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NOTES AND REVIEWS 
TRADE CATALOGUES AND THEIR REMEDY 
/ T'HE avalanche of trade catalogues which annually 
showers upon every architect in active prac¬ 
tice is a source of extreme vexation to the office 
force. Containing, as they do, matter of real interest 
and importance which is necessary to the correct 
wording of the specifications, the extreme disparity 
in size and shape which these catalogues display 
have rendered nugatory all efforts to file them 
systematically, so that they may be found at once 
when needed. One or two serious attempts have 
been made involving the use of special filing cabi¬ 
nets, but they have been fundamentally unsatis¬ 
factory. To overcome these defects and preserve 
the essentials of the matter, Mr. H. W. Desmond 
of the Architectural Record, as editor, has pre¬ 
pared “Sweets’ Indexed Catalogue of Building Con¬ 
struction,” which includes within the covers of 
one large quarto volume all of the essential matter 
contained in the multifarious catalogues as hitherto 
published. Uniform type; matter arranged solely 
with a view to ready reference, and a scientific cross 
index, go to the making of a handy and compre¬ 
hensive volume, which will be found simply indis¬ 
pensable to the office. We have seen the advance 
sheets of this work and venture to predict an em¬ 
barrassing situation for Mr. Desmond when he 
receives the applications for space in the second 
edition. No material-man can afford to remain for 
a moment unrepresented in this publication after the 
thousands of copies of the first edition reach the 
hands of the subscribers. 
Professor Nolan, assistant professor of architecture 
at the University of Pennsylvania, writes an attrac¬ 
tive introduction fully explaining the scope and 
purpose of the enterprise. 
_ 
T SQUARE CLUB 
r I A HE T Square Club Exhibition has been success- 
fully opened in the galleries of the Academy 
of Fine Arts. An illustrated account will appear in 
an early issue of House and Garden. Meanwhile 
a word may be said regarding the very attractive 
catalogue which has been successfully issued by the 
committee in charge, and especially of the judicious 
selection and arrangement of the exhibits. The 
increased wall space at the disposal of the hanging 
committee has been wisely used by them not for the 
purpose of crowding more exhibits together but for 
the securing of a better classification and display of 
a carefully chosen minimum number of drawings. 
The addition of the decorative work in stained 
glass, terra-cotta and textile lends an added interest. 
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF ARCHITECTS 
HE seventh International Congress of Archi¬ 
tects will be held in London in July of this 
year, under the patronage of the King, with the 
Prince of Wales as Honorary President. The fol¬ 
lowing programme has been officially adopted: 
16-21 July.—Subjects for Discussion 
1. The Execution of Important Government and 
Municipal Architectural Work by Salaried 
Officials. 
2. Architectural Copyright and the Ownership of 
Drawings. 
3. Steel and Reinforced-Concrete Construction: 
( a ) The general aspect of the subject. 
( b ) With special reference to aesthetic and 
hygienic considerations in the case of very 
high buildings. 
4. The Education of the Public in Architecture. 
5. A Statutory Qualification for Architects. 
6. The Architect-Craftsman: How Far Should the 
Architect Receive the Theoretical and Practical 
Training of a Craftsman ? 
7. The Planning and Laying-out of Streets and Open 
Spaces in Cities. 
8. Should the Architect have Supreme Control Over 
Other Artists or Craftsmen in the Completion 
of a National or Public Building r 
9. The Responsibilities of a Government in the 
Conservation of National Monuments. 
[ he Executive Committee will be glad to receive 
Papers on any of the above subjects for presentation 
to the Congress. Papers may be written in English, 
French or German. 
Each Paper must be accompanied by an abstract 
of not more than 1,000 words. 
Papers and Abstracts must reach the Executive 
Committee before the 30th April, 1906. 
All communications to be addressed to the Secre¬ 
tary of the Executive Committee, 9 Conduit Street, 
London, W. 
A GREATER HARRISBURG 
NDER the leadership of the Municipal League 
of Harrisburg, of which J. Horace McFarland 
is secretary, that city is making substantial progress 
along the lines of parks, scenery, street paving and 
other municipal improvements. As one of the news¬ 
papers, in commenting on the recent meeting of the 
League, said: “Last night’s meeting gave additional 
emphasis to the fact that there is not a single branch 
of official or semiofficial Harrisburg which is not in 
full sympathy with the movement for a greater 
Harrisburg. ” 
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