Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-11-17
n,- s,nre Onnitol Gronnda.--Na. I.



Our last General Assembly passed an Act appro-
pristing the sum Of 100000 for the purpose of
Grading improving ard enclosing the grounds sur
rounding and belonging to the Capitol; it forms sec
32 chan 100 Of the Public Laws of lS59-6O being
4 portion Of the General Appropriation Bill and
runs as follows;
Re- IL further enacted That the Comptroller and Secretary Of
state added the Board Of Capitol Commissioners tina
the shall emp competent engineer,
contractor interested snc il the work. estimate the ne
cost Of mating excavations and fills doing
work reduce opropr grade and Capitol Ground
contemplated by 1856 and report the same 10 The
Board Who shall have said report published and that then he
Board work done upon The best rsc
cabe for the interest Of the State; and provided hereby
thatin order pay for aid work. Governor Of the state shall
coupon bonds State bearing six per cent Interest,"
having thirty maturity VIII Oh shah be cashed
upon me on OF the Board the Bank Of Tennes
rovided That nothing herein contained shall authorize
the Governor to issue exceeding in
dollars nor shall The contracts Of the Board
for work exceed that sum and preceded further That the
SAD work can be completed for less than hundred
thousand dollars that Only many bonds shall will
cover that sum- This Act passed March "a, ls60l
The above provision of the appropriation bill was
not made law without great deal of trouble on
the part OF those who favored its passage Although
olll was introduced at very early part of the
session TO effect the object it was delayed in
It's passage on every reading by a most determined
opposition, and on its final reading was defeated;
and 1t may be considered almost fortunate accident
that II was finally passed amendment to the
above mentioned bill and in the very last hours of
the session.
Our noble Capitol as it now stands finished, crown
ing with much grace the highest eminence in our
city, (old Campbes hill OF yore) would in any
country be considered worthy Fl the State an ever
lasting monument Of the genius Of the architect, |
aud Of the intelligence and critical good taste of the
community which authorized its construction; but |
constrained to say that the credit of its cree
ton is due 10 the indomitable perseverance OF
few men of enlarged views in our legislatures, than
to any other cause. There has always been most
violent determined, picayunish and inscriptions
opposition made to the appropriations to the Captol
IL, ocinp The huIld
ing commenced; and even when the building is
completed and they are enjoying It's dement's WINE
in session, in consequence of the improved Ventla-
ton heating light &c, over their Old quarters IN
the Court House. leaving out OF view the beauty OF
the archit cture which is probably thrown away
on them; every proposition looking towards the
completion of the Grounds or Park surrounding the
edifce is steadily opposed.
The very extraordinary cheapness with which
our CAPITOL has been built in comparison with other
Capiols and buildings of similar or larger size and
style in other States has most strangely entirely
escaped the notice of our worthy representatives.
from the interior II has been frequent subject CT
remark by intelligent travellers visiting city that
our Capitol has been erected at unexamplec and
almost fabulously low price. With all this before
their eyes there is continual cutlery at every ses
sion of the building. The Ohio Capitol cost nearly
So O0c 600 The South Caroline Capitol, So, 10000
and not finished and ours has not yet grounds and
all more than $3.50 600. So let us hear no more
grumbling at its cost and at any future meetings of
the General Assembly, If the present appropriation
to the grounds is not sufficient to complete the
templated plan, let sufficient amount be freely and
cheerfully given for so noble purpose.
Let us turn our attention now TO what has been
done by the Capitol Commissioners since the ad
ournment of the Legislature in March of this year.
towards the furherance of the objects of the apprG
priaton.
1t is evident to the most superficial observer that
the employment of person who should combine
the qualities of good Civil Engineer with those of
a Landscape Gardner, should have been the first
step, and the which intended by the trainers
of the appropriation bill it not being suppOseable
that the gentlemen composing the Board of Commits
sioners who were chiefly legal gentlemen, had that
kind of technical information in any great perfection
After several months delay, meeting of the Com
missioners held. The proposition to our GER
tain knowledge of appointing such person
Civil Engineer and Landscape Gardner ,0aS made by
a member of the Board, but this all important step
was not taken.