NEW YORK CHAPTER, A. I. A.
T
HE Hew York Chapter, A. I. A., closed one of the most successful seasons of its history with a meeting on June 10, at the Century Club. After luncheon, the work accomplished by the New York Building Congress was explained by Stephen F. Voorhees and Burt L. Fenner. Both of these gentlemen have devoted a great deal of time to the work of this organization in an official capacity and by their reports it was made evident that the Building Congress renders a valuable service to the building industry. This is strikingly apparent in the better relations that have been established between employers and labor. The progress made in apprenticeship in many trades is notable and it appears that it would be much greater if contractors would employ their full quota of apprentices. A plea was made for architects to exert their influence on contractors to this end. The place of the architect in this Building Congress movement was made clear. Its success is assured and architects should actively participate in its work.
D. Knickerbacker Boyd, Philadelphia, recounted some experiences of a recent cross-country trip to the Pacific Coast. He found that ninetyfive per cent of the mechanics on buildings were unable to read the plans and had no knowledge of the general details of the building on which they were working. He clearly showed the disadvantages of this condition of affairs and its influence on architectural practice. Mr. Boyd suggested that much would be gained by the workman and the architect if the draftsman gave a certain amount of time to observing the actual construction of the work for which he made the plans. In doing this the draftsman should make a personal contact with the mechanic. The draftsman’s value to the architect would be greatly enhanced. Bonn Barber gave an interesting and comprehensive report of the annual convention at Washington. He commented favorably on the improved method of planning and conducting the conventions and appraised this convention as the best and most beneficial to the Institute, that he ever attended.
The remarks of the speakers were given careful attention and appreciation was evidenced by applause and after-meeting discussion. This meeting closed a year of much work done under Mr. Waid’s administration. This was made possible by the careful planning of the Chapter’s undertakings, their appeal to the membership and the hearty co-operation inspired by its president. The incoming administration of B. W. Morris will have much work to do in connection with the great architectural exhibit and the convention of The American Institute of Architects which will be held concurrently in New York next year. The high standard of efficiency attained by Mr. Waid’s administration will undoubtedly be maintained.
THE UTILITY OF THE MILLIONAIRE T
HERE has been much comment and notice of the immense wealth accumulated by Mr. Ford, which is said to amount to £60,000 a day, and may grow to double that sum in the course of the next ten years, states The Architect, London, in a recent issue. Doubtless such colossal figures make one’s mouth water, and eager reformers in every country feel that it would be excellent if they could obtain control of such enormous sums by taxation or other means.
But Mr. Ford’s fortune has been amassed in two ways: first, by his business ability, and secondly, because instead of spending a large part of his income the money goes to increase the capital employed in business, with the result that he can manufacture motors more cheaply and sell them at less profit than his competitors, the effect being to bring motors within the means of comparatively poor people, while at the same time affording an enormous amount of employment to workers. Both of these results are in the direction of public services to the community. As it is quite clear that no man other than an imperial maniac like Nero could spend more than a fraction of such an income as Mr. Ford makes, and that if he spent it as Nero might have done he would no longer be the astute, hard-working business organizer he is, it is difficult for us to see why the accumulation of such fortunes should be objected to except by a comparatively small number of motor car makers who are naturally annoyed to see Mr. Ford content with profits which on their smaller output would be quite insufficient. If any State could manage business as successfully as Mr. Ford does, we should have good reason to become Socialists, but State enterprise is not remarkable for its success, and has hitherto led to increased, and not decreased, demands on the public purse. The Socialist party ai-e in the position of children who pull a watch to pieces but, confronted with the difficulty of putting it together again, would pass on to another act of destruction.
MILLIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND HOMES
THE Prime Minister of New Zealand, it is
reported, has recently stated that a loan fund approximating £1,000,000 is likely to be raised to furnish aid to persons desiring to build homes, such a fund to supersede an older one which limits the loans from 70 to 75 per cent of construction costs. The new fund, if approved by the New Zealand Government, will allow an advance up to 95 per cent. The Government has already built or assisted in the building of 12,861 homes at an expenditure or advance of £18.316,330.
T
HE Hew York Chapter, A. I. A., closed one of the most successful seasons of its history with a meeting on June 10, at the Century Club. After luncheon, the work accomplished by the New York Building Congress was explained by Stephen F. Voorhees and Burt L. Fenner. Both of these gentlemen have devoted a great deal of time to the work of this organization in an official capacity and by their reports it was made evident that the Building Congress renders a valuable service to the building industry. This is strikingly apparent in the better relations that have been established between employers and labor. The progress made in apprenticeship in many trades is notable and it appears that it would be much greater if contractors would employ their full quota of apprentices. A plea was made for architects to exert their influence on contractors to this end. The place of the architect in this Building Congress movement was made clear. Its success is assured and architects should actively participate in its work.
D. Knickerbacker Boyd, Philadelphia, recounted some experiences of a recent cross-country trip to the Pacific Coast. He found that ninetyfive per cent of the mechanics on buildings were unable to read the plans and had no knowledge of the general details of the building on which they were working. He clearly showed the disadvantages of this condition of affairs and its influence on architectural practice. Mr. Boyd suggested that much would be gained by the workman and the architect if the draftsman gave a certain amount of time to observing the actual construction of the work for which he made the plans. In doing this the draftsman should make a personal contact with the mechanic. The draftsman’s value to the architect would be greatly enhanced. Bonn Barber gave an interesting and comprehensive report of the annual convention at Washington. He commented favorably on the improved method of planning and conducting the conventions and appraised this convention as the best and most beneficial to the Institute, that he ever attended.
The remarks of the speakers were given careful attention and appreciation was evidenced by applause and after-meeting discussion. This meeting closed a year of much work done under Mr. Waid’s administration. This was made possible by the careful planning of the Chapter’s undertakings, their appeal to the membership and the hearty co-operation inspired by its president. The incoming administration of B. W. Morris will have much work to do in connection with the great architectural exhibit and the convention of The American Institute of Architects which will be held concurrently in New York next year. The high standard of efficiency attained by Mr. Waid’s administration will undoubtedly be maintained.
THE UTILITY OF THE MILLIONAIRE T
HERE has been much comment and notice of the immense wealth accumulated by Mr. Ford, which is said to amount to £60,000 a day, and may grow to double that sum in the course of the next ten years, states The Architect, London, in a recent issue. Doubtless such colossal figures make one’s mouth water, and eager reformers in every country feel that it would be excellent if they could obtain control of such enormous sums by taxation or other means.
But Mr. Ford’s fortune has been amassed in two ways: first, by his business ability, and secondly, because instead of spending a large part of his income the money goes to increase the capital employed in business, with the result that he can manufacture motors more cheaply and sell them at less profit than his competitors, the effect being to bring motors within the means of comparatively poor people, while at the same time affording an enormous amount of employment to workers. Both of these results are in the direction of public services to the community. As it is quite clear that no man other than an imperial maniac like Nero could spend more than a fraction of such an income as Mr. Ford makes, and that if he spent it as Nero might have done he would no longer be the astute, hard-working business organizer he is, it is difficult for us to see why the accumulation of such fortunes should be objected to except by a comparatively small number of motor car makers who are naturally annoyed to see Mr. Ford content with profits which on their smaller output would be quite insufficient. If any State could manage business as successfully as Mr. Ford does, we should have good reason to become Socialists, but State enterprise is not remarkable for its success, and has hitherto led to increased, and not decreased, demands on the public purse. The Socialist party ai-e in the position of children who pull a watch to pieces but, confronted with the difficulty of putting it together again, would pass on to another act of destruction.
MILLIONS FOR NEW ZEALAND HOMES
THE Prime Minister of New Zealand, it is
reported, has recently stated that a loan fund approximating £1,000,000 is likely to be raised to furnish aid to persons desiring to build homes, such a fund to supersede an older one which limits the loans from 70 to 75 per cent of construction costs. The new fund, if approved by the New Zealand Government, will allow an advance up to 95 per cent. The Government has already built or assisted in the building of 12,861 homes at an expenditure or advance of £18.316,330.