The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-02-16
THE CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION.

In commenting upon the cry that
Utah architects and Utah constructors
only must plan and build the Utah
State Capitol. The Tribune on Wcdncs-
day pointed 10 the fact TINT in the con-
structiou OF the Hotel Utah. the Kearns
building. the Newhouse structures, the
Walker skyscraper, and so on, there was
no thought of employing Utah archi-
tccts, for the businesslike reason that
thew are uuaccustomed to deal with
these unusual forms of construction,
and that the business men who built
them, wanting to be sure of their pur-
pose and certain of results, employed
architects who were familiar with the
sort of construction desired.
The Smoot organ, in commenting
upon this. seems to have overlooked the
main point. 1t draws attention 80 the
fact that the buildings enumerated, the
Hotel Utah and others, were built on
private account, whereas the capitol is
built On public account, and that Utah
people are therefore entitled to have
the say about it, which they could not
have in private construction. It's posi-
tion in this is that the State ism I en-
titled to as good work as private in
terests demand, which is a foolish
fallacy altogether It is quite
true, of course, that the buildings
spoken Of are of private construction;
but the main point is that the capitol
being of unusual construction should be
treated by the State in the same way
that business men treat like problems
when they deal with them. Inasmuch
as the private interests spoken of did
Utah architects were not familiar with
the sort of construction desired, the
Capitol Commission, which stands in
the same relation TO the capitol struc'
ture that the builders of the structure
referred to did with respect to those
buildings, should proceed on like busi.
ness principles: that is. they should Sc
lect for architect the one presenting the
best plans. No one should be barred,
though the Native Sons idea would be
to bar all but Utah architects. We,
however, would not bar any. 1t is
altogether proper, of course, TO invite
bids of Utah architects, and If those
plans are found to be satisfactory, by
all means adopt them, in preference to
outside plans equally satisfactory. The
question should be decided on merit,
and not on favoritism, either local or
personal. The best is what is wanted.
If Utah architects present the best,
that will please us all the better.
Our insistence in this matter is, that
the state of Utah should take no risks,
It should invite open, free competition
among architects, and invite plans and
bids from any one. whether local or
not; aud then the best plans should be
We may say in this connec-
tion, that we think it unfortunate that
the plan Of the Utah architects asso-
citation which was vainly urged upon
the commission. and which coutemplat
ed the employment Of an expert archl
tect to draw up the invitations for bids,
and to have preliminary charge Of the
whole matter, was not adopted il any
one should challenge the competence of
tho commission to pass upon work OF
this kind. 1T would not be easy to meet
that challenge: but, if an expert archi |
tect had been employed from the first
as counselor or manager for the Capitol
Commission. there can be no doubt in
our Judgment, but that good and help
full results would have been obtained
thereby. While it is admitted, of course.
that Utah talent and service should
be employed wherever that is approx
mately equal to any other, il is by no
means admitted that il should be ex-
employed. especially In mat
ters with which it may not be familiar;
and that is the main point i'll the whole |
case, If the governors Of the Native
Sons Association had inserted Mr., ,Jen- |
sen s amendment, looking to the quail |
of those to be employed, the |
declaration would have been beyond |
criticism But, as passed. il is decidedly !
open TO criticism aud the point that |
Utah should receive the best for it's
money rs one that cannot he disposed |
of bv any petty local clamor or play |
for political or personal advantage
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