The Washington herald., 1907-01-08
METRIC PLAN KILLED
Architects Abandon Effort TO
Introduce System.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OPENS
Debt on Home of the Institute In
Washington Is Wiped Out by sub
Amid Great EIthuAiRsm-OIdO Octa-
gOn House Is to BE RemOdeIed.

In the opinion Of the committee on
metric system. Of the American Institute
OF Architects. that system is a dead issue.
at least for the present. At yesterday S
session of the institute the metric COM
mittee submitted the following report:
In view Of the fact that the coming session Of Con
sress is unlikely to take any action the question
Of the adopting &c Of the ":neirie systcns" il
would De- useless and waste of energy for the A. l.
a. 10 prepare memorial or take any action at this
time.
This report was by far the most brief
OF any Of those read yesterday, and was
very much 70 the point \ dissenting
opinion was filed by J. Pickering Put
nam, member of the committee.
The assembled delegates to the number
Of nearly 150 waxed enthusiastic when
following the report Of the committee on
house, the debt of about 5000 en- the old
Octagon House. the permanent home of
the institute. in this city, was entirely
wiped out by subscription.
These subscriptions were made voIuntari-
ly by The delegates. some Of them mounting
as high as 500. The report set forth that
i'm the opinion Of the committee the house
should not BE- furnished and embeHished
until the debt hanging over it was wiped
out, and the subscriptions followed. All
the speakers and reports were applauded,
but when it was announced that 5000
had been subscribed. genuine enthusiasm
vas displayed fer the first time.
Plans for Improvement.
In detailing how the Octagon would be
improved. the report says.
This eau be readily done by placing hemiciclc on
the rear Dot, building a duplicate stable of the Old
stable on one SIDE of the hemlcicle and connecting
thls along the sail HJtb the Octaguu by c0aunarle,
thus surrounding oGr old garden which could De-
treated formally and De inclosed by the buildings Of
TIE institute. In this way the committee feel that
the property mght b. made one of the most attract
I've and interesting places IN the CITY and az the
same time give Us space for the collection - draw
lngs. models. and a place whore wt could have for
mai bauqucts and regular business meetings. while
the Octag0u would De furnished up f.r oflce ana
clubrooms
The report Of the committee on archi-
tectIral education. delivered by RaIpn
Adams Cram, chairman. was long one.
treating the subject from every stand
point Statistics were given Of stud,nts
attending at the various universities
throughout the country, which were pre-
pared through correspondence with pro-
fessOrS IN charge. In conclusion the rr-
port states
We believe that o. the whole architecture Is being
taught IN America with broader reE. and IN CT
tain respects more effectively than in any other
c17utr. Through coordination unifcation cf
standards, and cooperation we believe that in
few year, tEe education offered in this country might
be looked upon as final eScept for the absolutely
Necessary element of study and cultivation through
travel and research amongst the iuImitable m0uu-
Ee-ts af the pagan aud Christian past. We object
~ considering orr own schools merely as feeders for
the schools ot tine arts iU PARIS, and we book for
ward ta the tI1-e Uhcn post graduste course shall
Be possible in America through great central school
Of fine arts iu Washington.