Texas State Association of Architects

Washington Architects, I need only glance at one more city to show the wonderful progress and advancement made by the American architect in the last few years. It is not possible for me, in a brief glance, to describe the wonders that have been achieved by American skill in the past few years in that wonderful city. The pride of the West, Chicago. Her buildings stand today noble monuments to genius and skill of her able and accomplished archtects, and may be taken by the European students as models to study the advanced science of Architecture. I cannot close the brief references I have made of the city to which I have referred to without glancing for a moment at our own city of San Antonio, and view the crumbling walls of her massive sturcutres, built mostly, or in part, for religious use under the direction of Spanish and Mexican architects. While we must admit they had the appearance of massive strength, we fail to discover any chaste line of beauty in their design or construction. If we compare the designs of those days with the beautiful designs of

more recent or late construction in that city, we can see at a glance the progress and advances that has been made in the beuaty and science of architevture. And the lone star state of Texas has kept pace with her sister states, so far as the opportunity has been presented to the architects to exhibit their skill and ability. And I will not for one moment hesistate to express my full convition from personal knowledge, that the state would have saved more than $100,000 had the wise salons at Austin employed one of our native Texas architects who presented plans for the new state house. Those gentlemen possessed all the skill and ability, and would have shown their competency to have done all they proposed and with a native pride, he would have seen the building grow under his own eye, as a child of his own creation - solid and secure from the first sone in its foundation to the apex of its dome, no uncertainty of its stability or strength of the building; no necessity of a committee of architects as experts, to allay the fears and apprehension of the people

in regard to the strength and stability of the building.

Justice would have been done to the state and to her people. I do not wish to be understood as casting one single shadow or reflection on the ability of Mr. Meyers, the accomplished architect who designed the building. It was unfortunate for the building and for the state that Mr. Meyers, or some other competent architect, was not present to superintend the erection of the building and prevent its mutilation for the benefit of the contractors and the injury to the building and loss to the state. This loss can clearly be assigned to the act of the commissioners, who, for reasons best known to themselves, or to those who had the appointing power, failed to appoint a competent architect to superintend the construction of the building and to protect the state from loss.

The resources of the mdoern archtiect in his practice of the present day are forcibly illustrated in his work. We cannot fail to see in the new buildings of the present day that there is a lack of restraint or reserve in the erise of the various kinds of materials. Especially

is this shown by the intemperate and lavish display of ornament otuside and inside on most of late. But we must be free to admit that we see a strong tendency in all cases to add all that is possible for domestic comfort first, and second, the beauty of the outline of the building. Thus we see in the present day the low wide entrance steps in place of the high narrow steps. Wide windows, wide and square framed stairways, wide, open fireplaces and handsome wood mantles take the place with their warm and pleasing tint and shades of the cold and cheerless marble that was used in the past. From all that has been said it is evident that the artistic eye and mind of the architect of the present day has reached a variety of styles of which our city and county buildings afford examples in all their variety. We must admit that the architect of the present day has a broader field and better opportunity to educate and prepare himself to meet the increasing demand for skillful and competent work than he has ever had at any time before.

The importance of the

architectural profession and the increase in its ranks, shown the necessity of organization to encourage a close professional intercourse and fellowship, and to be a bond of union between all its members who are engaged in its professional practice.

In 1867 the American Institute of Architects was established for the object of associating as many as possible of the architects of good standing in all parts of the country. This was found not be sufficient to meet the want by those who lived in distant cities. It was found to be necessary to establish local chapters in various cities for the more close fellowship and personal intercourse of the members with each other in the order that all might practice under the same code. A few of its members were scattered in distant points from each other in the west. When the west and northwest to stretch out her mighty armies, building large and populous cities on her broad praries and sunny hills, then the evident necessity was felt for a Western Association of Architects and a fellowship of the men who were building up those magic cities in the west and

the had in Bosque, they retrograded, became demoralized and were defeated, losing the territory. They had captured in Bosque in what I consider a very unprofessional manner.

Our Association met again one year ago - our second annual meeting - elected officers; well, that was about all we accomplished, I am sorry to say, and I think I will not say anything more about it. We have met again, our third annual meeting, and I hope we have come together for a purpose and that purpose is to work, work until we work our association out of the bog, for it seems to me we are bogged.

The question is, how are we to accomplish it. I can't see unless we go to work like men representing a good cause. I recognize we all have and are having our trials and tribulations and it is enough to have them with our clients and those who serve under use, without having them between ourselves by our own negligence, thoughtlessness, and I might add selfishness with our brother in the practice of our profession.

The object I had in view when I entered into the organization of this association was to, as far as in my power, cultivate and

bring about more unanimity between ourselves. To be more social meeting and exchanging views and ideas, and by so doing improve ourselves for our own individual as well as the universal good of the profession we represent.

My aim was an ambitious one - to elevate our profession by first elevating ourselves, and to do this, we would work together as one, and to do this successfully, we should have to and would lay aside prejudice and selfishness. I thought my views and aims echoed the voices of all present at our first convention and I hope they do today as my ambition aims for the good of this association are so high now as then. Gentlemen perhaps it would not be out of place to introduce in this paper a synopsis of a short communication that happened to come under my observation.

It gave me something to think and reflect upon, which I have done. It is as follows: "Mr. ______, Dear Sir: I take the occasion of your departure from _____ to express my regrets that you deem from _____, where your family are so well and favorably known and respected. Your thorough knowledge of scientific and decorative architecture, with

your energy and acknowledged integrity, will, I think command success in the city to which you are going, and the elegant buildings which you have erected in ____ will remind your friends of you as well as attest the perfection in the profession of architecture. With my best wishes for your prosperity, I am, sir, very truly."

I merely introduce this for a purpose, as you will see in the following:

Gentlemen, I hope there is not one within the sound of my voice but that is entitled to and worthy of all that is embodied in the above short communication. If so, we have right here good material for a foundation, well laid, to erect therein an association of fellows that would be an honor to any state as soon as it became generally known. Therefore it behooves us to look well to the material, and all interests concerned, and so conduct ourselves in our daily practice as to become worthy of and command the respect of the community, and the confidence of our clients as well as all fellows. We expect to show in our plans and designs, ability, to insure success in our profession,

But what is ability worth without integrity? Hence we must practice strict integrity as well as exhibit science or ability in our plans and designs, before we can expect to become successful in our and worthy members of this our adopted and honored profession.

Not many months ago I overheard an architect make the following remark in connection with the architects of Texas: "I consider Mr. ______ the squarest and fairest architect that is practicing the profession is this state." A brother architect asked the question, "Is he more so than Mr ____?" The reply was, "Yes, I think he is." At another time I happened to hear the following from another architect: "We, Mr ____ and myself have been practicing in ________ (stating the time and place, and it takes to figures to write the time), and he has never crossed my track once." At another time I saw a little written by a gentleman that is acknowledged to be one of the shining lights of country: "In the law," when he said in recommendation of one, "he is an exemplary man." All three referring to the one and same party.

Gentlemen, if this architect is entitled to the honor herein bestowed and we, as a collective body are not, it behooves us to so practice our profession as, to if possible become the peer of him who has received the above [?], which I consider are coming from the source they did. We cannot individually expect to be recognized as great architects but I do say, for I believe it,that we can conduct ourselves in the practice of our profession to become worthy of and respected as honorable upright and I might say with emphasis, gentlemen.

What are we to do to accomplish this, I will tell you what I think: first, turn over a few leaves. And I will right here state that I do not set myself up as a leader or educator; far from it; as I do not claim to be endowed with the proper ability, but with my long practice I have learned some things from observation as well as experience during these many years that some of us much less in years have not, thereby may gain some little knowledge by sifting out the good, if there be any.