The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-13
Ulinoisan Wins.

nlinoisan Wins.
A statement was sent out short
time ago from the Associated Press
to the papers III kh estate and coun-
try that Mr. Walter Burleigh Griffin
Of the class Of 1899, architectural
course. University of Illinois, had
won the international competition
for the erection OF a capitol build
Ing for the federal government OF
Australia.
The competition was much more
important than this would seem to
signify. The Australian federal
goveEnment has determined to fol-
low the example Of yne American
federal government in the founding
and development of Washington.
and create a new city as a federal
capital. locating it away from other
cities and an far out In the open
country as Washington was when
it was founded. IL
The federal government OF Aus
tralia desired q competition among
the architects OF the world for the
planning OF this federal citrttthe
suggestion OF buildings and their To-
cation, TIM fundamental street plan.
and In general a suggestion covering
All that was necessary ip blocking
sdht in bfpad outlines the plan lof a
great city worthy to be the federal
capital of this new nation.
It was problem almost eractly
like that before the American peo-
pie In 1900 when WASHING ton was
created as the capital city OF our
federal union, and Mr.. Griffin has
had the good fortune to play the
part of the celebrated Frenchman
L'Enfant. who drew the foundation
plan upon which city was built
which has become one of the most
Significant governmental centers in
the world.
Mr.. Griffin's problem was even
more comprehensive as well as more
detailed than L'Enfant's. for he was
expected not merely to draw up a
street plan and indicate the location
of one or two buildings. with 'sug-
gestions for the plans OF these. but
TO draw up in considerable detail
the ground plan. provide for the
scheme of drainage, for the location
Of numerous buildings. for the
proper handling OF the traffic, and
the development OF the legislative
Business sides of this great metrop.
oils.
The fact that Waiter Burleigh
Griffin graduated IN the architec.
tural course OF the raiversity oil
Illinois. serves naturally to call at.
tention to this schoG and its re,
markable growth and services e
the country.
II anyone had picked out thirty
years ago the most unfavorabls
place In the United States for the
location Of course IN architecture
no one would have made a mistake
tn putting 1t upon the banks of the
Boneyard stream In the city OF Ur.
bana; Illinois far removed from any
specimens OF architecture that were
worthy OF study. with no collection.
worth visiting within a thousand
miles, the outlook for great schoo
1 0f architecture seemed hopeless
/ enough. tf-
But Professor Clifford ". Kicker
who still remains a member of til,
y aaculty,lwa 80 to speak, the found
er and organizer. OF this school, AMI
as he said to one of his friends som,
years ago, his success lib largely Il
be attributed to the fact he has beer
ION the Job" ever since. Summe
and winter, rain or shine, in storm
and quiet, he has persistently ham
mered away to lay broad and dee]
the foundations OF this school an,
rear Its superstructure high until |
has become one of the four creates
schools AL architecture in the ney
world, and has an attendance dur
Ing the present year, exceeding tina
Of any other school OF architecture
In this hemisphere. 1t has becom
source Of inspiration in ever
country in the commonwealth, an
the traces Of its influence are to b
seen in the buildings going ii
throughout the state. w
pr. Ricker has been for man
years the chairman of the stat
Board Of Examiners, who hay,
charge Of the admission Of applI
cahts to the practice Of the profe.
sion OF architecture. In this posi-
tion Ne has done much to Sc
standards and elevate the genera
level of the profession. y IN 'f'
In addition to the fact that tn
school 'cf Architecture In the Uni
5srsity 81 Illinois has, through til
III sfssAN NJ tslS %s5FEt