Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1915-03-06

Inc GfanCWOOu I1lSH oCHool Ids
caused Mr.. Hugh Roberts, the Jer-
sey City architect considerable I'M
easiness. He has written another
letter to "The Palisadian" in which he
tries to prove that competition would
have been the proper thing-the only
thing, from his viewpoint-in select
ing an architect. The matter hinges,
so far as Mr.. Roberts is concerned,
on the following point:
When Mr.. Roberts appeared before
the Board of Education he was asked
by Mr.. Herschler,
"Does the American Institute of
Architects recommend competition as
the best means for the selection Of
architects ?"
Mr.. Roberts is said to have an
swered, eyes, for public buildings"
And it isn't so, if some very high
up men, connected with that organi-
cation are to be believed. Here is
MIR. RODeTJS last lcJlcI.
Jersey City,
Feb. 16, 1915.
To the Editor,
"The Palisadian."
Dear Sir:
l thank you for the publication OF
my letter to you of Feb. 8. l have
read with interest your editorial and
also your news article, concerning
the appointment Of an architect for
the new High School at Gran.wood.4
Your most favorable comments
concerning the liability, efficiency and
honesty" of Mr.. Sibley, certainly
should be very gratifying to him, and
your additional comments relative to
the American Institute OF Architects
position on the question OF competl-
lions in general, is matter upon
which you don't agree with me, but
in spite of this, the Institute has a
code which they recommend for the
conduct of competitions, and believes
that in many cases a competition,
especially for public work, is neces-
sary.
The New Jersey Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects
strongly believes that competition
for the new High School at Grant
wood would be a great benefit to your
community, and for that reason l at,
tended the last meeting of the Board
of Education and offered the services
of the Chapter without compensation
in the preparation of a proper pro-
gram for competition, so that the re-
suit of the competition would be
good one. If competition is not con-
Quoted properly, of course, 1T is better
to dispense with one altogether.
After l had made the offer Of the
Chapter l closed my remarks and
was about to leave the meeting when
I asked the members of the Board If
they desired to ask me any questions.
l gave my opinion concerning all the
questions which they put to me, and
these opinions which l gave IN re-
Spouse to questions asked, seemed TO
have led you to take issue with my
conclusions. These matters are SIDE
issues anyway and should not cause
the public to lose sight of the man
issue, with which l am sure the
citizens of your town agree, and that
is, that architects residing in Grant
wood should be allowed to furnish
plans for public buildings under a
fair competitive program.
Not only in this state but all over
the United States the claim OF local
architects is thus recognized and no
matter what you may say upon this
question, l think the public will be
AGAINST YOU as it has been in many
instances that l know OF. l believe
that a great injustice has been done
to your local men.
At this time l have not any com
ment to make upon the ability OF Mr..
Sibley, but l still feel as l told the
Board of Education, that if Mr.. Sibley
entered the competition with other
architects, the plans presented by nm
would be better designed and better
studied in every particular, than Will
be the case when the work is given
to him by appointment.
If Mr.. Sibley won the High School
in competition no one would find fault,
but the other architects in your vlcin-
ity. especially Mr.. Fairweather, VINO
appeared before the Board OF Educa,,
ton, and personally asked the Board
for the privilege to compete, have
been dealt with in a very unfair
manner.
Thanking you for giving me your
valuable space, l remain
Yours respectfully,
Hugh Roberts.
/Con+.nnoJ on naOa III