WHAT WILL THE EDIFICE COST. 



people, not only in respect of their public, but also of their private buildings, for then the 

 unskillful could not commit their depredations with impunity, and those who were the 

 most skillful in the intricacies of the art, would follow the profession. Proprietors would 

 not be led into an extravagant expenditure, so as to cause their ruin. Architects, them- 

 selves, from the dread of punishment, would be more careful in their calculations, and the 

 proprietor would complete his building for that sum, or a little more, which he could af- 

 ford to expend. Those who can conveniently afford to expend a given sum on any work, 

 with the pleasing expectation of seeing it completed, would cheerfully add one-fourth 

 more; but when they find themselves burdened with the addition of half, or even more 

 than half the expense originally contemplated, losing their spirits, and sacrificing what 

 has been already laid out, they incline to desist from its completion." 



But on the other hand, it not unfrequently happens that complaints of this kind are 

 most unjustly preferred against the architect, who is often in this respect more sinned 

 against than sinning. How often are his designs cut down and denuded of their fair pro- 

 portions in order to effect some trifling saving in expense.^ and after being contracted for 

 in their modified form, how frequently does it occur that, during the progress of the work, 

 one item is ordered after another, by the proprietor, without due regard to tlie effect which 

 the.se will have upon what has alreadj'^ been done.' and the result is, that the whole be- 

 comes an incongruous piece of patchwork; and there remains the mortifying reflection that 

 in consequence of the contracts having been interfered with, the " bills of extra work," 

 added to the estimate, greally exceed the sum that would have served to complete the ori- 

 ginal well-matured design. To the architect imbued with a true feeling for his art, noth- 

 ing can be more tantalizing than such a result, foi' which he is in no way responsible, and 

 for which he is often most unjustly blamed. It is always unwise, and seldom very safe, 

 to interfere with plans after the work has been contracted for and fairly commenced. None 

 but those in the practice of design, can conceive how entirel}'^ one part hangs on another, 

 and how dangerous it is to interfere with any architectural work after it is in progress. 

 While only on paper, it may be modified or reconstructed as often as circumstances re- 

 quire, as, in this case, the effect of any alteration is at once seen and provided for, b}^ a 

 re-adjustment of the other portions, until the whole is brought into harmony. But when 

 once contracted for, the design ought to be inviolable. Alterations in these circumsmstan- 

 ces are alwaj's costly, and the architect would do well to set his face resolutely against 

 them. This ma}^ at times, be a delicate task, requiring tact and judgment, but it is a duty 

 which no architect who values his reputation should shrink from performing. 



Where economy requires to be very closely studied, the old Vitruvian rule of avoiding 

 materials which are not easily procured and prepared on the spot, is still the most effec- 

 tive, and of most general application. The building materials of the neighborhood, 

 besides being the cheapest, generall}' harmonise better with the landscape, than those which 

 are foreign to the soil. England's brick mansions of the olden time, however beautiful 

 amidst their " tall ancestral trees," would ill accord with the stern clime and rugged sce- 

 nery of the north. In ordinary cases, therefore, where mere general effect is all that can 

 be aimed at, the building materials of the district, being not only less costly, but more ar- 

 tistic and effective, are to be preferred. 



All ornamentation, where economy is an object, should be dispensed with; for unless 

 fully carried out, it but serves to betray the poverty which it is meant to hide. Simplici- 

 ty of outline, and a due proportion of the several forms, add nothing to the cost; and 

 these are properly attended to, the result will generally prove satisfactory, 

 mitting then, to the fullest extent, the importance of the question, in its proper 



