618 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION H. 
Rightly designed, every building should enhance the beauty 
of the locality in which it is placed; not detract from it. 
Yet, while this principle is almost universally admitted 
concerning buildings generally, it is too often ignored with 
regard to other works of a strictly utilitarian character ; 
hence, we see in the same street great efforts made to im- 
prove the architectural effect of the street side by side with 
telegraph posts and other features in which an utter 
absence of all attempt at beauty is displayed. 
I wish to lay down here the doctrine that there is a moral 
obligation upon the owner and designer of any structure, or 
architectural or engineering work, not to mar the beautiful 
face of nature, which is God’s gift to all mankind. 
Even though it involves the sacrifice of a little profit, or 
the incurring of a little extra expenditure, and consequent 
abstinence from indulgence in some other direction, is there 
any reason why the factory, the foundry, the railroad, the 
bridge, the canal, &c., should not be made objects which 
harmonise with and enhance the beauty of a scene, instead 
of so frequently doing the reverse ? 
The steam-mill has pretty well banished the old wind- 
mill, and all but susperseded the water-mill—and rightly so, 
because of its greater efficiency and continuity of working— 
and the railroad, with its sterner and straighter lines, has 
necessarily taken precedence of the old winding coach road ; 
but there is no reason why all these should not fulfil the 
condition above laid down. 
The extension of this doctrine also opens up the question 
of the consumption of smoke. That the smoke from our 
chimneys and engines represents a sad waste from an 
economic point of view has long been recognised, but 
perhaps sufficient emphasis has not hitherto been laid upon 
the moral obligation which rests upon us to seek some 
method by which we may avoid the blackening and deface- 
ment of our heritage which is continually going on. 
The wonderful strides of science within the last century 
have so vastly increased our powers of construction, and 
Norr.—When I wrote this address we had not listened to the 
admirable inaugural address of the President of our Association, 
else would I have inserted as a prelude to this part of my subject 
his remarks on the function of beauty in the works of nature. 
Let me quote them here :—‘‘ We all recognise what science has 
done for civilisation; but how did the scientific study of nature 
begin ?—and why is it carried on? It is the wonderful and the 
beautiful in nature which are, and always will be, the moving 
forces of pure science. Without the beauty and wonderful com- 
plexity of natural objects, man would never have risen above the 
level of an intelligent beast.” 
