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.ÿþ232 architects to the nationa method by which the office could be kept together and used to goodadvantage. 110 Despite Wetmore s best efforts, the technical and cler-ical force became depleted due to the entry of staff members into thearmed services and other war services.Some staff members trans-ferred to other agencies concerned with military construction.After the war, the Office returned to its construction program.Bythis time, the increase in the cost of labor and materials had pushedthe cost of construction beyond the estimates made during the pre-war period.The Treasury Department estimated that not many ofthe buildings for which there are authorizations can be constructedwithin the present limit of cost. 111 However, by 1922, Wetmore re-ported that the activities of the Office had returned to a normal levelof activity.New buildings were underway.Investigations and esti-mates were being prepared for the nearly 700 bills for new buildings,extensions, and site acquisitions.Despite this return to a high level ofoperation, the pent-up demand for new buildings called for a majorpublic building program.Into this discussion stepped the secretary of the treasury underPresidents Warren G.Harding and Calvin Coolidge, Andrew W.Mellon (figure 7.21).Mellon was one of the most architecturally so-phisticated treasury secretaries during the entire time the SupervisingArchitect s Office was housed in that department.Mellon viewed thework of the Office as a reflection of his interest in the subject.Heheld sway over the federal architecture program during a time whenit was felt that authorizations for federal buildings were ten years be-hind and that larger cities, including Washington, D.C., were in ur-gent need of new buildings.Despite Secretary Mellon s interest in architectural matters, he didnot feel compelled to fill the position of supervising architect on apermanent basis because he thought Wetmore had been ably per-forming the duties for several years.112 When demands arose againfrom the architectural profession that private practitioners be em-ployed on federal architecture projects, Mellon stated that additionallegislation was required before the Treasury Department couldemploy outside architects and engineers.113 Wetmore reinforcedMellon s position by arguing that the use of private architects was ap-propriate:only in exceptional cases.Generally, satisfactory designs are ob-tainable through organizations like that of the Office of theSupervising Architect, and the administration and execution of [ Pobierz caÅ‚ość w formacie PDF ]