long and faithful service by its officers ; or, on the other hand, to make changes when desirable, to bring in new ideas, new blood. Several suggestions have been made. The selection of officers might be made from the Society at large, membership in the Executive Committee being ex-ofhcio, the election being for a term of years without possibility of re-election. Or the Executive Committee might be enlarged to 18 members, so as to offer a larger choice for officers. Or the President might be elected one year, the Secretary the following, and so on, to hold three or four years, so that there could be at once a degree of change and of continuity in the administration. The last change in the method of electing officers was, I believe, made without due consideration. It is not too early to begin a study of this question now, and I would recommend that a special committee should be appointed at this meeting to consider possible changes in our electoral methods, with a view to making some change in the by-laws at the meeting of 1907.
During the past two years valuable suggestions have been made looking toward the adjustment of the troublesome matter of professional ethics. Mr. Peabody has admirably epitomized the general subject by admonishing us that the architect must first, last, and always, “be a gentleman” in his dealings with his fellow-architects. Mr. Andrews has made a very practical suggestion that, before entering upon a competition, it should be the aim of members of the Society to consult with the other competitors in an endeavor to agree on what shall be fair and just terms, and not to leave the settlement of such terms to the owners. It is believed that such a suggestion could with advantage be added to our Code of Ethics, and I, therefore, make this as a recommendation.
The Society has been more efficient this year in its work than ever before, but there
is still room for improvement, and I would therefore make upon this subject the following recQmmendations :
(1) . The membership should be increased until it includes not only the majority, but all of the reputable architects in greater Boston. It is not numbers which will make pur Society a power, but we want the Society to be all-inclusive, and by personal appeal on the part of the members I am confident that the membership could be extended very greatly. At the same time, the Junior members should be encouraged to ask for advancement. Out of a total membership of 189 we have only 84 Regular members and 78 practising architects. To be truly the Society of Boston Architects we could rightly claim a Regular membership of at least 154 and a total membership of 250. Beyond this, even, membership in the Institute should be considered a necessary conconsequence of Regular membership in the Society.
(2) Our standing-committees should be continued in their present organization from year to year, but a provision should be made by which a certain proportion should be relieved each year and replaced by new members. This plan has been adopted in the Rotch Scholarship Committee with success, and if followed with the other committees would increase the number of those who are actively engaged in the work of the Society.
(3) Your Secretary believes that the work
of the Society is not sufficiently known to its own members, and far less to the public. He would advise the publishing of a quarterly bulletin, similar to that issued by the Secretary of the Institute, and the distributing of this bulletin to the members of the Society and ho practising architects, as well, who are not members.
(4) The Secretary would make a fourth recommendation, but makes it with extreme diffidence, being by no means sure that it should be adopted. This is a busy age. Those whom we most wish to take a part in the affairs of the Society are often those whose business demands upon their time are the largest, but we need their advice and co-operation, and even more, we want their deliberate judgment, but from sheer lack of time, rather than from any unwillingness, such service is often denied us. Would it therefore not be a wise move for the Society to employ, at a fixed salary, some one who w ould exercise the functions of assistant secretary and treasurer, general messenger, copyist, collector, entertainmentcommittee, in fact, be available for all of the routine work which must be done to keep the Society moving, but which takes so much time and leaves so little opportunity for your President, Secretary, and Treasurer to do the planning and deliberate thinking which, in the long run, is necessary for continued growth on the part of the Society? It might be possible to arrange for such a person to give only a portion of his or her time to the Society, but if results are worth trying for, it is believed that this is at least worthy of the experiment. The Society now pays a certain amount annually for clerical hire, etc., so that the additional charge for such services would probably not be large. At any rate, the Secretary believes that the idea should be considered.
It will at once be seen that the recommendations herein offered for your consideration involve much extra work and are sure to call for added expenditures. At the risk of intrenching upon the Treasurer’s province the Secretary would raise the question as to whether we cannot spend our money to better advantage than we are now doing. In a certain sense we have for several years been living beyond our means, and have certainly not greatly added to our capital. Should we not consider whether or no the $440 we spend to send eleven delegates to Washington, for instance, is the best way to serve the interests of the Society and the Institute? Ought we not, in ordinary prudence, to permanently invest each year at least the money received from initiations ? In conclusion, I wish to express my personal feeling of. pleasure in having been allowed to serve the Society. The attendance at our meetings has been most gratifying, exceeding that of any previous year, the interest has been continued, there has been a willingness to help evinced by all who have been approached, and I am convinced that the Society is entering upon a period of active influence, and that it occupies its rightful position as the foremost architectural society of the country.
C. H. Blackall, Secretary.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Columbus, O.—Ohio State University will soon have a Woman’s Building. It will be planned and arranged by three women architects—Miss Kenyon Hayden, Miss Florence
Hite and Miss Mary McMahon. The building will be of the old English architecture in the Tudor style.
Wilmington, Del.—Messrs. J. F. Leitner and W. F. Wilkins, two experienced architects, have opened an office in the Southern Building, and will be permanently located here. Mr. Leitner is an architect of nineteen 3 ears’ experience, and has been engaged in business throughout the South during this time. Mr. Wilkins is an experienced and practical builder.
Scranton, Pa.—Mr. Edward H. Davis, architect, who demonstrated his ability by the manner in which he solved the problem of bridging the Lackawanna River, provid
ing a union station, market-house, storageplant and other public conveniences, opened an office in New York City about a year ago at 27 West Thirty-third street, and lately one in Baltimore at 11 Pleasant street, in each of which he has a partner of ability to look after the work during periods of his absence. Through this arrangement, commissions for the execution of work amounting to over $1,000,000 have been received during the past two months, including the new House of Refuge in Baltimore, costing $750,000.
Atlanta, Ga.—Mr. Geo. C. Thompson, architect, has removed from Dublin, Ga., and has opened new offices in the Candler Building, Atlanta, Ga.
The New South Dakota Capitol.—Bell & Detwiler, the architects of the new State Capitol, have prepared plans and specifications that call for bids on the basis of Sioux Falls granite, Black Hills sandstone, Bedford limestone, Kettle River sandstone and Marquette raindrop sandstone.
Trenton, N. J.—Samuel Allen Brouse, one of the best-known architects in this part of the State, died at his home in this city, January 26, from cancer of the stomach. He was forty-one years old, a native of Bristol, Pa., and began his professional career in Philadelphia. He was educated in the Holy Church Communion Institute at Charlestown, S. C., and then took a course in architecture in Philadelphia. He came to this city about seventeen years ago and was an assistant in the office of William A. Poland, architect. Soon after this he opened an office for himself and designed many of the large buildings of the city.
Utica, N. Y.—Mr. Waller G. Frank has opened an architect’s office at room 17 in the Clarendon building. He is a graduate of Cornell University and has had considerable experience, having supervised the erection of several power-houses last year.
Syracuse, N. Y.—Messrs. Brockway & Taylor, architects, have brought suit in Municipal Court against the Bay Road Construction Company for $649.85. The architects claim they drew a -general group of plans for the Sagamore Inn and its surroundings for the company and they have not yet been paid for their services.
INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION.
the opening of the new plant of the
WINSLOW BROS. CO.
Somg-seventy-five invited guests, including many architects and others interested in ornamental iron and bronze work, inspected the new plant of the Winslow Bros. Co., at West Harrison street and Forty
During the past two years valuable suggestions have been made looking toward the adjustment of the troublesome matter of professional ethics. Mr. Peabody has admirably epitomized the general subject by admonishing us that the architect must first, last, and always, “be a gentleman” in his dealings with his fellow-architects. Mr. Andrews has made a very practical suggestion that, before entering upon a competition, it should be the aim of members of the Society to consult with the other competitors in an endeavor to agree on what shall be fair and just terms, and not to leave the settlement of such terms to the owners. It is believed that such a suggestion could with advantage be added to our Code of Ethics, and I, therefore, make this as a recommendation.
The Society has been more efficient this year in its work than ever before, but there
is still room for improvement, and I would therefore make upon this subject the following recQmmendations :
(1) . The membership should be increased until it includes not only the majority, but all of the reputable architects in greater Boston. It is not numbers which will make pur Society a power, but we want the Society to be all-inclusive, and by personal appeal on the part of the members I am confident that the membership could be extended very greatly. At the same time, the Junior members should be encouraged to ask for advancement. Out of a total membership of 189 we have only 84 Regular members and 78 practising architects. To be truly the Society of Boston Architects we could rightly claim a Regular membership of at least 154 and a total membership of 250. Beyond this, even, membership in the Institute should be considered a necessary conconsequence of Regular membership in the Society.
(2) Our standing-committees should be continued in their present organization from year to year, but a provision should be made by which a certain proportion should be relieved each year and replaced by new members. This plan has been adopted in the Rotch Scholarship Committee with success, and if followed with the other committees would increase the number of those who are actively engaged in the work of the Society.
(3) Your Secretary believes that the work
of the Society is not sufficiently known to its own members, and far less to the public. He would advise the publishing of a quarterly bulletin, similar to that issued by the Secretary of the Institute, and the distributing of this bulletin to the members of the Society and ho practising architects, as well, who are not members.
(4) The Secretary would make a fourth recommendation, but makes it with extreme diffidence, being by no means sure that it should be adopted. This is a busy age. Those whom we most wish to take a part in the affairs of the Society are often those whose business demands upon their time are the largest, but we need their advice and co-operation, and even more, we want their deliberate judgment, but from sheer lack of time, rather than from any unwillingness, such service is often denied us. Would it therefore not be a wise move for the Society to employ, at a fixed salary, some one who w ould exercise the functions of assistant secretary and treasurer, general messenger, copyist, collector, entertainmentcommittee, in fact, be available for all of the routine work which must be done to keep the Society moving, but which takes so much time and leaves so little opportunity for your President, Secretary, and Treasurer to do the planning and deliberate thinking which, in the long run, is necessary for continued growth on the part of the Society? It might be possible to arrange for such a person to give only a portion of his or her time to the Society, but if results are worth trying for, it is believed that this is at least worthy of the experiment. The Society now pays a certain amount annually for clerical hire, etc., so that the additional charge for such services would probably not be large. At any rate, the Secretary believes that the idea should be considered.
It will at once be seen that the recommendations herein offered for your consideration involve much extra work and are sure to call for added expenditures. At the risk of intrenching upon the Treasurer’s province the Secretary would raise the question as to whether we cannot spend our money to better advantage than we are now doing. In a certain sense we have for several years been living beyond our means, and have certainly not greatly added to our capital. Should we not consider whether or no the $440 we spend to send eleven delegates to Washington, for instance, is the best way to serve the interests of the Society and the Institute? Ought we not, in ordinary prudence, to permanently invest each year at least the money received from initiations ? In conclusion, I wish to express my personal feeling of. pleasure in having been allowed to serve the Society. The attendance at our meetings has been most gratifying, exceeding that of any previous year, the interest has been continued, there has been a willingness to help evinced by all who have been approached, and I am convinced that the Society is entering upon a period of active influence, and that it occupies its rightful position as the foremost architectural society of the country.
C. H. Blackall, Secretary.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Columbus, O.—Ohio State University will soon have a Woman’s Building. It will be planned and arranged by three women architects—Miss Kenyon Hayden, Miss Florence
Hite and Miss Mary McMahon. The building will be of the old English architecture in the Tudor style.
Wilmington, Del.—Messrs. J. F. Leitner and W. F. Wilkins, two experienced architects, have opened an office in the Southern Building, and will be permanently located here. Mr. Leitner is an architect of nineteen 3 ears’ experience, and has been engaged in business throughout the South during this time. Mr. Wilkins is an experienced and practical builder.
Scranton, Pa.—Mr. Edward H. Davis, architect, who demonstrated his ability by the manner in which he solved the problem of bridging the Lackawanna River, provid
ing a union station, market-house, storageplant and other public conveniences, opened an office in New York City about a year ago at 27 West Thirty-third street, and lately one in Baltimore at 11 Pleasant street, in each of which he has a partner of ability to look after the work during periods of his absence. Through this arrangement, commissions for the execution of work amounting to over $1,000,000 have been received during the past two months, including the new House of Refuge in Baltimore, costing $750,000.
Atlanta, Ga.—Mr. Geo. C. Thompson, architect, has removed from Dublin, Ga., and has opened new offices in the Candler Building, Atlanta, Ga.
The New South Dakota Capitol.—Bell & Detwiler, the architects of the new State Capitol, have prepared plans and specifications that call for bids on the basis of Sioux Falls granite, Black Hills sandstone, Bedford limestone, Kettle River sandstone and Marquette raindrop sandstone.
Trenton, N. J.—Samuel Allen Brouse, one of the best-known architects in this part of the State, died at his home in this city, January 26, from cancer of the stomach. He was forty-one years old, a native of Bristol, Pa., and began his professional career in Philadelphia. He was educated in the Holy Church Communion Institute at Charlestown, S. C., and then took a course in architecture in Philadelphia. He came to this city about seventeen years ago and was an assistant in the office of William A. Poland, architect. Soon after this he opened an office for himself and designed many of the large buildings of the city.
Utica, N. Y.—Mr. Waller G. Frank has opened an architect’s office at room 17 in the Clarendon building. He is a graduate of Cornell University and has had considerable experience, having supervised the erection of several power-houses last year.
Syracuse, N. Y.—Messrs. Brockway & Taylor, architects, have brought suit in Municipal Court against the Bay Road Construction Company for $649.85. The architects claim they drew a -general group of plans for the Sagamore Inn and its surroundings for the company and they have not yet been paid for their services.
INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION.
the opening of the new plant of the
WINSLOW BROS. CO.
Somg-seventy-five invited guests, including many architects and others interested in ornamental iron and bronze work, inspected the new plant of the Winslow Bros. Co., at West Harrison street and Forty