The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-10-27

sarily be highly competent architect.
Rather, executive ability is the main
requirement; for he can hire good
craftsmen, and radical changes in de.
sign are generally made through out
side sources.
Your boy has got to get into bust.
ness for himself. The requirements
for doing this are practically nothing
at all; for all he needs is the few tools
he has long since acquired and mas
tered and place to draw in. II he
can get somebody that he knows is
going to build a house to let him draw
the plans and attend to the construc-
ton, he will get fee of or 6 per
cent of the buildings cost. Then he
may be given more pretentious work,
and so on, till he successfully submits
plans in competition, or otherwise,
for some large public or semi-public
institution, and finds his reputation all
made, and his fortune in the making.
Between our Office boy and the sue.
cessful architect, however, there is
done besides what he has learned in
the office. The time has long since
| gone by when an architect, so-called,
! simply copied the plan Of one house
| when called on to lay out another;
for the modern cry is for more elab.
crate and original structures which
require the most elaborate and pains
taking detailed knowledge.
| Your boys course of study, which
can be gone through at nights and
will be partly acquired in his work.
will include quite q complete knowl-
edge of geometry and geometrical
drawing, as we'll as freehand and per-
spective drawing, architectural and
ornamental drawing, pen and ink
rendering, drawing in water color
and from nature, an extensive knowl
edge of masonry and carpentry, the
latter including ornamental ironwork
and sheet metal work; wiring fo,
electricity, plumbing, heating and ven
tilating, painting and decorating. Also
he will have to be able to superintend
the construction of the buildings for
which he has drawn the plans, and
this includes a general knowledge o.
all that the contractor does. Also, he
must have studied contracts and the
building permits and laws of his par
ticular locality, as they have to bt
cOnfOrmed to.
These subjects seem somewha
forbidding array, particularly when i
is added that the architect has tt
know the strength and adaptability o
every timber or stone or piece Of stee
or iron used; but all this is no NOR
than thousands of successful mel
have already learned, and no NOR
than your boy can pick up during tn
, course Of his work-if he is ambition
and has unremitting application. LIE
me add that he should make his be
ginning in comparatively small OF
, flee rather than by being one of
! score of employees in large arch
, tectural company. In the latter h
will probably develop facility in onl
Q one particular line of work, and b
a kept at it. In the other case he wi
! have opportunity to participate i
i every class of work. And it is tn
G. all round man who stands the bes
q chance of making good in archite'
y ture. He can specialize, if he SO d.
a sires, after he has got firm POUNDS
y ton. For there are architects VIII
c devote their time and energy Q
q churches; others who limit their ser
# ices to skyscrapers; others to store
~ and lofts; still others to dwelling
and so on, through the entire list
p, buildings But it is invariably tr,
', that every successful specialist is or
~ who knows from A to lizard abo
- everything there is to know OF arcl
, lecture in general way. And tn
y, he had sense enough to learn befo
=, he set about specializing.
Copyright, 1910, by the Associated Ii
erary Press)