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

The state House.
We can add but little to the facts which
we gave last week about the burning of the
State House. How much of the library was
destroyed cannot be told till careful cx-
animation is made of what was saved. That
most of it is saved is beyond dispute. The
collections made by the State naturalist were
all destroyed--a loss not so eAsilymade good
as some others. Great credit is due to
the spirit with which the Montpelier people
exerted themselves to save the building, and
to rescue the movable property which it con-
tanned. The best being made of it, no doubt
many books and papers were consumed whose
loss will bring serious inconvenience, to say
no more. 1t is gratifying fact that the
important records and papers in the safe
room of the Secretary of States Office were
left unhurt. The Auditors Office was des-
troyed, with how much damage we do not
learn. There was q small safe in it but not
sufficient, We judge, to protect all that would
naturally pertain to that department.
What the extent of pecuniary damage is to
the State, cannot be stated now with rrcci-
sion. The cost Of tho building-involving
the heavy outlay of some thousands Of dol
lars in blasting down the rocky spur of the
hill on which the building was erected, is
well known and for State of this size and
resources it was large.
The granite walls Of the building were pro-
tected from the direct attack of the fire on
the inside by sheathing of brick, foot or
more in thickness. To that circumstance
alone i, it owing that they were not crumbled
TO ruins. Granite stones are cracked by fire
about as easily as glass, and oftentimes when
they are left unbroken by fire, the cohesion
of the stone is so destroyed by the heat that
moderate blow or weight will crush it.
Where the fire burst out and came in con-
tact with the granite. the injury is made OBJ
vious in cracks and fakings off from the
surface and in the destruction of the cornices
TO greater or less degree. The Sergeant-at
arms has caused the top Of the walls to be
protected by boarding to keep them from
further injury by frost and rain; but it must
require q thorough and systematic czamina-
tion-such as cannot well hb made imlne
diately-to justify decision how far, and
in what way the walls, or tho materials in
them, can be made available for new struc-
ture. The most favorable result on that head
must leave necessity for very large expert
dlture to provide rs good building for the
use of the State as was the ono now 90 I'M.
fortunately destroyed. II was noble build
1nc, ornamental and creditab!c to the State.
It's interior arrangements were faulty in i'm
portant respects, and subject OF consider
able complaint among members from year to
year a proper legislative commission will
of course bring ont in an authoritative way,
the extent of the damage, the defects Of CON
struction or management which led 10 the
great disaster. and also what notifications
are expedient to promote convenience and
safety hereafter.
There is one top.c connected with this sub
iect to which VIC will barely ulludo more
because an entire silence on our part on
point which we know to he spoken of widely
in the State, might be misinterpretcd, than
because we have any thing spccia! 10 say.
Inc INSTRUCTION Of thc State llouse 50 far ms
IL is destroyed, inevitably opens rncw the
question of loca tion--l question which ex-
cited great deal Of interest previous to the
erection oftho building just burned We do
not wish to review the reasons which Mt that
time determined the majority of the legisla-
turc to decide in favor of its location at
Montpelier, nor to inquire whether time has
weakened or strengthened them. All we
wish to say on the subject now, is, that what
ever discussions shall he had on that mater
throughout thcStatc they should be had in
candid. temperate sprit--regardless Of indi-
vidual wishes, and the special benefits which
may incidentally arise to the inhabitants of
one locality or another, because the State
House shall be located in their midst. The
whole subject should he viewed in an en-.
larged and generous light-wfth reference to
The convenience and hcncn IF hc Hqfc. NJ
|arce. The question of location is an n1or-
tant one, and it ought II he griyaly and
fairly treated, Ind decided upon by the Le-
Slslature when the proper time comes, or.
~ substantial merits. Any other decision |
would do injustice to the character of an in
tel'lsent and considerate people.