Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-13
WAR MEMORIAL BODY ACTS TO
EMPLOY ADVISORY ARCHITECT

commission mas ready to hear the re-
port OF John I. Wilson. head of the
John /. Wilson Company, which had
been tentatively" selected to erect
the memorial library.
ia like to know" said Commits
sioner Willis. whether this report
is to come from MIR. Wilson as an
Individual. or as an cmployc OF this
Commission. If he submits a report
as an cmploye. I'd like TO know who
hired him and how much he is being
PAID"
Chairman Mills Informed MIR. Willis
that IL had been "ecncrally under
stood among the members OF the
commission that Mr.. Wilsont was TO
interview architects and inspect IL
brary and other memorial buildings
in different sections OF the country
with Il view To assisting the commits
sion III its work. MIR Wilson tod
Mr. Willis that he was not an en-
rloyc OF the commission. paid or
otherwise, and that the services he
had performed would not he charged
TO the commission.
Wilson Report Exhaustive.
The Wilson report, rather an cx-
hausttvc one. went into detail re-
Earding the trip OF Mr.. Wilson North
and West. AS chief architects for
The structure, il recommended as re-
liable men OF national reputation the
following firms:
Carrcrc Il Hastings. Paul p. Crct.
ZZamtZingcr. Boric x Mcdary; Albert
Kahn; McKim. Meade x White; Hcrts
and Robertson. Cass Gilbert and Ed
ward l.. Tilton. The two bodies ten
dcrcd MIR. Wilson Il vote Of thanks
for his services. The Wilson report
was read by the secretary OF the me-
mortal commission.
Miss Adele Clarke read Il resolution
passed by the Virginia League OF
Fine Arts and llandicrafts saying that
the choice OF an architect should take
precedence over that of a contractor
ana. that an architect be engaged
through competition in line with the
procedure of the American Institute
OF Architects. The resolution was
fled
tary OF the Virginia Chapter of the
=.
spoke at considerable length. insis,-
ing that procedure Of the national
association should he recognized N
choosing an architect. He demanded
that Virginia talent he given chance
TO assert itself. Judge Duke said
he was in sympathy with the sug-
gcstions made by Mr.. Calrow.
David Meade White. attorney rep
frcscnting the Richmond Builders En-
change, spoke in opposition TO letting
the contract without competition
Major r. T. Barton announced that
the American Legion had nothing to
say at this time.
Resolution * Rcsrindcd.
The action taken by the commits
sion in April, in appointing special
without competition was .rcscini, |
unanimously. The meeting adjourned
about 1870 o'clock subject TO the call
] OF the chairman.
MIR, Wilson presented to the join,
| commission a report. consisting o;
eighteen typcwrittcn pages. in which
he told in detail OF his trips to va
rious cities in the country. to inter
view architects as To their ability Ia
design thc proposed war memorial,
| building. as We'll as to take M Will
them the matters 90 terms. and &c
| inspect buildings. erected from plan.
and specifications prepared by them
ANA other library structures. Tc
each OF them lac explained the plan
| contemplated by the commission 70.
erection OF Nirginias memorial
| MIR. Wilson first interviewed Pau
! J. crei and IantZingcr, Boric 4
Mcdary, IN Philadelphia. and late,
Carrore " Hastings, Mciiim. Mead,
" White. Cass Gilbert. H. Van Buren,
Magoniglc. llcrts & Robertson and
Edward H. Triton, all OF New York
city. All these submitted proposals
Tor the work. except MIR. Magonigic
who said he would not care TO h,
associated with any other firm OF
architects. Gilbert also said he
would not lac associated with any
other firm. hat submitted PROPOSE
| ;or the work. Mr.. Wilson inspected
| libraries in New York City. Indian
apolis. Chicago. Kansas City. Denver
and Detroit. In Detroit he inter
viewed Albert Kahn, one of the lead.
| ms architects OF the country. Many
! of these .architccts. Mr.. Wilson said
after having explained To them III,
| plan concerning the collaboration %.
| the contracting company pronounced
! the plan admirable.
Defends Nonr"mprtItion.
Much OF Mr.. Wilson'S report is
taken up with "a defense OF the pro-
posal TO select the architect of the
war memorial without competition
doing this. he quotes from III,
!iandbook OF Architectural prac-
tee" american Institute OF Archi-
tccts. and produces letters from fly,
nationally known architects and ar
chitcctural firms. These are Carrcrc
X Hastings. McKiin. Meade x White
Albert Kahn, Cass Gilbert and Hcrts
n Robertson. The same point Is
brought out by each OF them. namely
that, as result OF competition, there
may ho secured the services OF an
architect who can draw beautiful
picture, but who lacks the organiza
| ton and experience IN handling Inn
pUrtant work to see project Of inn
portancc through without running in
! to difficulties.
! Mr.. Wilson then submitted to IN.
| commission tn" names OF the seven