
after the building was completed.
That such is not the usual financial
history of public buildings is shown by
the fact that most of the large gov
eminent buildings in this country have
finally cost two, three and four times
as much as was originally allowed by
law for them.
The postoffice in Boston was limit
ed by law to a cost OF S1,4O0,000, but
finally cost Sc, 900, 900. The cost of the
postoffice in Philadelphia was original
ly limited to 100000, but finally
mounted up to $62. co., 900. The postofice
in Chicago was likewise limited to a.
100000, but finally cost the government
81, 200 900. This structure proved to be
so defective that it was sold at auction
and brought the beggarly sum of s15,-
900. A new postoffice is now being put
up in Chicago in its place.
Col. Smithmeyer is the architect OF
Chamberlain's Hotel, Old Point Com
fort, Va. of the Georgetown College
buildings, Washington; the Army and
Navy Hospital, Hot Springs, Ark, and
of other public buildings. He is at
present president of the Washington
Chapter of the American Institute Of
Architects.
Will Get Per Cent.
The successful architect will not be
paid for drawing his plans, but will su-
pervise the building with the usual
per cent commission. This commits
sion will net him neat sum. 1t is
the purpose of the city to erect build
ing that will cost about $4,000 and the
idea of Council is to have 1t completed
so that it can be occupied before the
present administration goes out.
After plans have been agreed upon
the contractors will be given a chance
to bid on putting up the building. A
guarantee must be given that the work
will be done in a specified time and
Council will insist that there be no de-
lay. While the work is going on, and
il will take quite a while, the city
officers will be located at police head
quarters. This has not been positive
ly determined, but a majority of the
aldermen favor making the police
building temporary headquarters for
the city.
The old exchange will be sold to the
highest bidder and will have to be
moved In a hurry. Sealed bids will be
received for the historic structure and
the individual who offers the most
money will get everything but the
clock. The timepiece will not be sold,
but will probably adorn one of the fire
stations, most likely fire headquarters
on Indian street.