Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-15


bic Easis OF encouragement as to the speedy
undertaking and accomplishment Of the
| work. The time has at last arrived when
we can approach the subject with the facts
before us, and when we can assure our
friends that the grounds of the capitol
building, which Is itself justly the pride OF
the State, and the admiration of all stran-
gers, are to be improved and decorated on
a scale Of completeness and magniicence,
| commensurate with the stateliness and
elaborate design and finish of the edifce.
When erected In its present gigantic. beau
teous and lasting proportions, upon the ele-
vation overlooking our growing city and
large stretches of adjacent country. the de-
| sign Of the grounds-their enclosure, in
provement, and Identification, con-
ceived in the same spirit of hberality and
| genius that put the polished marble to-
| gethsr. The war, and the financial depres-
sion following, with all the disheartening
concomitants of misrule and extravaoance,
have prevented the work from being done.
The original design, with perhaps some
variations for the better, suggested by the
spirit of progress and Improvement eyeIy-
where seen around us, re-awakened and
vitalized by restoration of our people to
II
out. The Legislature that has lust ad-
journed was not unmindful of this spirit of
progress and improvement, nor of the i'm
portance Of this long delayed enclosure and
adornment of the grounds of the capitol of
the State. Among their last acts, passed
July the 9Th, few days previous TO their
adjournment, was the following of purely
local character looking exclusively to
this object:
An act to Improve the Capitol Grounds.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly
Of the State of Tennessee, That the In
spectors Of the Peniteniary be, and they
are, hereby authorized to improve the
capitol grounds according to the original
plans, under the supervision of their Super
intendent of Mechanical Department, and
| to that end they are hereby empowered to
purchase the necessary stock, implements
and material, and to employ convict labor,
| and the Comptroller is hereby authorized
| to issue his warrant for the payment of the
same on monthly estimates certified by the.
| Inspectors; provided, that said monthly
estimates be carefully examined by the
Comptroller, and his warrant or warrants
issue for sum or sums at no greater price
than Is customary to be paid for work of
similar character; and, provided, that a
statement of said improvements and ex-
penditures shall be laid before each stated
session of the Legislature by said Inspec-
l tors.
As before indicated, under the above act
1 and authority, operations are to be com
! menced at the Capitol Grounds at an early
day, and they are to be vigorously pushed
4 forward until completed. 1t is understood
that the Inspectors and those having the
l Improvement in charge, are to have the
use, by appropriation, of not less than
/ $4,000 per year dd iafRjtURs until the
designs of improvements are carried ont,
Preliminary steps toward the great work
are already being taken, and by the first oi
September hundred hands will be put to
the work, which will not be suspended IN
til completed. The work and the carrying
| out of the design are under the direct
/ supervision of DIR. T. A. Atchison, a gen.
tleman whose energies and tastes are well
known and fully appreciated in this COM
munity.
The work is one of great magnitude,
involving both good taste and patient engi-
neering skill The grounds are to be en-
closed with massive cut stone fence of
the same material of which the building is
constructed. This stone fence is to be sur
mounted with tasteful and substantial
iron fence with entrances in front Of each
wing of the building. The grounds viii
be handsomely terraced from Cedar, Park,
Vine and Gay streets, up to the base Of
the building, fronting each Of the wings.
A beautiful, grand and circular drive will
be opened around the inner inclosure, the
entrance to which will be from Park street,
through a massive iron gate in imitation OF
sculpture. Within this circular drive the
grounds will be laid off in beautiful grass
plots and profusely decorated with every
variety of native egrowth, shrubbery, flower
and evergreen. Fountains will be con-
structed at appropriate distances apart
and seats and walks and arbors prepared.
As part, and not the least interesting
feature of the undertaking, those having it
in charge will have the grounds decorated
| with every tree, shrub and plant known to
| the natural growth of Tennessee soil. No
exotics or plants not Indigenous to the
State, are to be used in the ornament
ing. The work of blasting to give firm
| root TO the trees transplanted will
be no ipeonsiderable item Of labor. The
| native oak, the ash, the elm, the poplar
| and the maple, firm rooted IN the ever
| lasting hill, will lift high their heads
crowned with ''coronals of green leaves,
| and spread broad their umbrageous
branches, over dewitt grass and, playing
| fountains that grows green and glitter
beneath them, while thousand and one
| trees and shrubs of smaller growth will
| give their variety of charm. Bordering
the walks and fountains, and interspersed
II a. Ir1ta atc oIo
l every specimen of stone, ore and mineral
known to be the natural product Of our
| prolific State. Thus combined with the
most beautiful design and attractions, the
| grounds viii present, as it were, a minia-
ture cabinet or exhibitioI>of all the native
| products, mineral and vegetable, abound
ing in our forests and groves, and en-
bedded in our hills and valleys.
It is source of congratulation that a
work is SO soon to be commenced under
auspices that will insure its completion in
a manner that will make it the pride of the
| State, the boast of the South.
| waits from tho Celestial Empire.
A portion of the Chinese immigrants who
| arrived here Wednesday night did not leave
for Chattanooga until o'clock yesterday
morning, thus affording some of our citi-
zens who are early risers an opportunity to
interview" few of these specimen waits
from the Celestial Empire. There were
but two in the party who could speak any
English, and they did SO in such broken
manner as to require the assistance of hall
a dozen Anglo-Saxon experts TO put the
pieces together, while another did the
talking. On the subject of food, the
Chinese gentlemen were exceedingly re-
ticent or unable to understand what was
said to them on that usually interesting
topic. One of the Celestials had three
pet dogs with him, but from whence they
came or what price could buy them, no.
body could ascertain, as their owner would
only shake hishead and shrug his shoulders
when asked about them. Another had q
pair of peculiarly shaped and colored cats,
to which he appeared very strongly at
tached. Gentlemen who observed these
dogs and cats insist that they are in several
respects unlike the dogs and cats common
in this part of the country. The lmml-
grants appeared very docile and obedlent
to the orders of those having them N
charge, and seemed deeply Interested In
the new people and objects around them
durino their stay at the depot. Several
came up into the city, but were restless
| - ,-aacv avidanffv afraid that thev