The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
By DEXTER MARSHALL.

IluQStH DulltHdttls VI NAliSoSOf NNANAAAiAy
Americas leading architect-using the
word in the broadest sense-and. perhaps,
greater in his line than any other living
man. He does not plan buildings merely:
he is planning cities. And yet he said
not so very long ago. in answer to a re-
quest for some information about the
work he has done:
L haven't done much. / have just
served on a few commissions"
Mr. Burnhams mot much" includes the
creation Of the famed White city of
the Chicago Worlds Fair; the majesty
and beauty of the buildings, which made
the great exhibition an artists vision of
loveliness, were inspired by him. He is
looked upon as the father of business
accessory peculiarly American-the sky
scraper: in a score Of great cities he has
designed massive commercial structures
in which delcacy OF outline and skeleton
like construction have been combined
with enduring strength. The Masonic
Temple and nearly all the other famous
skyserapers of Chicago are his work,
while the Flatiron Building is among the
big structures in New York for which he
furnished the plans
As a representative Of his government.
he planned great sweeps Of driveways
and harbor lines and impressive public
buildings I'm Manila. The architectural
beauty Of San Francisco, blotted out in
the great earthquake, was due to him,
and what architectural beauty the new
San Francisco will have win be due al
most solely TO him also. He is chair
man of the commission whose plans will
eventually make Cleveland one Of the
most beautiful cities in the world. lie
is chairman Of the national commission
which has for its task the beautifying
OF Washington on a scale so vast that
the improvements are estimated to cost
between a half and three-quarters of a
billion Of dollars. And some OF the things
he has in mind for the beautifying OF his
home city are harbors. outer parks, great
boulevards. widened streets, and uniform
architecture.
Man of varied Art.
Truly a man whose art is varied, whose
imprint is almost indelibly shown in every
type of structure that goes to make up
architecture of the present generation;
yet he himself says that he has not done
much-only served on few commissions.
Sixty-one years Of age. and now in the
prime Of his achievement, Mr.. Burnham's
friends say, and his course in life quite
bears the statement out. that the greatest
luxury Of his successful years have |
brought him Is the fact that he need not |
work entirely for money. 1t is undoubt- |
edly true that more commissions are |
waiting for him than wait for any other 1
living architect yet he gives large por-
tiOn Of his time. 10 their exclusion, TO |
labor along spiritual lines. This is his |
great hobby-to make the great cities Of I
America even more beautiful than their |
European rivals, and when he sees the |
remOtest possibility of furthering his hob |
by he will not allow so little a thing as a
fat commission to stand in the way of his /
schemes Of Identification.
When Mr.. BUrnham works for private |
individuals lis fees are probably larger /
than those ever paid TO any other archi- |
tect but, now that he has plenty, when 1
he works for the public his services are |
given gratis This is a matter OF pride !
and principle with him. He considers he |
is sufficiently rewarded in seeing the city /
beautiful brought a step nearer TO real
ization.
Made Worlds Fair Artistic.
Another matter Of principle with Mr..
Burnham,is that he will take up no work
in which there could be a suspicion OF
political jobbery "Burnhaui," said one
of his close friends. has refused many a
profitable commission simply because pol
itics controlled the undertaking You viii
not find his name upon the frontal of any
government building in the country. He
even eschews couTthDuses and city halls."
II was Burnham who, almost single
handed, made the Chicago Worlds Fair a
memorable one, architecturally.
When Chicago secured the fair Mr.
Burnham was a member OF the firm Of
Burnham & Root which was among the
first architectural firms called on to help
build the white City" The firm had
gained an envlable reputation in Chicago, |
and Mr.. Burnham was early made chief
of construction and supervising architect
of the exhibition. Later he was given the
additional power and title Of director OF
works. This was subsequent 10 the death /
OF his partner Mr. Root, when the whole
responsibility of the architectural success
of the fair devolved upon his shoulders.
When he was made chief of construc-
tion wise men went about declaring that
Burnham could never get the buildings
completed in twice or thrice the time al
lowed him. When he became the one di-
recting hand OF the work his detractors
were well-nigh legion. and not d few in
of him as to throw all sorts of obstacles
in his way. BUrnham knew all this. yet |
not even to his closest friends did he
make a remark that could be construed
into a complaint or protest The only
notice he was ever known TO take Of the
doubters and the opposition was embraced
in a simple declaration which he was
overheard TO make 10 himself one day as
he stood surveying the half-fnished build
ings of the fair:
BY heavens. I've undertaken TO build
this fair and I'm going to do it
Benuty Is Apparent
With the white City at last completed
and its beauty apparent. to every one, Mr..
Burnham's detractOrs raised the cry that
the result was not due to him, but to the
plans of his dead partner. which he had
simply followed. Again there was no pub
lie statement by Mr. Burnham. but tc
every one who talked with him about
the architectural side OF the fair he free
iy gave a large portion OF the credit 10
Mr.. Root. One Of his strongest charac-
teristics Is TO take no notice Of cavilers.
When he feels that he is right no amount
OF adverse criticism, no matter how sting
ing. can move him.
His Worlds Fair work revealed his eve
for beauty on a grand scale. his wonder :
ful executive ability, and his shrewdness
in surrounding himself with a corps of
architects recognized as leaders Of their }
profession IN this country. His architec- ;
tural daring was shown when. some !
years previously, he became the father. {
so-calied, Of the skyscraper.
Father of the Skyscraper II