290 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Sept. 



greater depths than those for wliicli the original tables were formed. Mr. 

 Bidder's formula appears quite correct, Imt has this defect — that the api)li- 

 cation of it is limited to those cases in which the cross section of the surface 

 of the ground is horizontal. For the admeasurement for sidelong ground 

 and excavations of which the vertical depths depend on the inclination of 

 the natural surface of the ground, we must refer the reader to the more 

 comprehensive tables by Mr. Hughes. (See ante p. 73.) 



COMPKTITION DESIGNS. 



Sir — It is time for Ihose who regard either the interests or the credit of 

 the archiiectural profession, to protest iu \Up most unqualifieil manner 

 against a most scaudalous practice that has of late come up, and vt-iiich if 

 not openly repmbateil and stigmatized will become confirmed. Tlie prac- 

 tice 1 allude to is that of obtaining designs for a mere nominal price, by 

 means of a very plausible artifice, yet at the same time so very Irausparent 

 that it might be thought no one could possibly be gulled by it; neverthe- 

 less that it does succeed is but too certain, since otherwise it would not be 

 continued. Either a builder himself or those who intend to employ one 

 without calling in an architect, wants a design, and accordinglv resort to 

 the following clever expedient of getting one as cheaply as i>os»ible. They 

 know very well that ihey cannot apply to an ardiitect only to make them 

 drawings for the purpose without paying him a fair equivalent for his 

 time and trouble. J'-ven their own sense of common decency deters ihem 

 from going to i\lr. A. or Mr. Z., and saying : we do not intend to employ 

 you as our arcliilecl, all we require is a set of drawings, and if you will 

 ])repare one for us, for Five Pounds or so, you are our man. They have 

 an instinctive suspicion that such an otfcr would be received not as a kind- 

 nes?, but a personal insult. What therefore they dare not propose to an 

 individual, they do to the profession generally. The additional cost of the 

 advertisement, will they know — at least hope — procure for them, not only 

 one design, but many, from which they can choose. Accordingly the ail- 

 vertisement is fniili/ drawn up, and it very hiim'slli/ stated in it, that the 

 architect whose design is approved will not be employed, but that he will 

 be eutilled to a small I'REMIum I — so very siuall it seems that it is not at 

 all adviseable to give it its money name, lest it should operate as a scare- 

 crow instead of a bait. Nevertheless, small as it is, the premium is not to 

 be flung away, but is to purchase for the liberal advertisers the possession 

 o( the fortunate drawings ! 



After all. loo, wl-.al assurance is there that there may not be some dirty 

 trickery at the bollom of this apparent fairness, — though at the best very 

 evident paltriness ? — What assurdnce that the premium is paid to any oue ! 

 If when ihe designs are looked at, it is found that there is no occasion to 

 retain any one of them, for expressly making use of it, all that each com- 

 petitor knows IS that he gets back his own, and that he is not the/oWuno(c 

 man. After thai, nothing further is heara of Ihe matter, till, perhaps some 

 local newspaper informs its readers that : "the new is just com- 

 pleted, and cannot fail to obtain for their talented townsman, Mr. , 



the title of the FuilgcaU Vitrnvius ; it is particularly chaste, the windows 

 being quite unencumbered by any mouldings," and so forth. 



Wliat is the Institute about- — what the profession, and also you Editors, 

 that one and all suiTiT such iniquitous and shameful transactions to pass 

 unrebuked, instead of exposing them, and branding and cauterizing those 

 who are implicated in them? How much longer do you mean to tolerate 

 such skulking hole-and-corner proceedings, — such a species of systematic 

 swindling — for in reality it is no better, though not of that kind which the 

 law can take notice as illegal ? But if not illegal it is base and scound- 

 relry, and if nothing else can be done to check if, it is probable that in- 

 sulting advertisements would not be hazarded, were public indigna- 

 tion to be most strongly and unequivocally expressed against them. Or 

 are the whole profession so vThite livered and pluckless to a man,— each 

 one so entirely for himself alone, that none care for aught beyond self — 

 beyond what concerns self directly and immediately, that they can put up 

 with such abuses without the slightest elfort to repress them ? The ques- 

 tion will be answered one way if not another; for should the matter be let 

 drop, that of itself alone will confirm the opinion of 



ViNDLX. 



THE CATHEDRAL OF COLOGNE. 



The following extract from the Alhenaum will be read with interest, 

 and the concluding suggestion especially is worthy of attention : — 



" Before the Germans, incited by the example of the King of Prussia, 

 began to take up the matter so warmly as they have lately done, one of 

 your correspondents wrote with animation and interest on the subject of 

 the works executing at the Cathedral of Cologne — undertaken to redeem 

 what poor Hood so poetically called a " broken promise to God." The 

 pine years which have since elapsed have done wonders ; opened many a 

 journal besides yours to the subject, — enlarged progressively the interest 

 of Europe in an undertaking, the accomplishment of which need no longer 

 be considered a chimera, — and added largely to the funds provided. The 



Cologntse gentlemen and Merr Zwirn>-r, the gifted and indefatigable ar- 

 chitect, now say with confidence tiiat, in twenty-five years the Dom may 

 be completed, even to the spires; — and this, not iu bravado, but from cal- 

 culation, based upon present progress. To the tourist, approaching the 

 building at railway speed, who sees, as yet, no appreciable diminution in 

 the enormous gap betwixt the choir and the crane on the western tower — 

 such promise seems au extravagance ; hut Ihey who have had the privilege 

 of look ing into the deuils, in company with the architect, may admit the 

 possibility of the feat. 



"In two years, as Herr ZwirnersAoirerf us, the nave, aisles, and transepts 

 of the Cathedral may be thrown open — not, in truth, to the entire height; 

 hot complete to a level above the clerestory windows. The vaulting of the 

 side-aisles will be then completed ; and a temporary roof will be easily 

 placed over the central portion, — leaving, within, the upper part of the 

 wails, vaults, SiC, to be raised : — without, the flying buttresses, pinnacles, 

 and other garnitures, are a more serious busiiirss. The raising of the 

 transept walls to their present important height, HerrZwiruer assured us, 

 was a heavier two years' task than what remains to be done in realization 

 of a scheme so attractive to the fancy. Moreover, the casual visitor is 

 little aware of the vast collection of ornamental sculptures, ready to be 

 placed, which the worksli >ps contain. The canopies round the retreating 

 portal of the norlhern transept are already fixed : the capitals of the pil- 

 lars of the clerestory gallery are waiting, by Ihe score. Let not my state- 

 ment mislead any one into imagining a case of manufacture. The old ca- 

 pricious variety of fancies in ornament has been as religiously carried out 

 as every other intimation of the nameless architect's intention. The small 

 grotesque figures at the angles of the canopies aforesaid (which are merely 

 shelters for statues of saints, angles, &:c.) are as minutely finished and 

 whimsically diversified as if they could be seen without the aid of an 

 opera-glass when they shall be raised to their destined position. The 

 foliage, again, of the capitals has the sharpness of the best period of cut- 

 ling. No two devices are alike. The stoue used for these iimre delicate 

 portions is of peculiarly fine and close quality, from lioclieforl. Nothing 

 seenis slighted or overlooked ; and the workmen, nf course, become more 

 skilful as they proceed, and fuller of spirit and invention. A growing 

 confidence that all this labour is not to be in vain as regards Ihe grand 

 result, probably animates those who have contributed to a scheme so mag- 

 nificent, but for a loug time deemed so visionary. W indows are beginning 

 to drop in. The King of Bavaria's donation of six for one of the side 

 aisles will be ready in 1848 ; and then, it is said, the spell is to be broken 

 — the wall thrown down betwixt nave and choir, with splendid festive 

 ceremonies. This will give an immense impetus to popular feeling, I 

 was shown the corner where our Queen's donation is to be phiced. Whea 



I saw this, and was told of one window contributed by Herr at a 



cost of thirty Friedrichs iror, and of another promised by some other en- 

 thusiast — a wish arose in my mind, to which you will, perhaps, not object 

 to give currency. Mould it not be a pleasatt thing to the English artists 

 and lovers of art to have (/leir memorial in such a building? One of the 

 smaller windows — presuming their zeal unequal to vie with that of Royal 

 donors — might be haudsomely compassed for fifty sovereigns : or, let us 

 say — to state the sacrifice more tangibly to those whom I fain would in- 

 terest — fifty white-bait dinners! Could not so much as this be done, with- 

 out injustice to any of our own works of art or benificence ? It is true 

 that the offeriug, when completed, would make little more show thau the 

 hatchments or votive tokens which cover the w alls and pillars of the Ca- 

 tholic churches abroad ; but it v\'ould be, still, "Ihe Knglishmen's win- 

 dow," for the father to show his son — a token of brotherly kindness and 

 sympathy, especially grateful to such lovers of memorials and celebrations 

 as are our German friends ; — who, let me add, are more abundantly irri- 

 tated by the sneers and exactions of our swarm of vulgar summer tourists, 

 than soothed by the courtesies of the refined and intellectual among us. 

 At all events, my hint can do no oue harm." 



To the above, the following particulars, taken from the report of Zwir- 

 ner the architect, may be added. The past winter was chiefly occupied ia 

 preparing the stones required for the triforium of the nave and the north 

 and solith transepts. On examining the foundations of the great north 

 tower, they were found to be so imperfect that it will be necessary to ex- 

 cavate to the depth of thirty feet in order lo renew them. This discovery 

 will lead lo great delay and labour. Zwirner complains that the employ- 

 ment of workmen on dve difl'erent portions of the budding simultaneously 

 leads to needless trouble and expense. The list of royal donations is as 

 follows: — Emperor of Austria, £833; King of the Netherlands, £84; 

 Grand Duke of Baden, £170; King of Hanover, £80; Prince of Lich- 

 teustein,£9G ; Queen Victoria, £523. The most favourable signs of pro- 

 gress are the arching of the south aisles and the completion of the north 

 and south portals, The latter are already arched over. Considerable 

 controversy has existed respecting the manner of erecting the south portal ; 

 certain traces of foundations which have been discoveied, and which are 

 said to indicate the form which this part of the cathedral was intended tu 

 assume, have been disregarded in the restoration. The restorers appear, 

 however, to have acted on mature deliberation, and the restoration of the 

 north portal, which is indisputably in accordance with the original plan, 

 furnishes a powerful answer to the otijections raised respecting the south 

 portal. 



