Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-21
OUR NAsHvILLE CUsroMHOusE.

L ne CtGIBtdIN Ol the 1ICdSuTN has Illl-
ishsd his report TO Congress. He says that
he has long believed that the manner in
which public buildings are erected in the
United States is unwise and improper, and
regards thepOwer of the Supervising Archi-
tect in the making CT plans, the letting of
contracts, the purchase of sites, the super
vision Of the work, the disbursements, etc,
as greater than that ever held by a similar
officer before. In his hands is the absolute
control of millions of dollars per annum,
besides the routine work Of his Office, to
say nothing ofthe preparation Of plans for
new buildings, and the repairs and i'm
prOvements on old ones. Secretary Bristow
believes this 10 be too much responsibility
for one man.-H Washington Special TO the
Chicago Times
The above calls to mind a visit which
We received about four years ago from
the Supervising Architect of Public
Buildings, Mr.. A. B. Mullett, who was
charged with the selection of site for
our Customhouse, Postofice and Fede-
raj Court building. We had Just re-
covered control Of the city from the
Alden ring, and even then, sat at the
feet of the National Government, as if
we had ropes around our necks and
gives on our wrists; anything that
wore a national badge or carried a ma
Uional commission, claimed our deep
respect. and We felt Individually honor
ed by being personally acquainted with
the letter carrier Of our beat
Mr.. Mullett, recognizing the fact
that the buildings were to be located in
Nashville, did the city authorities the
honor to consult with them as to a
proper site. There was but little
question that the Public Square was the
center of the city, or near to it, and,
for that reasan, a proper place for the
building, besides it's proximity to the
county courthouse and to the State
House, where the Supreme Court
rooms are, rendered it a convenient
location for the Federal Court, as it
would have obviated the necessity of
the lawyers who practieed In the differ
ent courts, and often had cases in them
on the same day, from having any great
distance to go in order to perform their
duties to their clients.
The Supervising Architect seemed to
have but one idea ON the subject, and
that was that his edifce should have a
good site, one from which it would
make a creditable show adj gIoriam
nparimHm MalJetti. He would have
had no objection TO our taking down
the State House and csrtihg off the
rubbish, to allow of his putting up on
the site a custQmhouse to suit bis taste.
The city authorities offered him one
fourth Of the Puhlic Square-aye, more
than fourth; they proposed to draw a
line from a point half way between
Calhoun's and Hicks corners, to where
such line would intersect a continue.
ton of Market street crossing the
Square, and rendered him the portion
of the Square lying north Of that line,
a space abundantly large for the con.
templated building, with wide streets
all around it. The Architect would
not look at the offer; would hear of
nothing short of a cession of all that
portion of the Square which lies west
of the courthouse. To have yelled 10
this demand Woald have necessitated