Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-01-16
The state House.


population it was found after some yoars TO
be inadequate TO the increasing wants Of the
legislature. Various propositions were made
at successive sessions Of the legislature To /
enlarge tho building, but without effect At
the session Of 1881, the attention of the mem-
bera OF the legislature was drawn to the sub
jet OF new state house, by design for one.
made by Amml b. Young architect. and
exhibited Mt Montpelier at that time. The
design was much admired, and the legislature
passed resolution authorizing the appoint-
ment Of a committee to receive PROPOSALS
from the several towns in tho state, to build
new state house, sufficiently commodious
Tor all the purposes Of state legislation and
to report to the next legislature. Tho lion.
Ezra Mech, Robert Temple, Allen Wardner.
and Timothy Hubbard Esurs.. were an
pointed said committee. This committee
| reported to the legislature at the session of
1852, that the citizens Of Burlington had
proposed to erect n state house Mt that pl1ce.
at cost of 100000 provided that town,
should be made the capital Of the stat that
the inhabitants Of Montrci,r and vecinity
had proposed to give $1,000 towards new
state house, to he erected on or near the site
81 the oli one, ut cost Of at least $50 600
the above werc the only proposals madc-
~ hen the subject came before the legislature.
it received Il full and careful examination.
and, in consequence, an act vas passed, dated
Nov. ;, Io"2, authorizing the erection of n
state house at Montpelier and making an
Appropriation Of $4,000 therefore. provided
the inhabitants Of Montpelier should guar
anty to the state, the payment OF an addition
al sum Of $4,000 towards the object The
act authorized the governor to appoint three
suitable persons "a II committee to fix on a
place in Montpelier for erecting said state
house, and to prepare plan for the same and
to appoint some suitable person, or persons.
as Il committee to suparintend the erection Of
said state house, agraeahly to the plan adopt
cd by the committee aforesaid The Hon
Samuel c. Crafts, Hon. Allen Wardner. and
George 7. Hodges, Esq, were appointed the
first committee, and the Hon. Lebbeus Ercr-
ton was appointed to supcrintend the build
ing.
The committee mot at Montpelier and or
gAnizod but, before making much progress
in their duties, they decided to visit Concord.
\. H., Boston, Mass. Hartford and New
Haven Conn, in company with Ainml g.
Young, the architect, whom they had en-
ploved to make their plans for the purpose
OF examining the state houses in those places.
and asrertaining what improvements had been
made in such buildings up to that time
They were also accompanied by Gov .E,or-
ton, the superintendent. After full cxami-
nation. and d'lihoration uron the subject.
thoy adopted a plan designed and drawn hv
Mr.. Young. They decided that the huildin,
should b" located about go feet to the north
west Of the OLD state house, in order to allow
spacious yard and grounds in front and
mat. 50 lar as n'ssin.e, the exterior should be
ui Barre dark granite. Tho roof and dome
wore to be covered with copper, and every
part constructed in the most perfect and sub
shhtiaI manner hut, rs they did not feel
/ warranted IN directing greater expense for
/ the pulilnt than SUOOoO, without some
iurther legislative action on the subject. they
decided on tnlsh that would not exceed that
sum- ana made out report to the next leg
stature recommending the adoption Of an
7 improved hnl'h Tor the building, and more in
a'r'fuahce with th.lr views, but which would
/ MAKE the cost OF the building about ! T.
Ot0.
The Superintendent entered on his duties
. in February, 1888, at Montpelier and cnrac-
ed Mr.. ounc, tie architect WIN drew the
plans, &c, to superintcnd the carving Of
them int" oNccutIon. All the necessary con-
tracts Tor lumher' brick stone, labor. Sc,
M'F " maze curing the winter, and April lSt.
o''. '.9 excavations Tor the foundations site
oo,,:.'''I,:u' me ''nhdarion9 OF
,,I,;,h ~ - ~ Oh 'iu@e Oh rocks
tI'm 'a'.S l'u 20 pe removed 10
n,J ~ u '''c l.ltr Ic'e,
arn,,i 49, ""' ''' on ~ require u wal
,ri ,,. VIZ "Ci Va ~ ','I III ciGhr'-
tLo .o,s1~ ,'a. WIN N'-'r 'hT"u-h
or rcn,o,;,, ,bo idar ~ VIC 'li',,'rn5' amor
. only tho r,rnL,,;,r,. go ,;1 ~ '''c ~
t;nr - rooo;,1 49,, i - ,'lI "'.r !" c'"Ii,
which C,r tbo wy "a E'nu;tG' most OF
,,.ro,,,,Lt sod - Va W, p""''nE' was
conncc,io,, ,'i.J, wv "u' every tnlhE IN
tLn ,t,'o., t' WV osreSSeu with
~ ~ N'7'''N i'''' " !lcl