1842.] 



THE CIVIL ENCxINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



05 



COMPETITION DESIGNS. 



Mr. Editor — By inserting the folloning account of a competition job, in 

 your widely circuLiting journal, you will enable me to fulfil my promise to 

 the perpetrators of it, ami contrilmte soinetliing to the general tide of indig- 

 nation against the system .is now practised. 



In June last the Commissioners appointed under an Improvement Act, ad- 

 vertised for designs for a Pump Koom.at Low Ilarrowgate, and staled, amongst 

 other particulars, that no premium would be given, but that the architect 

 producing the most approved design would be employed to carry it into exe- 

 cution. This bait drew designs from about twelve architects, all, like myself 

 doubtless, expecting they would have fair play in return for their expenditure 

 of time and talent. The designs were sent in, and the Commissioners met on 

 the 16tli of .Vugust following; the meeting was tlien adjourned to the 20th ; 

 and again to the (jth of September for linal decision, lieii::,' at Ilarrowgate 

 on the eve of the last uamed day, I was astonished to learn from several of 

 til ' Commissioners, that Mr. Strutt, one of the competitors, and a native and 

 resident at Ilarrowgate, had prepared ano/Afr design, introducinga prominent 

 fi^jture of my own design ^a dome) which had been privately banded round 

 amongst the Commissioners, preparatory to its being introduced i\t the 

 meeting for the final decision. Though I strongly remonstrated against this 

 most dishonourable proceeding, the drawing was actually brought into the 

 Commissioners' Room by one of the body, but the Uevercnd Chairman, to- 

 gether witli some others, would not sanction it to be produced. On dividing, 

 my design was rejected, and Mr. Strutt's chosen by a majority of five; after 

 which I received the following note from the chairman. 



" High /larroirjate, SepteniSer 6, 1 84 1. 



" Sir — Being of opinion that the plan for the IIarrowg.tte Pump Room has 

 been deciiled not upon merit, hut by favour. I beg to inl'orm you that I have 

 withdrawn my naiue from the list of Coraniissioners iu consequence. It will 

 not be unsatisfactory for you to know that I gave my vote in favour of your 

 design, as in my judgment the best offered to the acceptance of the Commis- 

 sioners, at the estimated cost prescribed in the instructions given by them. 



" I remain, Sir, your obcdioul servant, 

 " To Mr. Mallinson, Architect, Thos. Kexnion." 



lirig/iowie." 



And which was afterwards endorsed by two others of the Commissioners — 



" Mr. Charlesworth expresses his perfect concurrence with the above re- 

 marks of Mr. Kennion." 



" I also beg to give my testimony to the foregoing, and have withdrawn my 

 name from the list of Commissioners in consequence. 



J. G. Palky." 



Captain Thackwray (who was prevented from indisposition from attending 

 the meeting) and Mr. Dearlove subsequently withdrew their naiues for the 

 same reasons. I understand the Chairman also addressed notes to all the ex- 

 cluded competitors, stating his opinion of the transaction. 



The Rump probably alarmed at this serious defalcation from its numbers 

 and respectability; then attempted a compromise, and proposed that I should 

 be joint architect with Mr. Strutt. To this I stated my readiness to accede, 

 provided they would revoke their precious decision, and give the award to 

 me. This being objected to, after freely expressing my opinion of their con- 

 duct, I took my leave, not without the hopes expressed, after a long interval 

 (for reasons therein stated) in the following : — 



" To the Commissioners appointed under the Ilarrowgate Improvement Act. 



" Gentlkmen — I have hitherto been silent on the subject of the architec- 

 tural competition for the Pump Room, Ilarrowgate, hoping that due reflection, 

 and the secession of five of the most influential members of your commission, 

 would have led you to reverse the partial and must unjust decision, by which 

 a majority of your body rejected my design. 



"The letting of the works and laying of the stone have been managed with 

 a secrecy so unusual in such cases, that I have seen no notice of either in any 

 public print. Your advertisement for a loan, a few weeks ago, led me to 

 make inquiries, which have informed me of the commencement of the build- 

 ing, and the consequent futility of my expectations. 



" Presuming you to he not iudiflcrent to the good opinion of your fellow- 

 t'lwnsinen, and wishful to pass for men of character and honesty, you are 

 bonnd to disprove the charge made against you in the note addressed to me 

 by the Chairman and other retiring Commissioners, a copy of which I here- 

 with enclose. It is due to m; self and the other competitors, as well as to the 

 profession gcner.dly, that the particulars of this unprecedented transaction 

 should be made as public as possible. I, therefore, ask you for copies of the 

 design first sent in by Mr. Strutt. which you selected as the best j also of the 

 one now being carried into execution (which I presume to he the amended one 

 sought to be substituted in place of the first one, li^ore the comjietition was 

 decided !), in order that I may publish them together with my own design, 

 and thus alTord the public an opportunity of judging between us. I need not 

 add that your refusal to comply with this request will he a tacit admission of 

 the correctness of the charge. 



" I remain, Gentlemen, your very humble »cr\ant, 



" Urif/hoiae, near Ilalifa.i , •' Jaues .Mali.i.vsox." 



Dfcfmbrr, 2Uli, ISll." 



This produced the following reply—. 



" Commiltee I'ovm, llarrowgalf, Dec. 27, 18tl. 

 •• Sir — I tm requested by the Commissioners, in reply to your letter ap- 

 plying for copies of Mr. Strutt's plans for the Pump Room at Low Ilarrowgate 

 to inform you that they cannot comply with your requc«t; and, that they do 

 not consider you have any right to ask for them. 



" 1 am. Sir, yours obediently. 



" S. Powell, Jun." 



Being thus for the present deprived of the benefit of the comparison, I am 

 compelled in some degree to be both plaintiff" and judge. But having seen 

 all the designs, I can conscientiously athrm. that, with perhaps one exception, 

 the approved design was the most unsuitable for the situation. Several 

 designs of merit were cast aside, almost without examination, for the whole 

 and sole reason, that their estimated cost exceeded the stipulated sum of 

 .fl.JOO, and yet this approved design was estimated to cost only ill, 900! !! 

 What the amended design may be 1 know not, but I intend to send you a 

 sketch of it when completed, also of the original one, of which I have a sketch 

 from recollection, made immediately after seeing it, together with my own, 

 that yon may judge of the correctness of my assertions; meantime, 

 I remain, Mr. Editor, your very obedient senant, 



James Mallinson. 



P.S. One of your correspondents suggests, that in such cases the names 

 and occupations of the parties should be given. I consider his suggestion a 

 good one, and give them, first apologising to my supporters for placing their 

 names in a company they have so long repudiated. 



Fon. 



Reverend Thos. Kennion, Incumbent of High Ilarrowgate Church. 



John fircen Paley, Esq.. Magistrate. 



Charles Charlesworth, Esq., Gentleman. 



Mr. John Dearlove, Innkeeper. 



Mr. Nicholas Carter, Wine Merchant. 



Mr. Thomas Gordon, Proprietor of the Cheltenham Pump Room. 



Against. 



Mr. Jonathan Benn, Retired Innkeeper. 



Mr. Thomas Hall, Innkeeper. 



Mr. George Ilobkinson, Milkman and Boarding Housekeeper. 



Mr. George Kuowles, Plumber. 



Mr. George Morely, Baker and Grocer. 



Mr. George Harper, Innkeeper. 



Mr. Richard Stanning, Innkeeper. 



Mr. Joseph Waitc, Druggist. 



Mr. Richard Whincup, Porter Dealer. 



Mr. Christopher Wright, Coach Builder. 



Mr. J. H. Walker, Wine Merchant. 



RAILWAY WHEELS. 



Mu. Piiiips. of Deptford Green. Engineer, has obtained a patent for im- 

 provf mcnts in the construction of r lilway wheels, the cbject of which is to 

 supersede the process of " shrinking on,'' which he proposes to do in the 

 folli'wing manner : — 



A bar of wrought iron is prepared, by rolling in the usual manner, with 

 an outer llanxe on one edge, and an inner flange in the centre of the bar: 

 this bar is bent into a circular form, and then welded. ."Sixteen wrought iron 

 spokes are prepared, with an extended end or palm, which may Le drawn out 

 by hammering, or welded on; the Inner end oi each spoke is jagged or per- 

 forated, ill order that the cast metal may embrace and fluid it fast. Eight of 

 these sjiokes are then laid in a mould, aiid one portion of the boss or nave of 

 iron east upon tbier inner ends : ibe olber eight spokes have the correspond- 

 ing portion of the boss or nave cast upon them. The two pans of ilie nave 

 are then brought together, and secured by scrvw bol;s. and the enlarged ends 

 or palms of ibe sfiokcs strongly secured to the alternate sides of the inner 

 flange by screw bidts, or by rivettini,'. Another method cimsisis in placing 

 all tlie spokes In their respeciive positions around the wheel, and casting the 

 boss or nave in one piece, the palms of the spokes being afterwards rivctled 

 to the inner flange. 



Another patent has been granted to William Losh, Ks^., of Litlle 

 Benton. Northumberland, for improvements of railiiaj wheels, by the appli- 

 cation of wood, felt, lope, or other such like flexible or yielding mat.-rLil. 

 between the inner tire and the ring or felloe or iK-nrin^A produri'il \.y 

 the prolonnalions of the bars of iron n ' ' i 



spoki'S. Willi or wilbout the Intervcniici: i 



such Ixarlngs and such flexible or s „ "f 



wrought iron mil«.iy wheels will be les.s lial>le to lie prejudicmlly nrlrd on 

 by the vibration lo which such wheels are liable when in use, than if they 

 were composed of iron alone The wheels lo which these improvemenU are 

 applicable, aie those included in the palcntce's former patent, of August, 



mo. 



