The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-02-16
Lum the Solano Herziai
THE STATE CAPITOL,


EpIroE HERALp:-I was much pleased TO read
in one of your late issues the wellmerfed censure
you there bestowed the action of the State Cap
itol Commissioners, in reSofvlng to complete the
building under their control with brick and mastic
instead of granite as originally Contemplated And
the article was the more noticeable because il was
the firsx, and only objection to the action of the
Commissioners that had observed IN any public
print 1t is not strange that the matter should be
passed over in silence by the people or papers of
communities decidedly prejadiced against the pres
ent location of the Capitol neither is it surprising
that the penurious should gladly assent nor thar
the uncultivated and besotsed should exhibit COM
pete but that intelligent lovers of the
State and men of taste should allow this action of
the Board TO be consummsted without at least ex-
pressing their most decided disapprobation is a
wonderful shame and shameful wonder.
There are several strong objections to the change
resolved on but the principal one We urge is that
it is most fragrant violation of good taste. Brick
buildings are well in their place, and may be made
to present very pleasant appearance and to yield
much comfort TO residents; but all will admit that
the brick is not the thing with which TO construct
extensive and elegant buildings for the OF the
Nation or State. 1t is therefore proposed that the
bricks shall be covered With coat of mastic, aud
suppose, marked SO as TO appear like stone-a
process which presents one OF the most gross and
offensive instances of the false in art. We're the
plaster with which it is proposed to daub the face
of this noble edifice of q character capable of
resisting the influence of the weather the would
be just little aevlafed but facts which, IN some
localities press themselves upon the attention at
almost every STEP forbid all hope in this direction
In this city Of San Francisco, one can see enough
in very short time to convince any reasonable man
of the utter folly there is in coating building with
mastic in this climate, where we have such heavy
rains and so much more frost than is experienced
in the sunny cline of Italy. where the process of
stuccoing originated. To begin with the Custom
House: Large pieces of the mastic have fallen of,
leaving most unsi ghty blotches which coutinu-
ally enlarging Cavalry Church is suffering from
the same cutaneous disease-a large piece of the
stucco having fallen right from under the front
nice where it is most protected Lincoln School,
house, which was dedicated but short time ago. is
already peeling and presents especially in the most
prominent portions, miserably discolored appear
ance and SO might go through long list.
Now, if these Commissioners wish to complete a
structure which shall call forth the condemnation
and ridicule of every appreciative mind, foreign
and native, while it presents TO the passer-by hit
subject for the idle jest and rbald expression of
disgust, let them pile up their bricks and danb on
the muck but if it is desirable that We have an
eice that shall challenge the admiration of all its
beholders and stand for years to come as medel Of
taste and skill to the thronging thousands OF our
State let the work go commenced and the
beautiful granite OF California be used to construct
pile worthy of her grand future. I.
SAN Francisco, Feb 4th, 1861.