I am sorry that you are disappointed at my conclusion not to aid you in deciding the result of your competition for plans for the Back Bay Park. The confidence you have heretofore given me may perhaps require that I should explain why I have thus failed to meet your expectations.

For whatever reasons and with whatever expectations you determined upon the competition, the public to which you are responsible supposes that by means of it you will be likely to intelligently determine who among the competitors is best able and best entitled to be appointed to lay it out and direct its development.

In this I believe the public to be most egregiously misled. I will try to indicate briefly how and why.

Although no building can appear to the eye of an observer under ordinary circumstances as it is represented in the “elevations” of an architect, yet, assisted by the personal explanations of the designer, it is possible for a man with much study and sufficient exercise of the imagination to form from them, together with ground plans and sections a sufficient idea of a building to be constructed from them to understand somewhere near in what degree it will answer his purposes and satisfy his taste.

Thus in dealing with the profession of architects it is supposed to be practicable to determine the best among several for a particular purpose as no one thinks of attempting to do in choosing a lawyer or a physician. Hence architectural “competitions” have become common.

Yet the difficulties of forming a just judgment among architectural plans when got up for this purpose are so great that every respectable architect the world over looks with extreme distrust upon such competitions, even as best conducted, and held under professional advice. Many refuse under all circumstances to engage in them and there are I suppose none of any considerable experience who are not satisfied that a better building is likely to be obtained where an architect of even inferior ability, if fairly qualified, is employed from the outset in direct consultation with his clients than where they are to obtain one as the result of a competition. There are reasons for this not generally understood which I need not attempt to give. It is sufficient for my present purpose to say that my own experience with architects and architectural undertakings strongly confirms such a view. I have closely watched many competitions. I do not know one of the usual kind, (corresponding at all with that you have invited) which has not had unpleasant and reprehensible results. Now it is not enough to say that the difficulties to which I have referred [364] in the case of architectural competitions are greatly increased when the choice of a plan for dealing with grounds is in question. The plans and sections of designs for this purpose are extremely deceptive to all but the most practised eyes, while no such aid to the imagination as is afforded by the elevations of an architect is possible. Even perspective views from particular points are delusive. It is simply impossible, in the nature of the case, to foresee from such drawings as you have called for what would follow from the adoption as the basis of your work, of the plan which you will select as the best. The most important ultimate results would depend on measures and courses which the successful competitor might be able to direct or advise from time to time subsequently, but which could not be assumed from his drawings to be intended, like those of a good building from the drawings of an architect.

If you do not conclude to employ the author of the premium plan to superintend its development, you will select someone else who cannot possibly do justice to it; who, starting from it, will probably develop at great economical disadvantage a plan widely differing from that which has been in the mind of its author and with reference to which alone any merit it has should be determined.

If you do employ the author of the premium plan, you must do so either because of a knowledge of him which has been obtained otherwise than from his drawings or you must take a large and probably an unjustifiable risk, the consciousness of which will prevent your giving him that degree of authority and discretion which is essential to his efficiency and success.

For reasons thus suggested, while your selected plan may possibly have such conspicuous advantages in respect to general arrangement, and its author such unquestionable practical ability that the course to be subsequently followed will be in the main a plain one, the chances are I fear against you.

Another class of probable results you may well feel able to meet as they rise, but they may nevertheless turn out to be not unimportant.

You are dependent on a public which is not only exceedingly ignorant in respect to the concerns with which you are to deal but which is always ready to act on superficial views of them with great and dangerous energy.

From whatever misjudgment and trouble the competition saves you, you cannot fix upon the premium plan without causing a great deal of toil, study and anxiety to result in what will be felt by those whom you have induced to give it to you as a snub to cherished ambitions if not as a rankling injustice. You are thus likely to have established many prejudiced centres for the propagation against you of more or less bitter criticism, misunderstanding and misrepresentation.

There have been many difficulties attending the administration of the New York Parks which I am able to trace to causes having their root in the jealousies, disappointments and animosities bred in a competition in which Mr. Vaux and I were successful 20 years ago.

No aid I could give in the selection of a plan to receive your premium [365] would materially lessen either class of objections to the competition, which I have indicated. Advising your choice I should place myself in a leaky boat with you. Keeping out of it I retain a professional position in which it is possible I may yet be of service to you.

I need not add that I declined your invitation with great reluctance or repeat my regret that you were disappointed by my decision.