Evening star., 1911-06-11
Exhibition of Washington
Architectural Club.
WORKS ON PRIVATE VIEW
Place Of Honor Given to Perspective
Of Scottish Rite Temple.
NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Most Notable Are the Designs for
Country Homes-Show Progress
Made in Recent Years.

There Is much to be said In praise OF
the Washington Architectural Club S
eighth annual exhibition, which opened
with reception and private view in the
hemicycle hall of the Corcoran Gallery
of Art last evening.
1t comprises drawing, colored render
ings. photographs, models and designs.
and includes representative work by not
only the majority of the leading local
architects, but by the foremost archi-
tects in America
The place of honor on the semi-circular
wall has been given to a pictorial per-
spective, rendered in color, of the Scot
tish Rite Temple, on 10th street. which
was designed by John Russell Pope OF
New York, and is q building OF impressive
dignity. The rendering is by 0. R. Egg
gers. and is as fine as anything of the
kind that has been done-genuinely a
work OF art. This is flanked by colorei
renderings of two of the excellent new
railroad stations which Cass Gilbert has
designed for cities on the New York, New
Haven and Hartford right of way-sta-
tions that will serve as worthy en-
frances. or ''gateways." to prosperous,
self-respecting communities.
On the opposite wall. in a similar posi-
ton, is seen a rendering. likewise in
color, of the tower of the new south
quadrangle of the University of Penn
sylvania. designed by Cope & Steward
son Of Philadelphia. in the Gothic style,
with exceptional appropriateness. This
firm has justly won distinction through
it's admiral adaptation Of the Gothic to
modern university structures. A new
dormatory which it has recently de-
y~.s.-
MIA is also shown.
Examples of Government Work.
One entire section of the exhibition is
given up to government architecture, the
greater portion Of which emanates from
the offlce Of the supervising architect.
James Knox Taylor, in the Treasury
This is most interesting. for not only does
it show tc what extent improvement has
been made in recent years in government
work. but also how wide an influence is
exerted through this channel in the up
building OF architectural standards
throughout the country. For example,
post Offices are shown which have been
or are to be built: to name only a few
I'm Greencastle. Ind; Alpena, Mich: Port
Arthur. Tex; Toledo. Ohio, and Beverly.
Mass Each Is different, and yet all are
almost uniformly good. There is. to be
sure, a certain similarity of design. they
are all more or less classical in treatment,
but they are obviously not produced after
a stock pattern. The one at Beverly is
somewhat reminiscent OF the New Eng
land colonial architecture. Without ex-
ception. unless 1t is the Toledo post Office.
which rather suggests an exposition
simple, dignified and serviceable in design.
1t is not generally known that the gov
ernment is erecting some fifteen buildings
a month, $50 or 200 a year. and in every
were given by Secretary MacVeagh in an
address made at the recent convention or
the American Federation of Arts, when
he said that it was his hope that the
Treasury Department would. as time
went on, continue to come into closer and
closer relations with the American archi-
tects and thus secure more generally
their cooperation In realizing its oppor-
tunities Of influencing architectural de-
velopment in America.
The proposed design for the new
bureau Of engraving and printing. which
is at present creating much discussion
is also shown, as are drawings entered
In competition for the new building for
the Department Of Commerce and Labor
by Wood. Dom & Deming of this city
and ]. H. Freedlander Of New York
Designs for Country Homes.
Most notable in this exhibition are
the designs for country residences. a
branch of architecture in which special
progress has been made in this country
in recent years. The early country
architecture OF America was exception
|ally good, but between the colonial times
and the present day a long period of
darkness occurred, when ignorance and
poor taste were apparently unrestrained.
The dry goods box, with fretsaw trim
mings, and the imitation castle still
bear witness in many parts of the coun-
taste now prevails is manifested by the
great majority OF work Of this type
set forth In this exhibition. Even the
more imposing mansions are In general
zones are peculiarly livable. An apparent
effort is made 10 suit the house 20 its