Arizona republican., 1906-02-25
Rv Nathl c. Fowler. Jr.

By Nathl c. Fowler, Jr.
 Author of "The Boy-How to Help Him Succeed" Building Business,'' Dollars and Sense" "Fowler's Cyclo- pedia of Publicity and Printing Practical Publicity" "Gumption," etc. Copyright, 1906, by Nath'i Fowler, Jr.)
 The germ of architecture began with the conception of the first pre- historic building, and took no account of its size. its character, and of what 1t vas made
 The age of the world is timed by it's architectural ages. Architecture is a component part of all history, both modern and ancient. Nations. even of the twilight ages, were known by their architecture, and some of them have left nothing else in history. The architecture of today Is a modern ne- cessity, essential to the progress of business and of civilization. The archi- tect is a professionalism; the practice of the calling demands the full exer- else of the intellect at some sacrifice A of business capacity. The architect is a creator of originality. He is not l mere plan drawer and specification writer. He actually does something. He is not an artist in painting or sketch
  perament, without which he could not be more than a successful draughtS- man or a copier. The architect pos sesses something which is not a part of the man of business--a sense of harmony, an artistic mental attain ment, a creative ability-yet he must have some of the qualities of the suc- cessful business man-an appreciation of the importance of detail and the ability to handle men and things.
 The boy who cares little for art, who is in no sense creative and who possesses only ordinary talent, can never hope to succeed at architecture. He may become a draftsman, or even more than plain builder. but he can not become an architect.
 Architecture may be considered a city profession. At any rate, nearly all of the architects reside in the city or in the larger country centers; and few, if any of them, are found in the smaller towns. The architect, like the doctor and lawyer, Is seldom selfsup- porting at the start. and frequently cannot maintain himself in even mod crate comfort. unless he has an out side income. for a few or several years after he begins the proctice of his pro- fession. Notwithstanding the high and enviable position occupied by the ar chitect. comparatively few, except those at the architectural top, or close to 1t, enjoy more than moderate in comes. There are probably not over a dozen American architects who re- ceive upwards of fifty thousand dol lars a year. and not more than twenty five earn as much as twenty thous- and dollars a year. Good, hrst-class ar rh wifi no ip 7aT1t who are thoroughly competent to plan and superintend the erection of nearly every class of building, earn, on an av- craze from five to ten thousand dol lars, and from that figure the yearly incomes run as low as a thousand dol lars for ordinary architects.
 The architects receipts. unless he works for a salary, are variable, being subject to the rise and fall of the building business; which, in its turn, is affected by the state of general bus mess. His income is also largely de- pendent upon the class of contracts he receives, and not so much upon the number of contracts. Yet all, or near ly all of them. manage to earn a living. Many great architects devote years time, or perhaps more, to the planning of one building, the erection of which they usually superintend. receiving for this double work their entire years remuneration. The architect, after he has acquired a reputation, Is reason ably sure of a comfortable income, al- though the size of 1t varies materially. at one time he is likely to have more work offered him than he can conven- iently attend to, and again he may suf- fer from idleness for an extended per iod. The architects fees vary, but the average fee, and the most usual one. is from two to three per cent for plans and specifications, and about five per cent for plans, specifications and superintendence By superintend- ence, mean that the architect be- comes the actual superintendent of the erection of the building he has planned. Although he may not sign the build ing contract. no contract is made with out his approval He, or his assistants, visit the ground daily during the pro- cess of construction, and if the build ing be of much consequence, one of them are continually on the premises. The contractor or builder virtually works for the architect; he cannot receive any payment on account, and no final payment, without the archi- tect's approval The fee for the plan ming of small buildings is seldam less than hundred dollarS- and the arcnl- tect of a great edifice, like city block, hotel. or public building, receives from three thousand to twenty-five thous- and dollars, his duties including sup erintendence. Many of our best archi- tects work under the partnership ar rangement; that is to say, two or more of them associate themselves, occupy the same office. and practice their pro- fession as a firm, not as individuals. This combination is a profitable one, because there arc speclalties in archi- lecture; therefore, a combination of architects, each an expert in some line can render better service than could any one by himself.
 The architect employs assistants who do the mechanical part of the