Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-01
PLEA FOR THE BEST
Secretary Macveagh on Arts
tic Design in Building.
TYPETO SERVE AS EXAMPLE
Architects Expected to Effect I'm
provements in Small Post Offices.
SUBMISSION OF THE PLANS
Three Washington Firms Included
Among Those Invited to Enter
the Competition.
TYPE TO SERVE AS EXAMPLE
SUBMISSION OF THE PLANS

simplifying the designs for federal build
inge throughout the country. In point
of productivity. it is declared, the SUI
pervising architects Office is unrivaled,
as it turns out approximately 125 build
ings per annum- There has been a con-
slant improvement in the designs of
smaller buildings in the past decade and
Secretary MacVeagh has encouraged q
further Improvement Architectural COM
petitions have been conducted for the
large federal buildings at Denver. Homo
lulu and San Francisco, and for the three
buildings for the departments of State,
Justice and Commerce and Labor in
Washington, but smaller buildings have
always been designed fin the department.
Secretary Wants Progress.
The requirements. dimensions and
character OF eachsof the types of small
post office buildings are substantially the
same, and Secretary MacVeagh has said
that he will not rest on his oars until
he is satisfied that nothing better can be
produced by an American architect. With
view to further elevating the character
OF the designs Of these small buildings
three competitions are now to be insti-
tuted under the Tarsney act, and twenty
of the best American architects have
been asked to enter each of these compe-
titions as a public duty.
One building selected for the competi-
ton will be provided for Rolla. Mo, the
appropriation for which is $4,000; an
other will be provided for Waukegan. ILL.,,
for which there is an appropriation OF
$4,000. and the third will be provided for
Orange. N. j.. for which there is an ap-
of 500
The Secretary has appealed to the pa
triotism of the architects because he
wishes to have the benefit of their study
of the problem and the expression of the
nations very best talent. AS soon as
the designs resulting from the competi-
ton have been acquired, the craftsmen in
the Treasury will have an opportunity to
them with their own sketches,
a type which will become the standard.
Aided by Sketches on File.
With sketches from eminent men in
possession of craftsmen in the supervis-
ing architects office-the largest archi-
tectural office in the worId-it is believed
the quality of work turned out by the
department will be improved. Secretary
MacVeagh thinks the result will be a
departure from the monumental pile and
that it is not necessary that every pub
lie building should be a young Parthe-
non.
The smaller buildings should be less
formal and more in harmony with their
This experiment does not
the use of the accepted de-
signs as the exclusive models for the
small and medium-siz federal buildings.
Secretary MacVeagh thinks that ii the
government should fall into one or two
Or three molds the result would be unin-
poverty stricken, so that while his aim is
10 improve the standard, he would pro-
vide for variety. He wishes to avoid not
only the unrestricted duplication Of the
but also the other extreme of
constant variation.
Interior Decorations.
The Treasury Department has also
been giving considerable attention to the |
Interior decoration Of public buildings
color decoration. Secretary MacVeagh |
has said these decorations are only sec
0nd in Importance, as matters of taste |
and education, to the facades. The extent |
Of the mural decorations provided for |
the new building at Cleveland. Ohio, il |
ustrates the present practice of the de-
oartment.
The letter of the Secretary to the ar
chtects follows:
Desiring to effect an improvement in |
the architecture of the smaller United |
States post office buildings, and to make |
should the private work of the country |
n simplicity, dignity and sound design, |
have the honor to invite you to compete |
for a building Of class not heretofore |
drawn outside of the department.
"Seventy-five thousand dollars has been |
appropriated for post office building in |
Ill.
improvements Noted.
1T is a matter of common knowledge |
and general commentator that an extra
improvement has been effected |
II the architecture of government build |
ngs during the last ten years, and it |
s my desire to make further advance. |
Public buildings of the cost, stated above
10 not appeal to architects of the highest |
'ank, because of the eXactions or the |
government and the requirement that
recognition shall come only as the re-
ult of architectural competitions. These
ire tests which are not applied to prac,i-
toner's of recognized position in ether
but there is no other way,
lnder the law, to secure the services of |
lrchitects who are in private practice
Il feel that you will agree with me that
10 specimens of good architecture in the
country are better fitted to exert a BEN
.ticial influence upon the genera, de-
post office buildings of the less inn or
ant classes placed in the smaller cities,
where they are often the most important
structures in their neighborhoods, so that
hey stand as examples Of what We
mould like to see done by the cities and
" the citizens themselves.
1t is from this point OF view, appealing
o your patriotism, your love of good
and your professional pride,
hat I extend this invitation, trusting
-ou will feel. as 1 do, that the placing
# one of your buildings to represent
What is best in modern architecture, to
aise and fix the quality of government
work., is an honor not to be measured by
he size of the building, and that such
are far more important than
of ten times their cost erected
n the great cities, where the work Of the
'est men crowds the streets.
Type to Serve as Example.
at is in this spirit, relying upon your
assistance. that l trust you will accept
his invitation. and that in designing and
supervising the construction Of one of
hese buildings you will assist in creating
type which shall stand in its absolute
simplicity. dignity and justice of proper
ion an example that will lead and foster
he development of American architec
ure.
There is no provision of law to enable
he department to compensate unsuccess-
ul competitors. The authors of the ac-
epted designs will be regularly retained
o supervise their buildings. and will be
according to the schedule OF
he American Institute.
1T is obvious that you should not ac-