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Texas State Association of Architect. 9

In line with the resolutions passed last year bearing on the subject of architects entering into competitions, I wish to bring to your notice some regulations that might meet with your favorable consideration: A competent architect of undoubted integrity and skill should be employed to assist all committees in formulating the conditions of the competition, in the examination of plans and be paid by them for his services. As an adviser he should not be a competitior for the work, nor have any interest in it, but should see that all the conditions are in all cases complied with in the plans.

The number of drawing should be distnctly mentioned and it be imperative that all be rendered to the same scale, which scale should be as small as will readily explain without putting the authors to unnecessary expense and waste of time.

A stated scale will prevent architects hawking around the country their old worn out and dog-eared sets of drawings, containg the same old ideas, and the same old highly colored perspectives, which look wearied from so constantly appearing before committees.

A description -- not full specifications -- in type writing should accompany the drawings -- specially directed to point out peculiarities in the construction and material. No interlining by pen and ink be the competitor should be permitted or indulged in, nor should his name appear on the drawings or notes. His name and address should be in a sealed envelope,

AND HIS MOTTO OR DEVICE

only on the drawings.

The limit of cost should be clearly stated.

No designs should be accepted that exceed by 15 percent the limit of cost.

The hour and date up to which drawings will be received, should be thoroughly understood, and no designs accepted after that hour; except it can be shown by positive proof that the fault of delivery lay in the transfer.

The amount of the premiums should be at least 2 percent of the proposed cost of the finished building. Competitions whre no premiums are offered are far from satisfactory, the projections much for nothing.

If designs are presented which fulfill the conditions of the competition, even though none of the designs appear to the committee to be altogether up to their ideas or tu fulfill the requirements, the promised premiums must be given in their order, it behing reasonable to suppose that the competitiors have used their highest endeavours to produce a suitable edifice, and with the figure of cost. Modifications or improvements can be afterwards made at the sggestions of the projectors. All drawings should be publically exhibited after the awards are made.

As to the purchse of the premediated drawings; the payment for the loan of rejected sets embodying novel ideas; the right of the projectors to select an associate architect to act with the successful one in case of his being inexperienced in his work, are matters for the consideration of the competitors mainly.

The drawings should be returned prepaid to the authors within a reasonable time, together with a copy of the official decision and report of the examiners.

These and other matters should be carefully considered.

Close or private competitions, in which architects who seem specially fitted for the projected work are invited to participate, are preferable to open competitions. Their names are attached to the drawings, and the successful author always carries the work through to completion.

Competitions, although entered into very generally, are more often condemned than approved of by architects. The reasons are various; lack of time to properly consider and study the designs without infringing on his regular office work, which causes him to revive time out of mind theories, or if it is necessary to improve on existing structures, some improperly thought out features, showy and meretricious towers, unnecessarily broken sky line, or other catchy details are added to prove the originality of the design, and the interior utility is often thereby destroyed.

Friendship and peace of mind are often engendered, remarks are uttered that brook enmity, high aspirations are shattered and the defeated candidates return home with the feeling that they have not been justly treated, and this system repeated several times effectually bars their entering into future rivalry.

At our first gathering as a body we were invited to report to the executive committee any deviations from the schedule of charges of this association by any member thereof. The same question has been brought up at later times, but little notice has been taken of the