New-York tribune., 1907-12-18
DISMISSED BY MAYOR.
GILBERT WON'T COMPETE.
architect LedUes Conference on
Bridge Terminal IN Huff.

ces Gilbert the architect left the City Hall
.as,ersa,- in a huff after Mayor Mcclellan had
eatly refused TO consider suggestion from
Mr. Gilbert with reference TO rules governing
the competition for designs for the proposed Oh
fec buscsng and bridge terminal. to cost about
ss,00o000
The thirteen hoodoo may have had something
.o do with the fare-up between the Mayor and
MT Gilbert as thirteen firms were represented
in the conference called by the Mayor at MS
Office yesterday forenoon. Mr. Gilbert seems
to have been the thirteenth man.
The jury chosen by the architects yesterday
to pass on the designs and make a final seiec-
ton consists of Frank Miles Day, OF Phia-
delphia president Of the American Institute or
Architects; Francis c. Kimball. designer of
the Manhattan Life, Empire, Trinity and other
hujIdings and William A Boring, vice president
OF the American Institute OF Architects. These
architects will receive the plans turned in by
the competing architects about April 10 and
viii make a selection by May IA They VIII
receive $1,000 each for their labor.
The architects at the conference TO agree on
the rules of the competition were j. Stewart
Barney. Carrere & Hastings, Clinton n Rus
sell. J. H Freedlander Cass Gilbert, Helms d
La Fargo. Heilme 6. Huberty. Hoppin & koen
Howies & Stokes II. r. Marshall. Mchln
Mead & White Trowbridge & Livingstone and
Warren 6 wetmore. The competing architects
will receive a thousand dollars each for their
plans while the successful architect Will re-
ceive in addition to having his design accepted
q money prize of FIVE thousand dollars
The architects proposed yesterday that the
city pay $4,000 for the successful plans. so as
to own them. On this point Mr. Carrere and
Others spoke 1t developed that Bridge Commits
sioner Stevenson had talked with various
architects the $4,000 proposition. and the arch-
tects seemed TO have the impression that the
city would be glad TO make such a stipulation
Mayor Mcclellan told the architects that the
Board of Estimate had authority to pay any
such sum
Nr Gilbert made a speech. covering ten min
utes. demurrng to some of the rules, and ended
his remarks by saying that he would need forty
eight hours longer to decide whether he would
submit plans.
Five responsible firms had assented TO the
rules as proposed by the Mayor When Mr.. Gill
bert intimated that he would need forty-eight
hours longer TO make UP his mind about certain
features of the rules the Mayor was irritated
and said:
IF I understand your attitude. Mr.. Gilbert
you will withdraw unless you are allowed forty
eight hours longer 10 think over the rules Five
eminent architect firms already have assented
to the rules as proposed In the circumstances
L think you would better withdraw without fur
ther delay 1 bid you good afternoon. sir
Mr.. Gilbert looked fairly stunned. When 1t
dawned on him that the Mayor had peremptor1ly
excused him from the competition he picked up
his hat and coat and left the City Hall. He
seemed to be angry. The Mayor asked if any
one else desired to withdraw. There was no re-
sponse-
The structure viii be twenty stories high,
with a mezzanine floor, and will have 100000
feet Of floor space exclusive Of that for corri-
dors stairs and space for the surface and ele-
waited