Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-20
our state Capitol Grounds--NO, 2.
- -. 49,. Hnrnastaad

Our state Capitol GrOunds--No. g
From the Southern Homestead
In our asst we spoke Of tse commissioners mo-
having appointed regular Civil Engineer and Land
scane Gardener as the Act of Assembly certainly
intended Although number of the Commission
ers were IN favor Of this al important first STEP il
was defeated through the influence Of the President
of the BOARD WHO believed that he could conduct
the work himself, though whether any one else be-
lieved it was an open question
GaRDENING-lt was evidently the intention Of the
trainers Of the appropriation bill that such En-
pineer should be permanently and not temporarily
emDloved but instead Of that only survey was
made with certain number Of sections of the
ground and the engineer (for the time) was dis
charged. The work OF grading was then comInenc-
ed with about thirty hands) without any definite
pleh as to what was TO be DONE An abomination of
cut stone wall Cedar street was commenced
not long after, terminated with deeply dug cstern
at the lower end. These will be referred to again.
Alta subsequent meeting Of the Board to the first
one spoken OF above plan for laying off the grounds
was requested by Mr. William Prchard. a gentle
mau of taste and skill as a Landscape Gardener
The plan as submitted by Mr.. P. has very consider
aole merit and 1t gives us much pleasure TO bear
our feeble testimony to its merit and 20 state that it
was accepted by the commissioners in all of its main
features, but subject to such slight modification as
may appear necessary in the prosecution of the
work.
The Capitol grounds is parallelogram of une-
qual sides bounded on the South by Cedar street,
lEOnLig Ofl Ieet. On the NOrJn Dy tTay street OH
leet On the East by the continuation OF High street.
on lower grade and alignment. but now called Park
street I56 feet and on the West by Vine street 1855
feet The whole enclosed 4090l6 square feet or
acres 1876 square feet The building is placed at
one (the Westerly end of the parallel0gra m
and only about so feet from Vine street
Mr.. Prichard's plan is based upon the idea
OF series of terraces and slopes around the build
ing instead of one single slope from top to bottom
OF the hill The first terrace walk IS placed about
font %cff nn hrlI
and extends all around at the same level The ter
race walks all 10 be about 20 feet wide and to
be well and solidly made either of regular Tagging
or by a sOldly constructed gravel road, as may De
hereafter determined. On the East or town front,
below this frstterrace the ground, after descending
a steep slope of or Z feet, is regular slope or
lawn down to the Park street terrace or Walk.
From the center or upper terrace on TINS she there
two diagonal walks directed towards the two
Eastern or Northern corners Of the grounds. The
Eastern at corner Of Cedar and Park streets Is to
be the great public entrance gateway or lodge. !
There TO be terrace walks 20 feet WIDE running
parallel and contiguous to the boundary walls around
the whole extent of the grounds. These walks are |
graded level but follow in measure the grade of the
ground which may be decided on. On the North side
there is a lower terrace walk, with. level grade,
and parspet wall similar to the upper terrace. Be
low this there is TO be straight walk running par
allei With it. On each front, except the North,
there flights of steps leading down to the boun
dairy walls 1t is intended that no carriages or We
hcles to be allowed in the grounds except on
the West front where provision IS made for a car
riage road to enter from the South corner, extend
to the West corner, and return the same way. This
carriage road will be chiefly used for convenience in
loading and unloading brought articles TO the build
ng. The entrance gates fixed on, are at present.
small one on the Park street front. The principal
grand public entrance, through fine DOrlc lodge
gate at the corner tOf Park and Cedar streets an
entrance at the South front; and carriage en-
rance at the South others may be IN future
on. On the North side just below the
wall of the second or middle level terrace is to be
Ountan, and also one on the slope or lawn on the
East side below the upper terrace. The buttresscs
If terrace parapet walls are recommended to be cap
bed by flower vases at stated intervals. Mr.. p, in
lis report recommends that the work the plan
proposed by him should be commenced at the upper
GRACE, and the work TO be finished before proceed
ng to the next lower terraces and SLOPE instead of
working from the bottom up, as is now beng done,
md not finish anything till the whole is done. He
wishes, and every will heartily agree with him,
hat some of the work should be finished and show
or itself at the earliest possible tme and that
N the space nearest the building, so that we may
ave done once for all, with all the rubbish and out
leuses which cucumber, horrify and disgust every
ehoder under the present and long continued state
# things. Let US see and enjoy some progress on
his work before we are all dead OF rather before y
his generation is defunct. Mr.. 2. also recommends
he preparation Of trees TO be transplanted by
eIt year into the grounds. and that greenhouse
ery which cannot stand the colds of winter.
In regard TO the enclosures or fences around the
rounds, it decided that there is first TO be wall
cut stone varying according to the grade of the
round from feet inches to feet high to be I
appel by a wrought iron fence, height not deter 8
aimed. The East entrance gateway at the corner .
f Park and Cedar streets, has been decided on by
he Commissioners as the principal one.
1t will be a building lodge built Of cut lime c
tone feet wide, by 80 feet long, and 81 feet high
the top of the pedment. On the PLAN it will be ,
iyded into three parts, a centre porch or passage
-ay 10 feet wide, and Is feet deep, closed by d
on gateway at night, leading from the street by
ght of steps lO3 feet wide, through the lodge into
lie grounds. On each side of the porch, are two o
nall rooms for gate-keeper or porter and other s.
lrposes The elevation represents four col II
nned or Tetrastyle porticO PIG feet wide,
'oecting five feet from the face of the
wing each side. The columns are
,upled and are of the Roman Doric ORDER after
ose of the Theatre of Marcellus at Rome. The
ltae walls each terminated by three quarter Il
,lumn ms tead OF plaster. There columns u
tween the antae walls this front. The corners l
the wings have three quarter columns. On the
Of the lodge there is no projecting pOrticO.
ur of the columns, being three quarter and attach
TO the wing walls and the remaining two centre
les are full columns and recessed between the
e wall. The wings each lighted by three WIN v
Jws, one on each front, and one on the end. On I
lssing through the lodge, arrive at a platform,
|
parste short flights of steps, lead each respective
to an avenue or walk. one leading by the East
lundary wall Of the grounds, another by the South
oundary, and the other by diagonal avenue d. il
aCy 10 the East main city front Of the building. e
The plans OF the grounds by Mr.. Prchard are a
9Cded credit to his skill a landscape gardner. as
ell intrinsically very good in themselves, being
eautifully adapted TO the natural conformation of
lie hill. We have examined them with great pleas
re and attention. Although these plans have been
lOpted by the Commissioners, yet provision sub G
cts them to notifications We would earnestly ,
Opc that the plans may be adhered to in their in
gritty and that any notifications that may be sUg Z
ssted should be done with caution and not without
&c fullest discussion by the whole board. Ii is an
Improvement which interests every citizen of the L
ate and when once done, will be permanent fact a
nd may remain as first done for centuries. Every -
ling therefore in regard to the proper commence
ed of the enterprise should be carefully consider
I. We understand that the idea of changing
lie position lately fixed on, of the principal lodge
ON the corner of Park and Cedar streets, to the
,ntre Of the East 'front.' has been advanced and urg
by an influential member of the board. We be- p
eve and it is the general opinion, that the position
rs fixed is decidedly the best, and hope that no U
,tlOn will be taken this matter, without full n
scussiOn in open meeting of the subject This
lange should not be made without fan and open
of its merit or demert. The plan of n
.Ying the entrance to parks large grounds encOs
Z public buildings, placed Immediately in front of
e building, has been adopted in thefcwest instances
III only under peculiar circumstances The dagO-
Il plan Of entrance and approach to all public
Iildings Of any great size or imposing appearance
Is been sanctioned by, we may say, almot sageE Of
tactical use.
THE STORM APPROACHING.-It will be seen bv re