The Sunday Oregonian., January 21, 1912, SECTION SIX, Page 4, Image 68

TIIE SUNDAY OREGOMAN. PORTLAND, JAXUART 21, 11113.
Pei?aiii2ce
CLASSIC
ART 16
BEING
rOIGVID
IN
HENT--BUILDINGS
Uncle Sam, Architect Is Adapting the Purest
Models of Old Greece and Italy to the Purposes of
the Federal Buildings He Is Erecting Throughout
the Country There Is a Renaissance in Architect
ure in America, Particularly With Regard to the
Buildings Being Put Up by the Federal Government.
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nv WILLI AM ATTTEKTOX DC rVT.
THK anrlrnt ftlorips of Greree and
Rome are today being duplicated
and reconstructed under the very
nose of the J0.000.000. The American
farmer and merchant and craftntnan
are coming to pass dally In the shad
ows of structures that would do credit
to the Appian way. Nurtured through
th- centuries the magnificence of the
art of these early masters Is today be
inK planted on the sagebrush flats of
Nevaila. on the rock-ribbed hills of New
):n--;an.l. In the black land prairies of
Illinois, the lands of the South and
among the vast mountains of the West
which bear their heads In a grandeur
that would shame Olympus. After ths
passing of two and three and four
thousand years the art of the ancients,
unsurpassed in the world history, is
belnit borne to the whole people and
planted In their midst In all the cities
and towns of the new nation of the
West, and to the 90.000.000 Is being
brousrht the influence of first-class art.
For the United States Government In
Its capacity of distributor of mails and
dispenser of Justice must needs have
building wherever sufficient numbers
of Its citizens congregate to occasion
the transaction of a given amount of
business. After a century of haphas
ard building, the Federal Government
has realised the shortcomings of Its
early structures and has set about the
taek of correcting Its mistakes and
putting up buildings that are typical
of the best architecture that the world
has ever known. So It Is today plant
ing In hundreds of towns within its
borders buildings that would not have
discredited the greatest craftsmen, an
clent or modern. It Is making its
postofflces In cities, large and small,
examples of what may be. done when
sufficient thought has been taken In
developing a type of structure that
serrea the purpose in hand, which Is
at the same time an ever-present ex
ample of the best possible In architec
ture. Oreat Artlvtty la Federal Batldlag.
The renaissance in American archi
tecture In the present decade has been
most important from the standpoint of
federal buildings. The number of Government-owned
buildings In the United
States has almost doubled during the
last 10 years. Strange aa It may seem,
the fact stands that In 1S53 the Federal
Government owned but 21 buildings,
nearly all of wnlch were In the city
of Washington. By IMS this number
had grown to 1ST. and In 1901 the num
ber ot Government structures was 1(2.
Then in the single decade which fol
lowed the number Jumped to . (25. Yet
the growth In that span seems slight
as compared with what Is promised in
the next ten years. There are. In fact.
3S0 buildings now In course of con
struction by the Federal Government.
A hundred and twenty of these build
ings are now being finished annually.
For them is being expended f 12.000,000
a year.
So It becomes obvious that build
ing on the part of the Federal Gov
ernment, when viewed merely from the
standpoint of the amount of it being
done. Is on the boom. But the size of
the work being accomplished is not Its
Important feature. The big thing in
Government architecture is the turn It
has recently taken toward becoming
architecture that Is art. When George
Washington and Charles L'Enfant laid
the foundation for the National Capi
tal and distributed the sUea and soile- i
ited designs for the first great build
ings that were erected by the Govern
ment, they were peculiarly fortunate.
The National Capitol has stood for 100
years as the best building that the
Government has ever erected. Sir As
ton Webb, designer of the Victoria
memorial in London and the recog
nized greatest British architectural au
thorlty, stated, upon a recent visit to
Washington, that he regarded the Fed
eral Capital, in connection with Its
magnificent site, as the greatest build
ing in the world today. This opinion
was later concurred In by Van Ihne,
architect to the Kaiser.
The White House has likewise es
caped the disapproval of the world's
critics through a century, and the mod
ern still maintain that such buildings
as the old patent office, to which the
British set the torch in the war of
1812; the old Postofflce and the Treas
ury buildings are the best structures
that have yet been erected. But with
the passing of the first generation
after the Nation's birth the old art
ideas were lost and there came in their
stead an undirected and chaotic run
ning after fads which resulted in an
accumulation of structures that have
been the laughing stock of all the
discerning who behold them.
Youthful America made nearly all
the mistakes that were made by the
wild people of the North who overran
Rome in the days of her splendor.
America likewise fought its way back
to the classic through the Gothic in
all Its variations and abuses. Today
she haa pinned her faith to the old
masters, and her public buildings are
remarkably like those put up in Greece
In the halcyon days of her greatest
splendor. So Is ancient Greece being
brought to the very door of the mod- I
era American, and. Although that
American may not realize it, he la be
Ing affected by those old masters who
labored before the world knew the ex
istence of the West.
Revlvtna; the Claaale.
The great . majority of Federal
buildings are constructed under the di
rections of the architects of the
Treasury Department. This is true of
all postofflces, and postofflces are the
buildings that are scattered broad
cast. With the postofflces are usually
combined the Federal Courts and some
times custom-offices, and this necessi
tates added stories for such buildings.
The buildings at Army posts and those
of the Indian Bureau are not under
the Treasury Department, and have not
had the benefit of the architectural ex
perlence of that department. But to
the supervising architect of the Treas
ury Department falls the great mass
of Uncle Sam's building, and he it is
who is responsible for the classes and
types of those buildings.
The supervising architect. James K.
Taylor, has held his present position
for 15 years. The architectural ren
aissance In Federal building has been
largely due to Mr. Taylor. When he
came to office he found that there was
ho definite policy on the part of the
Government with relation to its build
ings. When it was called upon to con
struct a given postofflce its designs
depended upon the current fad In build
ing or upon the tendencies of some
given architect to whom this partic
ular class felL There was no set
standard. The chief and the working
force of the supervising architect's of
fice bad been often changed, and the
nature of the buildings that were put
up changed accordingly.
But Mr. Taylor held that Govern- I
t I ment buildings should be of a given
- I distinctive class. His view was that
iiuib more man l per cent or toe peo
ple of the Nation ever saw the National
Capital, where the great buildings of
the Government are located. These
buildings are largely of the classic
typo and are different from the ordi
nary run of commercial buildings.
While the people do not see Washing
ton they are familiar with the types of
the public buildings because they see
many pictures of them. Mr. Taylor
holds that a Federal building wher
ever located, should be of this given
classic type, and should, for that rea
son, be recognized as a Federal build
ing. The old classic should be the stand
ard. This was the first of Mr. Taylor's
reasons for determining that he should
return to a given type of building and
erect it, with given variations, wher
ever the Government saw fit to build.
A Government Type of Building.
Aside from making It possible to
Identify a Government building as such,
Mr. Taylor holds that It Is worth the
Government's while to gain what
ever prestige it may among the people
through the buildings that represent it.
He holds that the citizen of a given city
will have a more wholesome respect
for his Government, will be more pa
triotic and will be a better citizen if
the Federal buildings In his section
are structures of impressive dignity and
rchitectural magnificence. This aside
from the constant development of bet
ter artistic taste on the part of the
whole people.
When Mr. Taylor came to study the
question of Government buildings in
the light of those that had been put up.
he found a few very excellent exam
ples of the architecture that most rec
ommended itself. At Qulncy, HI.; at
Alexandria, Va.; at Springfield, IIL, and
at Ogdensburg, N. Y., were old post
offices that were built along the lines
of the magnificent simplicity which
most highly recommends classic struc
tures of old. These Mr. Taylor took as
types of desirable postofflces and from
them as modern adaptations and with
the old Greek structures as models he
developed the type of American public
building which Is now being erected
throughout the country.
The postofflce Is usually a structure
of no great height Often it is merely a
one-story building given over entirely
to the distribution of malls. From this
it develops into a two and three-story
building, harboring a courtroom and
ppssibly customs offices. The old
Greek models may be readily adapted
to use in these low buildings. With It
has often been combined given local
architectural tendencies that are recog
nized as having particular value. In
New York State, for Instance, there
were early constructed some public
buildings that were of the North Ital
ian type.
These were most attractive struc
tures. They had gained a hold upon
the American consciousness as a type
that belonged to this section. So when
the Treasury Department came to erect
other buildings there It followed this
accepted type. Likewise, when it came
to put up buildings in the South did it
adopt certain of the characteristics of
the old colonial architecture, a type
that is more nearly American than any
other. In the far Southwest It found
again that the Spanish architecture of
the early missions had gained a strong
hold upon the public appreciation and
in this section the public buildings ,
were often given the characteristics
brought to America by the Spaniards,
who in turn had gotten them from the
Moors when those swarthy Mohamme
dans overran the realm of the proud
don.
Prices of Buildings.
The Federal Government never puts
up a postofflce that costs less than
$25,000. It is very rare that one is
built that costs less than $35,000. In
ocmmounlties which are not large
enough to warrant the erection of such
structures the Federal business is
transacted in rented quarters. Even
In the larger centers where Federal
buildings are now maintained it is rec
ognized that money could be saved by
renting quarters Instead of building I
the various designs that may be com--blned
Into a postofflce and Federal
court to cost $100,000. It has investi
gated and developed scores of designs
of huge custom-houses that will cost
$1,000,000 to erect.
The architect's office, however, puts
up no two bullding3 that are exactly
alike. While the designs of many of
the lesser buildings are somewhat sim
ilar, they are varied In every instance
to meet individual conditions. Eleva
tions and frontages of a proposed
building nearly always make It ad
visable to design that building espe
cially. It Is likewise nearly always
possible to make a building fit more
harmoniously into a given surround
ing If It Is especially designed for that
surrounding. Secretary MacVeagh of
the Treasury Department developed the
Idea of designing certain types of Fed
eral buildings and placing structures
of that type without change In what
ever community received an appropria
tion capable of producing the building
in question. His idea was to save the
expense of making special plans for
every Federal building that was to be
erected. The architects of the Nation
and other students of construction al
most universally condemned this prac
tice, and the Secretary of the Interior
has given over the idea and returned
to the methods that have been in use
for the past decade.
Some Larger Buildings.
The Government Is now congratulat
ing Itself upon the general type of Its
smaller buildings. The office of the
supervising architect has for the past
15 years worked in entire harmony with
the great authorities of the Nation and
of the world In developing the best
types. There are, however, certain Fed
eral buildings that this office still de
clines to design. These are the monster
structures such as those at the National
lUem. 1 hArA dm rAm laaval . , 1 1 . 1
ings in the United States that result i CtaP'tal T J t0 , h.'fc"?e
in a saving of sufficient money to pay I
Interest on the Investment In them.
ut Lncie Sam places a cash value
upon his Increased prestige with the
people because of the advantage of
buildings which he owns, and he is
likewise coming to appraise the edu
cational value of his architecture.
So he has Intrusted to his architects
the task of developing types of build
ings that are peculiarly well fitted to
his commercial needs, that are Intended
to give him a prestige among his peo
ple, and that are capable of arousing
the right artistic instincts among the
populace. The office of the chief ar
chitect has developed, through the last
15 years, types of buildings that may
be erected for given sums of money in
almost any community. It has In hand
exhaustive Information as to Just how
the greatest possible convenience and
artistic effect may be secured out of
an appropriation of $25,000. It knows
SOME SHORT STORIES OF THE BUSINESS WORLD
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
of the men to remain on guard that
night with his employer, and also asked
that Mrs. Svenson should be Informed
that he would not be home, but to send
him something to eat. Really, this was
entirely unnecessary. Mrs. Svenson
knew what was going on. Everybody
in town knew that the big Swede u
sitting up with his silver.
John Svenson never knew how long
the night was until he had his first
night's experience In that cellar. He
smoked more than he ever had before.
He thought more than he ever had be
fore. He looked at bis watch a hundred
times. He was mighty glad when It
came daylight. After the clerks came
around he took a few hours' sleep.
meanwhile leaving the chief clerk on
guard.
That afternoon and all the second
night he was on guard again. He had
read in the papers all that had been
printed about bis affair, and all about
the critical situation In the big cities.
Banks In various places had closed their
doors, and actual money was at a premium.
Montrose was In the Dakota, and all
the bad men were not dead yet. as Mr.
Svenson knew. He did not like all this
publicity he waa getting. He bad an
idea aome desperate gentleman might
be tempted by the knowledge of his
stiver hoard to call on him when they
were least expected. He would not be
at all fearful on this score if ha had a
lltUe more confidence in his employes,
but unfortunately he was such a severe
taskmaster that none of his hired hands
bore him affection.
Maybe It was his lack of sleep; may
be It waa oversmoking; maybe it was
Just anxiety; maybe It was because the
clerk who waa expected to sit up with
him at night nodded and snored snored
In such reprehensible tones or maybe
It was all four of these things that got
on the nerves of Mr. Svenson until at
the least noise he would Jump and
grasp his six-shooter.
The hardware man had the good
sense to know that this thing could not
last very long. On the fifth day after
he drew his money he went out a little
before noon to the Stockmen's National
Bank and announced to the cashier that
he would like to rent one of the bank's
vaults. The cashier expressed sorrow,
but said they had no more vault space
to rent. Svenson then went to the Mer
chants' Bank. Mr. Keith, president of
that institution, said their vault was
only large enough to accommodate their
own needs. At the Montrose National
Mr. Slocum. the president, was more
direct. He acknowledged they had
plenty of vault apace, but said he
would not rent one Inch to Mr. Svenson
for any amount of money.
Then Mr. Svenson understood.
He went back to his store and that
night, when the rats who before the
panlo had never been, disturbed oa their
innocent prowls In the Svenson cellar,
came out, the Big Swede blazed away
at them whenever they showed a nose.
Svenson thought that night that he
was a pretty badly abused man and
he had nothing but rancor In bis heart
for the bankers of Montrose. The next
night he was not quite so bitter, but he
was very sorry for himself. To add to
his woe he practically was doing no
business. Nobody seemed to want to
trade with him. Lots of people came
Into the store, but they were drawn by
Idle curiosity.
Lots of people could have had all the
credit they wanted if they wished to
purchase stuff, but nobody in Montrose
seemed anxious to do business with
John Svenson.
The following night he was so nerv
ous and overwrought that he walked up
and down the cellar throughout the
long hours. When morning came he
was worn out physically, but he could
not sleep. Then there was another
night of worry and unrest. He almost
hated to look at the kegs and boxes
that contained his silver. He deter
mined he would end this nightly ordeal
even If he had to back down from the
stand he had taken. Soon after he had
his breakfast he went to the Stock
men's National Bank and saw Mr.
Chambers, the president. It was a far
different Svenson from the loud-voiced
Swede of nearly 10 days before who
now said he would like to open an ao-
count with the bank. Mr. Chambers
was very polite, but managed to make
Svenson understand that as Mr. Sven
son had been a client of the First Na
tional, the Stockmen's National did not
care for his patronage.
Svenson went out In a bit of a rage.
His temper was not improved when Mr
Keith of the Merchants' Bank said the
same thing. He was furious when Pres
ident Slocum of the Montrose National
told him he did not care to do business
with him or any one like him, and
never would, and explained why.
There still was another bank for Mr,
Svenson to visit. That was the Sav
ings Institution. Under .the rule, mon
ey deposited there could not be drawn
except on 30 days' notice, if the bank
so elected. Svenson told President Fink
he would like to deposit $26,612. Mr.
Fink said he didn't want the money.
Svenson went back to his hardware
store, desperate. That night he brood
ed and brooded over his troubles. Ha
slept a little the next day, but the next
night he was in despair.
It was a haggard, woebegone-looking
Svenson who went to the First Na
tional Bank on the third day after the
rejection of his money by the Savings
Institution. He went into the private
office of the president.
"I'd like," he said In a broken voice,
"to have you take the money back. I
am ruined if you won't I am doing no
less I am allowed a banking account.
This silver has driven me nearly crazy.
I cannot eat; I cannot sleep; I cannot
rest because of It. For God's sake, take
it back, Mr. Forbes!"
The president looked at the pale and
anxious face of Svenson for a moment
before replying. Then he nodded his
head in acquiescence.
"All right, John," ha said. "I am
sorry you had to suffer, but there was
no other way of making you see things i
right. If two or three of the large de- !
positors in each bank acted as you did, ;
every bank here would have gone to j
smash.
sound as the Government at Washing
ton. This is because the depositors
showed a spirit of courage and unself-
ishness that business men must have in I
times of stress. Without unity, with-
out confidence, without patience, there j
would be widespread disaster. The un
reasoning, the selfish man, can do
much harm. Do you know what the
failure of the banks of Montrose would
mean? It would destroy homes, scatter
families, bring want and suffering Into
many households, ruin and break the
hearts of nrany of us. Do you under
stand now, John?"
The bank president looked at him
steadily for a moment. It was hardly
necessary to ask the question and
there was more than the suspicion of
a sob in Svenson's "yes.
that at the port of New York. With the
supervision of 350 buildings under con
struction at different points it is not
thought advisable that this office
should take up the task of designing
great buildings that should stand for
hundreds of years as models of the
Nation's capacity along artistic and
architectural lines. So a different ar
rangement Is made with regard to these
great buildings. The architects of the
world who are recognized as most com
petent to design a structure that is In
tended to be the best that modern art,
science and ingenuity can produce are
asked to enter a competition for the
particular building in question. Secur
ing an award for such a building means
the making of a National or interna
lonal reputation for the architect In
c n thA hoet m n In the. busi
ness compete In these designs and prize
hie-hlv an opportunity to do so. This
places at the disposal of the Federal j
Government the best talent of modern '.,
times when the occasion arises to con-
' struct an especially important building.
I The supervising architect of the Treas
ury Department still Is In authority
I over all such buildings, and In no re-
I spect are they allowed to fall below the
standards which he has set.
There is one characteristic in all
! these Federal buildings that Is not to bo
found in structures put up for merely
commercial purposes. The business
block Is erected with the Idea that the
community will have outgrown It in
50 years and that it will be necessary
to replace it with a structure that will
then be modern. But th'e Federal Gov
ernment builds forever. It figures that
the structures that it puts up should
be performing the same duties two cen
turies hence as they are performing
today. The element of growth is the
business. - I can never do business un- J (Copyright, 1912, by Richard Spillane.)
Today all our banks are as j ' . . ,. .
Vlaes. Ail me iitjwtri uu v ti mucin uuuu
ings are placed upon lots which will
allow for their expansion. As it be
comes necessary that more space should
be available in a given post office or
Federal court building there is a pro
vision for obtaining it by putting on an
addition. This building for all time
makes the construction of those build
ings erected by Uncle Sam more ex
pensive than are commercial structures
which seem of equal value. Here again
is the reversion to the old classic types
of architecture found important. If
buildings of this type dating back to
the time of Rome and Athens are still
recognized as the best of their kind, it
is held that the type will still command
respect, though these buildings stand
for thousands of years and serve all
the generations that are to coma