Morning journal and courier., 1882-11-28
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1882.
THE STATE HOUSE QUESTION


| The committee, of the Court of Commo,
Council which has been considering whethe
the Old State House ought to be pulled dow,
made it's report last evening. The document
is an interesting one and is printed in full OF
the fourth page of this paper.
! The report discusses the question pretty
| thoroughly and at great length, and the con
olusion is reached that the old building ought
! 10 be saved. The reasons for this conclusion
! are, briefly, that the Society of Industrial
| Art, the New Haven Historical society, the
Boys club, Professor Marsh and the Super
lntendent of Parks and Squares would be in
comnoded by its destruction; if it is de-
stroyed the city will be compelled to erect q
new building costing $3.50, 900 or 5000. 900 .
it is noe desirable just now to destroy any
useful city property Or to take up any new
and unnecessary burdens, or even to give
any excuse fox ciamor for new building ;
Its basement can easily be made dry and
wholesome; it is not unsafe through weak
ness; it is not useless antl can be made much
more useful than it is it is we'll situated and
well adapted to use for tE.e first few years in
the growth of city library the main
foundation walls are of uncommon strength
and durability, and quite capable of standing
for many generations with very small out
lay for repairs the roof is in excellent re-
pair plans have been submitted which will
make the building more plesentable than il
has ever been, and offers have been made to
do the required work at moderate
expense )" Hartford has repaired and
made useful much worse State House than
this; Yale College has repaired and made
useful so bad a building as old South Middle
college; the city may we'll follow these exam
pies of good Judgment and eooaonaic thrift in
the management of public property
The committee does not rest altogether on
the unsupported conclusions eff it's own ''fully
matared judgment, but en- the convincing and
supporting judgment and advice of men with
son might we'll be content to stand" Among
them are every committee of the Common
Council that ever examined the subject, and
forty or fifty prominent and respected citi-
zens, whose names are given in the report
This is the substance of the report The
committee has evidently done its duty care.
fully and it's arguments and statements have
weight. But they will probably not convince
many of those who think the building ought
to be pulled down that it should be allowed
to stand. AS we have said before, the aues-
ton is not wholly Or chiefly sentimental,
The people of New Haven do not care to be
taxed for the support of Grecian ruin. But
if building worth $4,000, $4,000 or
300, 900 to the city can be made whole and
fine for $4,000, $4,000 or 500, 900 it should
be saved. So far, it is but fair to say, the
weight of evidence and of argument is in
favor of repair rather than destruction. An
examination and report by committee of
competent and unprecedented builders would
do much to clear up the mystery in which
the matter has been involved.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the
committees report last evening, and failed to
conquer the situation. Perhaps after the
Court of Common Council has been 'aoored
by the question it will be put before the
people to decide. Then the lookers-on will
have reason to smile.