Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-11
ARCHITECTS MEET
Convention in Session at Ar
liDgton Hotel.
WELCOMING ADDRESS
COL. JOHN RIDDLES GREETINGS
IN BEHALF OF CITY.
Annual Address of President Eames-
Board of Directors Makes Report
Committees Named.

Architects from every section of the
country and of every degree of eminence
I'm their profession met at the Arlington
Hotel this morning on the assembling of
the thirty eighth annual convention of
the American Institute of Architects. The
institute includes in it's membership
many of the best-known artists and arti-
sans in the country. and the attendance
at the opening session of the convention
was unusually large. The meeting which
began this morning will continue until
Friday. The sessions today were devoted
almost exclusively to business
The program for the afternoon session
calls for three papers on the relation of
the architect to government work and
the manner of selecting architects for the
planning Of public buildings
But aside from this the entire day was
given over to the reception of reports from
officers and committees and in organizing
the convention. The annual dinner of the
institute will be held this evening and
elaborate preparations are being made
therefor. The speeches that are to be
made will be general in character and will
not be confined to architecture or themes
of interest to architects alone. The decora-
lions will be unique
The members of the institute assembled
In the main dining hall of the Arlington
this morning ut 9:30 o'clock and were called
TO order by the president of the institute.
Mr.. w. S. Eames of st. Louis. Mo. A
short recess was taken Immediately after
the members were called to order to per-
mt those who had not registered their
names with the secretary to do so. On the
re-assemblng of the convention District
Commissioner John Bidde was introduced
to welcome the delegates to the District:
Col. Biddle's Address.
In the Introductory address Col. John
Biddle. Engineer Commissioner of the Dis
trict. said that for the second time he had
tie honor of welcoming to Washington the
American Institute of Architects. 1t would
seem, therefore, natural. he said to men
ton what progress has been made since
two years ago toward the good which all
are striving for-the Identification of the
capital city.
The relation of the architectural profess
sion to the government, he said is a ques
ton that claims this year much of the
attention of the architects, appears from
the papers for discussion al the conven-
ton While this must be of interest to
Washington, he would not attempt, he
said to touch upon that important subject
but only to consider what has been done in
tie District of Columbia as to buildings
and development.
The new monumental railroad station to
be built of the beautiful white Bethel
granite and facing magnificent plaza with
wide, radlatlng avenues. continued Col.
Bddle. has been well started, and he ex-
pressed the hope that at the next meeting
in Use. The plaza itself will take longer to
complete. as the great fill must settle be-
fore 1t can be paved. and the trees will
take time to grow.
THE two office buildings for Congress
located on Capitol Hill, the Museum and
the rev Agricultural building on the MALL"
continued Col Biddle. have been begun
Sir Ce the convention met here last and are
certain to be models of public buildings
The new District Of Columbia building
on PENNSYLVANIA avenue has the founda-
ticns about finished. and if the appropria-
ti0r asked for $ given should be about
completed when you return again All this
makes, | think. a very satisfactory show
Ing for large public buildings under con-
structiOn.
The minor District buildings. such as
Sc hool houses. police and fire stations. are
showing Increased architectural excellence
without greatly increased cost. The new
Business High School and the new police
station are from designs adopted in COM
petition among Washington architects.
'The private architecture in Washington
Is very variable. Many fine houses and
impressive educational edifices and churches
have been erected, but the block building
type of house. each with little cupola,
and covering acres of ground In certain sec
tons Is unfortunately too prevalent. This
Is due probably to the high price of land,
which forbids detached houses near the
city. There Is, think, however. a gradual
Improvement along the line of small in
expensive houses of pleasing appearance.
there has been, / believe. a decided ad-
vance Of sentiment of all this community
as to the necessity of doing all possible
for the development of the capital. The
Idea OF the preservation of Pennsylvania
avenue between the Capitol and the White
House by the erection of government build
ings along the south side Is rapidly gain
ing ground; the adoption of the SOO-foot
clear avenue In the mall by the locating of
the new buildings therein; the consent of
the property owners surrounding the new
plaza of the railroad station as to the liml-
tation of the height of the abutting struc-
lures; the regulation as to the height Of
buildings generally on streets and avenues;
the almost universal demand as to the
diminishment of the smoke; the general de-
sire for the proper development of the park
system all Indicate a general public interest
which must produce good results.
Il am glad. therefore. in welcoming you
to Washington to be able to announce ad-
Sances, not rapid, to be sure. but still de-
cided advances. and when you come again
IL two years l trust you will fad all these
new buildings almost or entirely completed;
still further steps taken toward our OBJ
jective and still greater interest and dis
position of all throughout the United
States to work for that goal
Presidents Address.
The annual address of the president of
the institution was then read by Mr..
Eames. In the course of his address Mr..
Eames referred to the work OF the men,
bers for the past year and of the objects
OF the institute. He declared there seems
TO be less interest taken in the architecture
OF public buildings by Congress than was
formerly the case. and the members of the
Institute could. in a measure, provide
remedy for this. The former presidents of
the institute have taken this matter very
seriously. he said and have worked to pro-
p.ote better era. He expressed the hope
that future presidents will do the same.
Mr. Games referred to the establishment
OF the American Academy at Rome and
Of the objects of the institution. The To-
cation of this academy was decided upon
after fifty years of precedent. Congress
Is to be asked to incorporate 1t according
u the laws of the United States, and more
than a hundred prominent artists. sculp-
tors. men OF letters, architects and finan-
ciers have come forward to help support
the institution.
At the conclusion of his address Mr..
Eames announced the committee that will
have charge of the work of the organiza-
ton during the convention and then de-
clared the convention opened for business.
Report Of Board Of Directors.
The first on the program of order of bust
ness was the report of the board of direc-
tors, which was presented by Mr.. William
A. Boring of New York. second vice presi-
dent of the Institute In NJ.