The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-07-25

A NEW CAPITOL BUMDISG.-Whlie the
old Capitol has been reftted and put in a
comparatively comfortable condition for
the next Legislature, We confidently hope
that that body. when it shall assemble, vii
see the importance Of taking immediate
stems towards commencing the erection OF
a new. more safe and commodi0us struc-
ture. Il was the design OF the last Legs
lature ia ordering the present building En-
larged TO render it simply comfortable FOR q
body Of men TO DO business in. until such
time as q better could be provided The
matter Of repairing the old Capitol was not
proposed until nearly the last hours Of the
session, when % time vas left 70 consider
the subject Of q new building but tie i'm
portance Of doing something was apparent
and keenly felt
The old building < simply comfortable
now, and at best wi. only remain 50 until
such time as a new building could be made
ready were steps taken al once TO levy 4 tax
% raise means with which 10 commence
the work While the present building may
seem to be good enough for the present il
must be remembered that it i going 10 de-
cay rapidly. II IS built OF wood, IS IS dry
a. powder house. and is liable 10 be con-
sumed by fire al any time In the second
story Of this building IS the State Library,
valued at many thousands oil dollars, and
rrybfch oOuld MAJOR Ia rarfacaI - da-+rovo1
In the same story is the Governors private
room, and the Office Of Public Instruction.
All the valuable records and papers OF these
two important Offices. together with the
Library, would undoubtedly be entirely
consumed with the building should it ever
burn down. The Supreme Court room 3
tar too small for the sessions Of the Court,
and proper respect would seem to demand
that a more ample and comfortable place
should be furnished by the State for the
meetings Of this body.
The building now used a. the Auditor
Generals Office, Treasurer's Office, Land
office and office Of Secretary Of state. and
in which are al the valuable papers per
tanning to these departments, was erected
as fire proof building, but it IS no more
so than the Capitol building, save that its
walls are composed OF brick II is liable
to destruction by fire at any time, in which
event the loss would be irreparable 1t is
impossible TO estimate the loss that would
be entailed upon the state by such a calam-
ity No private Individual OF set of indi-
viduals would allow such vast interests to
remain long in such an exposed situation.
The same feelings of pride which would
govern men in their own private affairs,
would induce the people to demand that
more cOmmodiOus and sitely buildings be
erected tor the purposes of State use. The
present Capitol building would not long be
tolerated as a county court house, in many
OF our old and thickly settled counties
The same feelings should extend 10 less TO
the matters Of the State than TO the county
or the town. Far better private halls ex-
ist in the State in many of our towns than
are occupied by The Legislature OF Mich
igan when in session.
All arguments and reasons that have
been argued against commencing the cree
ton Of a new Capitol are now exhausted.
save it be the matter Of dollars and cents.
and this We hold to be OF little moment.
Our present State taxes amount TO but
very little comparatively two mill tax
levied for this purpose. while it would raise
4 good sum to begin work with. would not
be felt by the people, nor do we believe
would be objected to by the masses. We
believe the people would be willing to be
taxed to the amount we have stated for this
purpose, and we hope this subject will be
canvassed by the press Of the State, and
urged upon the attention of the next Leg
islature. New and costly buildings are
being put up in this city the present sea
son, and We think it disgrace to the State
and humiliating to every Individual citizen,
to see private enterprise leading the COM
mOnwealth in matters rejecting upon our
good name abroad.