Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-12-09
The State House Investigation.


INGs, IN RESPECT TO THE RE.BUILDING OF THE
STATE HOUSE,. SUBMITTED THURSDAY, Nov.
rs, 1861
Such s the title of a document having the
imprint, Montpelier E. P Walton, Printer,
1885, purporting to be report made to the
House of Representatives, and we are informed
was made on the last night of the session. 1t
does not appear by whose order it was printed,
but is SAID to have been dCne by an interested
party. This curious thing-though a species
of fungi, like most productions in nature had
its conception, CESSATION and birth:
81 The mountains labored, and mouse was bors"
If this nursing was simply a bastard, we
should feel content to allow it to be protected
and defended (f it could beg by those who vol
UNFAIRLY assume to be its sponsors. But it was
evidently begotten by violence, and had most
unnatural birth. Wepropose to examine, brisAy,
the bantling, its sponsors, and the agencies that
have ushered it before the public.
In the early part of thesession, the g Commit
tee on Public Buildings" were, by resolution
Of the House. charged with the duty, in general
terms, of examining the Capitol and making
report thereon. This would seem plain and
easy duty and that was easily performed. The
Committee speak Of the Capitol as ga building
Of tohich the State of Vermont may ,oeH be
proud"
But this evidently was not the purpose for
which the Committee was created. Some men
must be assaiied; some must be whitepashed. To
this end the Committee was made, and to this
work they made their appliance.
The Committee assembled; and Their. APP
pearod before them one Thomas w. Sloway as
the accuser; H1u. j. D. BrAl,y, Charles X.
Field and F. F. Merrill, Esquires his solicitors
solicitors for Siioway--solcitors of the treas
ury, out Of which to fleece $500, " for the ben
eft of the lien.''
Silloway had been architect; in the spring of
1853, " resigned" the Superintendent had EN-
ployed another and Sillsway attacked tho Su-
perintendent through the Press, and it seems
has spent his summer in stirring up the public
mind, and infusing his poison into thc minds Of
the workmen about the Capitol, and we have
the contamination of his work in the $500 draft
upon the treasury, and this report Of his Com
mittee. He has made fuss. and that portion
of the public who were disappointed and cast,
in the location of the ClpitoI, have uursed the
fellow " in this thing" into some little impor-
tance but to the Report.
The report is aat-not what was intended
not what the Committee would willingly have
made it, if they could have fauud wherein tc
base it. The State Hoase is we'll enough" a
building Of which the State may we'll be proud
-" all that can b, desired for all the purposes
of the State ''--'' all that c,n he desired botl
as pertains to durability and character" Bu'
this terrible conception and most bJistrous rap
all must not be an abortion. Some fault mus
s be found. Had Dact. Powers conducted Thu
t great work with entire fidelity great econo
|, my? Had every Dollar Of the public money i,
# his hands been accounted for? and been uset
to the best advantage! All this is SO j: it can
" not b. glinsaid. But there must be charges.
IS LIST. The columns are pieced, and although
e thus i" seems to be all that the most fastidiom
; could DESIRE yet the Committee are of opinion
that they should :" have been entirely rebuilt
If the Committee had chosen to deal fairl
II with the Superintendent, why did they not stat
thot I'm aid oolun, no ,ro-o ,,;ocaJ o,d stood Aa
t. ty years unnoticed and unknown until disclose
lie by the fire? Why not state that the Ccmmit
lie sioners advised the Superintendent TO piece ther
lie if in the opinion of competent architects
IL would be permanent? Why not state that MI
he Bryant of Boston. who stands at the very hea
.r of professional architects in New England, Mr.
is Randall of Chicago, Mr.. Parrot, and Others
re all Of whom had long experience and had teste
IN such work, and testified before the Commute
1t that the work was well done, and done us
t. should be? But Silloway, though he once f
yored At, now condemns it, and hence the "Con
D. mttee are of opinion,' &c.
d. I'd. e The trusses which support the dom
he and roof made by Silloway, were discarde
n by the Superintendent.
tie Ike Committee say, q The Master Carpente
Of who framed them, pronounce them amply suA
N cient," and your Committee are unable
be dscer@ Why the first trusscs were not suitable,
Ii quite prohable) they are decidediy of opil
at ion that they should have been tested befo
ly they We're discarded, 'tbuilta suspension bridg
se we suppose, weighed the dome, and applied
& like weight to tine trusses.) But we propose
ut look into the righteousness nl this politict
ne ecclesiastic architect: That he should be III
able to dscerv Tor his associates) why," v
readily concede; but there is no apparent reasc
'e- why he Though a political minister is alwa
"a. desperately cannot state facts truly, or eyiden
nd correctly. Was this q master carpenter ="
all the only witness, or the principal witness on til
ut pointg This Robert Gunnison (called by Il
ne Committee 90 master carpenter y was broug
on here by Silloway-his business is to execute
framing che designs and drafts of other mel
10 he testified that he never framed truss excee
: ing fifty feet span, aud this was seventy feet
The trusses being doubted, the Superntende
took counsel Of the Commissioners They a
-. vised h,m to use no trnsses Of doubtful suffice
~ cy, and to take counsel of practical builde
h. He did 50, and what is the testimony? First
or rsler to the testimony of three practical bull
,;u crs and trainers, to whom the Supcrntende
-, exhibited them {under the advice of the Coz
m missioners) before they we're discarded
-. Judah Sears, {who is admitted to be t
~, King Of trainers " in great works of Il
No kindly examined Sllloway' draft of trusses, u
testified to the Committee that, in his opinio