The American Architect and Building News,
VOL. XXXIII.
Copyright, 1891, by Ticknor & Company, Boston, Mass.
No. 812.
Entered at the Post-Office at Boston as second-class matter.
JULY 18, 1891
Summary —
Nineteenth Annual Convention of French Architects — Award of the Medal for Building Jurisprudence. — Report of the Mutual Defence Association.— Fires on Ocean-going Steamers;—Mr. Cutler wins his Case against Colonel North, the “Nitrate King.”— Workmen’s Committees Abroad and their Relation to Industrial Operations.— A Contract-labor Case. — Checking Drunkenness among German Building-work
men.— A Recipe for Removing old Paint................................33 Architecture of the United States.— 1................................................35
Letter from Australia............................................................................................37 Letter from Canada...................................................................................................39 Notes from our Travelling-scholar........................................................39
Letter from Washington.......................................................................................41 Letter from Paris.......................................................................................................42 Illustrations : —
House at Richmond, Va.— Young Women’s Christian Association Building, Brooklyn, N. Y. — Sketches at Bordentown, N. J. — House “0” for the Orange Mountain Land Co. — House at Bridgeport, Conn.— House at Kearney, Neb. — Stable at Kearney, Neb
Additional: House m Georgenstrasse, Munich, Bavaria.— Varieties of Arabic Stone Jointing. — Gothic Doorway to Arab Mosque. — No. 167 Queen’s Gate, London, Eng.— Entrance to the Same. — Entrance-Hall in the Same. — Drawing-room in the Same. — Brookfield^House, High
gate, Eng. : the Drawing-room — Dining-room in Same. . 44 Notes and Clippings...............................................................................................44 Trade Surveys.............................................................................................................44
THE French architects have just had their nineteenth annual Convention. Practically, the Convention of French architects is the annual meeting of the Societe Centrale, since nearly every respectable architect in France belongs either to the Societe Centrale, or to one of its affiliated local societies, but the more comprehensive name is the official one. As usual, several medals were awarded, the most distinguished architects in the country made speeches, the Government Director of Fine Arts presided at one or two of the meetings, and every one had a friendly and profitable time. The award of tlie medals for domestic architecture, which always excites great interest, is a feature which might, one would think, be with great advantage imitated among us. This time, the grand medal of honor was awarded to M. Paul Blondel. M. Blondel is a Prize of Rome graduate of the School of Fine Arts, and a pupil of M. Daumet. His first commissions appear to have been at Mulhouse in Alsace, where he built three large houses. From Alsace he came to Paris, where he has designed many important buildings, both public and private. Two other French architects, M. Bissuel, of Lyons, and Vandenbergh, of Lille, also received medals. The process by which selection for these recompenses is made among the provincial architects is interesting, and affords a further suggestion of the way in which a similar selection might be made here. The candidates are, it seems, recommended to the jury by the local societies to which they belong, letters being sent, containing a brief account of their professional work. On receipt of this, the candidates are requested to submit to the jury drawings of their best buildings, and from these, fortified, perhaps, by examination of some of the buildings themselves, the award is made.
I
N addition to the medals for domestic architecture, a medal is given by the French Convention every year for jurisprudence. Among our architects, who, sometimes unfortunately for themselves, would about as soon think of completing their professional accomplishments by the study of surgery as of jurisprudence, such a medal would have to hunt a long time for a wearer; hut a certain number of French architects hold appointments from the courts as experts in building cases, and, in the discharge of their duties as experts, as well as in the assistance which their experience in such cases enables them to give their brethren, they have an important part in professional life; and a conspicuous reputation for good judgment in business affairs, and for skill in expert examinations, is a valuable acquisition. This year, the medal for jurisprudence was awarded to M. Bailly, who, besides being an architect of great merit as an
artist, appears, during his fifty years’ practice as an expert before the courts, to have gained the highest confidence and esteem in the profession. After the awards to the architects came the usual presentation of medals to workmen of distinguished merit, and to students in tlie School of Fine Arts.
THE Convention concluded its business with the annual report of the Mutual Defence Association, which now has
two hundred and forty-one members, and a balance in the treasury of about eleven hundred dollars, and lias already expended about sixteen hundred in paying court costs and counsel fees for its members. The counsel fees appear to be very moderate, although the Association employed lawyers of the highest distinction; and the reason probably is, that as these gentlemen are constantly engaged in building cases, they can understand the evidence, and present their own side of the subject intelligently, without having to study up the whole art of building, at their client’s expense, before they are in condition to explain to the judge, or the jury, the difference between a lath and a lathe. However that may be, the Association is well served. Out of five cases, before the highest courts, undertaken by it last year, three have been already favorably decided, yet the entire amount expended in counsei fees and expenses during the year was only about six hundred dollars. The moderate charge of its lawyers p.robablv explains the otherwise unaccountable smallness of the dues required from members of the Association. Tlie entrance-fee is six dollars, and the annual dues two dollars and forty cents. Besides this, a member who has a case assumed by the Association is obliged to hand over to it the amount awarded him by the court, if the decision is favorable to him, for costs and expenses, keeping for himself only tlie net amount of damages or debt recovered. The French courts allow the successful claimant something for counsel fees, as well as court C03ts and other actual expenses, bo that this arrangement is fair to every one.
FIRE AND WATER reminds its readers of the terrible
experience of the passengers on the steamer “ City of Richmond,” a few weeks ago, when fire broke out among the cotton bales in the hold, and burned for several days, keeping the lives of all on board in danger during that time ; and asks whether it is not possible to prohibit the carrying of cotton on first-class passenger steamers. It says that the directors of the White Star line are seriously considering the advisability of refusing to take cotton as freight on its fast ships, and expresses the hope, which most persons will share, that the other great lines may join the White Star in excluding this dangerous freight from passenger steamers. As evidence of the pressing necessity for some immediate action, it gives a list of the steamships on which fire has broken out in cotton stored in the hold, during the last, and the present, cotton-shipping
season. Last year there were thirty-eight steamers oii the list, including the “Britannic,” the “Bulgarian, ’ the “Alaska,” the “ Gellert,” and “La Champagne.” Two of the. steamers, the “Queensmore” and tlie “Santiago,” were totally destroyed. This year, so far, fire has occurred in twenty-nine steamers, including the “Majestic,” the “Nevada,” the “ City of Neiv York” and the “City of Richmond.” One steamer, the “European,” has been on fire twice this year, already, and two that have had fires on hoard this season also had fires last year. In one steamer, the “Montevideana fire broke out, about two weeks ago, in some bales of jute, which were being brought from Sweden to Montreal. The fire burned for several hours before it could be reached and extinguished, and the anxiety of the ship’s company was not diminished by the recollection that twelve tons of gunpowder shared the hold with the bales of jute.
I
T is a satisfaction to know that Mr. Cutler, the architect of Colonel North’s splendid house at Eltham, has won his suit for his commission against the “ Nitrate King.” Unfortunately, the court could give him no satisfaction for the clownish rudeness with which his millionaire client treated him, but the Lord Chief Justice, who was favored with an exhibition of some of the same rudeness, gave the rich man a lecture which he is not likely to forget. The case appears, from this distance, to be simply one of a man not wishing to pay his bills, and utilizing his wealth to frighten his creditors into abandoning their
VOL. XXXIII.
Copyright, 1891, by Ticknor & Company, Boston, Mass.
No. 812.
Entered at the Post-Office at Boston as second-class matter.
JULY 18, 1891
Summary —
Nineteenth Annual Convention of French Architects — Award of the Medal for Building Jurisprudence. — Report of the Mutual Defence Association.— Fires on Ocean-going Steamers;—Mr. Cutler wins his Case against Colonel North, the “Nitrate King.”— Workmen’s Committees Abroad and their Relation to Industrial Operations.— A Contract-labor Case. — Checking Drunkenness among German Building-work
men.— A Recipe for Removing old Paint................................33 Architecture of the United States.— 1................................................35
Letter from Australia............................................................................................37 Letter from Canada...................................................................................................39 Notes from our Travelling-scholar........................................................39
Letter from Washington.......................................................................................41 Letter from Paris.......................................................................................................42 Illustrations : —
House at Richmond, Va.— Young Women’s Christian Association Building, Brooklyn, N. Y. — Sketches at Bordentown, N. J. — House “0” for the Orange Mountain Land Co. — House at Bridgeport, Conn.— House at Kearney, Neb. — Stable at Kearney, Neb
Additional: House m Georgenstrasse, Munich, Bavaria.— Varieties of Arabic Stone Jointing. — Gothic Doorway to Arab Mosque. — No. 167 Queen’s Gate, London, Eng.— Entrance to the Same. — Entrance-Hall in the Same. — Drawing-room in the Same. — Brookfield^House, High
gate, Eng. : the Drawing-room — Dining-room in Same. . 44 Notes and Clippings...............................................................................................44 Trade Surveys.............................................................................................................44
THE French architects have just had their nineteenth annual Convention. Practically, the Convention of French architects is the annual meeting of the Societe Centrale, since nearly every respectable architect in France belongs either to the Societe Centrale, or to one of its affiliated local societies, but the more comprehensive name is the official one. As usual, several medals were awarded, the most distinguished architects in the country made speeches, the Government Director of Fine Arts presided at one or two of the meetings, and every one had a friendly and profitable time. The award of tlie medals for domestic architecture, which always excites great interest, is a feature which might, one would think, be with great advantage imitated among us. This time, the grand medal of honor was awarded to M. Paul Blondel. M. Blondel is a Prize of Rome graduate of the School of Fine Arts, and a pupil of M. Daumet. His first commissions appear to have been at Mulhouse in Alsace, where he built three large houses. From Alsace he came to Paris, where he has designed many important buildings, both public and private. Two other French architects, M. Bissuel, of Lyons, and Vandenbergh, of Lille, also received medals. The process by which selection for these recompenses is made among the provincial architects is interesting, and affords a further suggestion of the way in which a similar selection might be made here. The candidates are, it seems, recommended to the jury by the local societies to which they belong, letters being sent, containing a brief account of their professional work. On receipt of this, the candidates are requested to submit to the jury drawings of their best buildings, and from these, fortified, perhaps, by examination of some of the buildings themselves, the award is made.
I
N addition to the medals for domestic architecture, a medal is given by the French Convention every year for jurisprudence. Among our architects, who, sometimes unfortunately for themselves, would about as soon think of completing their professional accomplishments by the study of surgery as of jurisprudence, such a medal would have to hunt a long time for a wearer; hut a certain number of French architects hold appointments from the courts as experts in building cases, and, in the discharge of their duties as experts, as well as in the assistance which their experience in such cases enables them to give their brethren, they have an important part in professional life; and a conspicuous reputation for good judgment in business affairs, and for skill in expert examinations, is a valuable acquisition. This year, the medal for jurisprudence was awarded to M. Bailly, who, besides being an architect of great merit as an
artist, appears, during his fifty years’ practice as an expert before the courts, to have gained the highest confidence and esteem in the profession. After the awards to the architects came the usual presentation of medals to workmen of distinguished merit, and to students in tlie School of Fine Arts.
THE Convention concluded its business with the annual report of the Mutual Defence Association, which now has
two hundred and forty-one members, and a balance in the treasury of about eleven hundred dollars, and lias already expended about sixteen hundred in paying court costs and counsel fees for its members. The counsel fees appear to be very moderate, although the Association employed lawyers of the highest distinction; and the reason probably is, that as these gentlemen are constantly engaged in building cases, they can understand the evidence, and present their own side of the subject intelligently, without having to study up the whole art of building, at their client’s expense, before they are in condition to explain to the judge, or the jury, the difference between a lath and a lathe. However that may be, the Association is well served. Out of five cases, before the highest courts, undertaken by it last year, three have been already favorably decided, yet the entire amount expended in counsei fees and expenses during the year was only about six hundred dollars. The moderate charge of its lawyers p.robablv explains the otherwise unaccountable smallness of the dues required from members of the Association. Tlie entrance-fee is six dollars, and the annual dues two dollars and forty cents. Besides this, a member who has a case assumed by the Association is obliged to hand over to it the amount awarded him by the court, if the decision is favorable to him, for costs and expenses, keeping for himself only tlie net amount of damages or debt recovered. The French courts allow the successful claimant something for counsel fees, as well as court C03ts and other actual expenses, bo that this arrangement is fair to every one.
FIRE AND WATER reminds its readers of the terrible
experience of the passengers on the steamer “ City of Richmond,” a few weeks ago, when fire broke out among the cotton bales in the hold, and burned for several days, keeping the lives of all on board in danger during that time ; and asks whether it is not possible to prohibit the carrying of cotton on first-class passenger steamers. It says that the directors of the White Star line are seriously considering the advisability of refusing to take cotton as freight on its fast ships, and expresses the hope, which most persons will share, that the other great lines may join the White Star in excluding this dangerous freight from passenger steamers. As evidence of the pressing necessity for some immediate action, it gives a list of the steamships on which fire has broken out in cotton stored in the hold, during the last, and the present, cotton-shipping
season. Last year there were thirty-eight steamers oii the list, including the “Britannic,” the “Bulgarian, ’ the “Alaska,” the “ Gellert,” and “La Champagne.” Two of the. steamers, the “Queensmore” and tlie “Santiago,” were totally destroyed. This year, so far, fire has occurred in twenty-nine steamers, including the “Majestic,” the “Nevada,” the “ City of Neiv York” and the “City of Richmond.” One steamer, the “European,” has been on fire twice this year, already, and two that have had fires on hoard this season also had fires last year. In one steamer, the “Montevideana fire broke out, about two weeks ago, in some bales of jute, which were being brought from Sweden to Montreal. The fire burned for several hours before it could be reached and extinguished, and the anxiety of the ship’s company was not diminished by the recollection that twelve tons of gunpowder shared the hold with the bales of jute.
I
T is a satisfaction to know that Mr. Cutler, the architect of Colonel North’s splendid house at Eltham, has won his suit for his commission against the “ Nitrate King.” Unfortunately, the court could give him no satisfaction for the clownish rudeness with which his millionaire client treated him, but the Lord Chief Justice, who was favored with an exhibition of some of the same rudeness, gave the rich man a lecture which he is not likely to forget. The case appears, from this distance, to be simply one of a man not wishing to pay his bills, and utilizing his wealth to frighten his creditors into abandoning their