Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-03

There is desk used by John Adams
while Vice President. and high-b backed
sofas, armed chairs and side chairs which
were in Federal Hall when that building
was occupied by Washington as Presf-
dent.
The governors room is altogether one
Of the most interesting sights in this
great city.
The work of the art commission is in
creasing every. year and is becoming
more and more important and influential
Illinois has state commission, and
there are municipal art commissions in
Chicago, Baltimore. Boston, Cleveland,
Angeles. and in Philadelphia the council
has passed law authorizing the APP
pointment of a commission but the
mayor has neglected to do so. 1t is
thus recognized throughout the country
that there should be some competent
body to pass upon the artistic merit of
plans for public buildings, monuments.
statues, bridges, fountains. gates, mural
decorations and paintings in municipal
and state buildings.
Standard Created at Exposition.
There has been a remarkable elevation
Of the public taste since the Columbian
exposition in Chicago, where the archi-
lecture created a standard that the
American people accepted as one which
they desired to maintain. The Pan
American exposition at Buffalo, the ex-
positions at Nashville. Atlanta Omaha,
Portland and that at Seattle last sum-
mer continued to furnish object lessons,
and the Louisiana Purchase exposition at
ST. Louis did quite as much as any of
them to cultivate the taste and awaken
ap ambition in the minds of millions of
people, many Of whom were entirely un-
conscious of the effect, it produced upon
them. This has been one OF the most
important consequences of the exposi-
tons that have been held in the United
States .a
There has also been great improve
ment in the architecture of government
buildings since the Institute OF American
Architects secured the passage Of law
authorizing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to secure designs by competition.
That has encouraged state and municipal
authorities to adopt the same plan. and
| railway companies and other corporations
are doing the same, until it is becoming
the regular thing to offer prizes for plans
for all expensive and large structures.
Illinois Has Art Commission.
The Illinois art commission was author
lied by an act passed at the last session of
the legislature for the purpose of act
ing in an advisory capacity in the crea-
ton. acquisition, construction, erection
or remodeling by the state of any work
of art or building, and to pass upon the
artistic me1H Of all plans and designs
for new buildings or for works Of art
intended for decorative or commemora-
tive PURPOSES" The commission was
named October IL, 1909, by Gov. Deheen
as follows:
Scuptors-Lorado Taft, member. OF
Municipal Art League, Chicago; Carl Bell,
Chicago.
Painters-RaIph. Clarkson. president
Municipal Art League, Chicago; Freder-
lex Clay Bartlett, Chicago.
Architects-W. rGarbys Zimmerman.
state architect, Chicago; William Hola-
bird, Chicago.
Laymen-Edward L. Parker, Quincy.
president National Outdoor Art League;
Jens Jensen, Chicago, landscape architect
A remarkable incident. If you will call
it SO, in the architectural history of the
country in the manner in which plans
have been secured for a new municipal
Office building here which will be the
largest and most convenient of anything
OF the kind in the world, although 1t will
not cost anywhere near az much as the
courthouse, which was built by the
Tweed ring. After a competition in
in the country participated. the prize was
awarded to Mckim Meade a. White
for a building of twenty-five stories, to
cost $sOoo.UW, which will straddle
Chambers street opposite the terminus of
Brooklyn bridge, where the New York
Stats Zeitung used to have its offices.
The material will be steel. faced with
granite, and the building will cover an
irregular area of two blocks altogether
10000 square feet. 1t will be sur
mounted by tower rising $50 feet from
the street, with a clock $50 feet from
the street. This tower will be five feet
lower than the Washington Monument,
and 1877 feet lower than the tower of the
new Metropolitan building on Madison
Square, which rises TAI feet from the
ground and is the loftiest structure ever
raised by human hands
Million and Half Square Feet.
The new building will contain 1,J4O,OOO
square feet Of floor space, which. 1t is
believed. will be sufficient to accommodate
all of the many departments of the city
government. which are now scattered
over the city. costing more than 5000 900