The Detroit times., 1913-12-10
REPOR1ONSCOTT
FOUNTAINPLANS
RAISES RUMPUS
Detroit Architects See Chance
To Freeze Them Out of the
Competition
BITTER IN CRITICISM
OF PROF. DUQUESNE
Say Conditions Laid Down By
Beauty Boards Expert Are
Unfair and Absurd

Detroit architects are not pleased
with the report OF Eugene Duquesne
exchange professor OF Harvard uni
versity, to the city plan and improve
ment commission. regarding the
james Scott fountain.
/ Prof. Duquesne was hired by the
beauty board" to draw up ''prelim
mary report" on program for a com
petition for design for the fountain
Detroit architects insist that the gen
eral code for such a competition has
already been established by the Amer
lean Institute of Architects: that the
employment of Prof. Duquesne at q
fee Of $1,000 was entirely unneces
sary and uncal'ed for; and that his
report Is absurd In the face of the
( facts regarding Belle Isle and its re
lation to the city.
The chief objection raised to Prof
Duquesnes competition plan IL tina,
II provides means for excluding
dIttilttciS WHO Uldy HOt StHHu III
well with the commission. The re
port reads:
The first stage will be open to all
architects, resident of the United
States, who show, by their pre-
vious work or training, proper ca
pability TO take part In the competi
tion.'
. Architects hold that IL Is nobody's
business what the previous work or
training of the contestants have been
that the first stage ought to be
open to all who desire TO take part
without reservation: and that moth
ing desirable is secured by barring
anvone.
The competitors admitted by Prot
Duquesne TO the first competition are
to select the jury from list of six
names. TO be submitted by Prof. Du.
quesne and the commission.
This jury is to select six or seven
sets OF plans submitted. and admit
them to the final competition. To this
number the commission may add
three or four specially invited archi-
tects,'' beings too superior, evidently
to compete in the preliminary con.
test.
Prof. Duquesne has provided for
four prizes. amounting to $4,000. di
-ided as follows: First prize, $4,000:
second prize. $1,000; third prize. $500;
fourth prize, s400.
Captious critics point out that the
sum OF these figures is not $4,000,
but $4,000
Another paragraph in Prof. Du-
quesne's report TO which Detroit
architects strongly object, says:
"The commission reserves the right
to require the architect to associate
himself with some architect of his
choice, If. in the opinion of the COM
mission, he does not appear to have
had sufficient practical training to
carry on successfully the work of ex-
ecuting this important monument.
This should not necessitate extra
architects fees. The architect chosen
should be approved by the commits
sion''
Architects point out that the sue
cessful designer will receive five per
cent, or s1i 500, for his work. This
Is the minimum scale of the American
Institute OF Architects. Out of this,
according to Prof. Duquesne, he will
have to pay the fees Of another archi-
Itect. II the commission insists on the
employment of an additional man.
Further, Prof. Duquesne specifies:
I'm case the execution OF the work
is retarded by delay in the prepara-
tory work, such as filing in on the
site, the commission will not be liable
to the architect for any sum greater
than $500"
But Prof. Duquesne recommends
that the so-called middle ground, :"
below the island, be filled In to pro-
vide site for the fountain. He does
not estimate the cost OF this work,
which architects say cannot be accom-
plished for less than $1,000 900, but
he provides that none OF the money
be taken from the $350.000 to be avail
able from the Jim Scott bequest.
who was James Scott?" asks Prof
Duquesne. "A simple citizen OF De-
troit. who had the good sense to re-
member that there was need OF a
decorative arrangement at the lower
end Of Belle Isle, and TO give the
money for accomplishing this
But james Scott's will In no place
says anything about locating the foun-
tain at the lower end of the island
Architects differ as to its proper loca-
tion. Some hold that the center OF
Belle Isle, In the midst of the forest.
would be an eminently better site, be-
cause Of the landscape possibilities.
Prof. Duquesne also recommends
the replacing Of the Belle Isle bridge,
considered insufficient and even
dangerous" The bridge is given
careful inspection every year, and the
inspectors declare that 1t Is In good
and safe condition.