The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-14
THE BEST SHOULD BE HAD

| mAtet!ait IN tue Planning auu coOstruc
ton Of the State capitol. Is natuTall,
attracting sensational attention. Tber,
does not seem 10 be any particular cal
! for this move at this time. unless il
is intended 10 be a restrictive measure
| applied to the Capitol Commission iu
favor OF some particular person, 6rm, oi
coterie. Prima faeie, there appears 10
| be no reason why the Capitol Commis.
siop shoHid be hamperci in this way at
all. Other builders of large structures
here arc not so hampercd. There mas
been no cali for instance. for such ic-
striction in the building OF the Utah
Hotel, the Walker skyscrapcr TIC New
house buildings, the kcarns building, OF
other OF the imposing structures OF The
city. There mas been no pretcnsc tGat
Utah architects must NECESSARILY DC
employed upon these structures, aud
they have not been employed, The rea-
son is plain, They have not bad thc
experience in this class OF work that
architects elsewhere have had. Ii is
but natural that those who construct
at heavy expense large aud unusual
building should employ IN architect in
places where such construction has beer
bad, aud where tue architects arc accus-
toned to draw plans tor such buildings
and oversee their construction, This
is not only the most natural thug in
the world. but is the thing that is uni.
verssIly done. Why, then. should this
local sentiment he dragged in merely
because great public structure is IN
auestioTf
But 1t is contcuded that Utah ar.
chltecis are Just as capable a arch
tects elsewhere. This may be granted
as applied within the limitations of the
experience of Utah architects. Eut TO
claim that they arc equally competent
in this sort Of unusual work, with
those who are accustomed TO do this
class OF unusual work, is TO beg tho
whole question; and those who make
this claim set themselves up IS Judges
competent 10 pass upon the acquire
with architects who have bad the prac
teal experience IN tho direct line of the
work sought 10 be done Those who
set themselves ZIP as Judges aud pro,
claim the ability Of Utah architects.
are asserting for themselves a power
to Judge which the public eau hardly
grant. One who undertakes to pass
upon the competence Of an architect
to know enough about it TO be rccog-
Dizcd as q Judge of the york as he sees
t. But, are those who thus rolubly |
.ome forward vouchiug for the compe-
.ence Of Utah architects in this unusual
sind Of work where they have had no
experience, men who are themselves
competent to Judge of architectural
work? So far as we know, this com.
'etence has in no way appeared. There.
'ore such Endorsements can be safely
lisregarded and should be disrcgardcd
The Endorsement of the ability of the
lrchItect TO do work which be has never
ioho NohhihS iiou P'OHic WHO ndNc no
means Of passing Judgment upon the
ompetence of that architect, and have
themselves no requirements that quail
fy them to Judge, amounts simply TO an
mpertincnce, and au attempted impos-
ure upon the public.
The State of Utah wants a tiuc cap
tol structure, the best possible to be
lad for the money The Capitol Com.
mission is intrusted with the work of
Getting this kind Of structure. What
.dVantage To the public is II, there
ore. 10 raise a clamor of this kind in
ayor of Utah architects whether or
10, and of Utah constructors, without
egard to their ability or experience,
Nhv not let the Capitol Commission
lone 10 Judge fairly of the plans and
ot hamper them with opportunities
which eau be construed only to mean
hat some particular Utah firm or firms
must be given rake-off in this con-
whether their plans are ap.
roved or their competence estsb.
shed or not! Let US have square
cal on this business. and give the Cap
iol Commission show without this
lamor IN favor of 4 local sentiment
7bich NAV or may not be sound. Why
ot let that sentiment stand on its own
asis and prove its worth in compcti-
ion with all who offer plans! Whyl
OF let the test be the Judgment OF the .
ommlssion, since that commission is
ppoiDted expressly for the purpose OF
assing this Judgment The best is
one too good Tor Utah. and Utah mon
V ought 20 be 30 applied as 10 get
!. and not he confined BY d mere local |
eminent whIco might give us the best
7 might give ms something which
-ould for ever cause discomfort,