The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-04-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
VARIETY OF TOPICS DISCUSSED
BY THE PUBLIC.
The New City HaIl-S0me Suggestions
from q Citizen Of WeIi-Kn0wn
Tssfo.

from " Ves'o"
Taste.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
Sir,-I would he glad II this subject OF
the erection Of City Hall would interest
our citizens generally, and that those who
feel themselves competent 10 express an
~opinion, either as 10 its location or design,
would do so. that our city governors may
have the benefit 81 their views before they
decide upon q most important work, which
should not only be a pregnant example OF
usefulness and convenience, but an orua-
ment TO our city throughout all time.
IL YOU will allow me will give you my
views for what they are worth, but should
be more than happy if some other person OF
persons will improve upon them or sug-
gest something altogether preferable.
First and foremost. | agree with Colone'
CutShaw that the site on the north side OF
Broad extending from Eighth to Nintl
streets is most TO be preferred; but | dc
not agree with him that the entire square
is essential. 1t would be a waste both o.
money and unnecessary space. Within TN,
area Of Broad, Eighth, and Ninth streets
and the alley in the rear. a building nigh
be constructed that would accommodate al
the cOuTts>the city offices, and the City
Hall. Properly arranged il would do more
There might be ten or a dozen offices 10 lei
TO lawyers. who would gladly avail them
selves Of the advantages of the situation, at
good rents. agree with Colonel Cutshaw
fully that the idea Of old City-Hall lot
should not for one moment be entertained.
Ii is too near the Capitol, and. rs he SAYS,
might at some future day be overshadowed
by some other structure in place Of the
present miserable counterfeit OF an original
considered one OF the most perfect srchi.
tectural designs in all Europa building
yet so perfect in its material and archl.
tectural proportions after q lapse OF 1906
wears that Napoleon, in the plenitude Of
bis power, entertained the idea Of taking II
up bodily and removing II TO Paris.
There are yet other points 10 be consid-
cred, and of which our Council should
never lose sight. They are, that it Is due
to the propertv-holdeIs, 10 the progress and
extension OF the city, to the pleasant i'm.
pressions that may be made upon strangers
coming among MS, that our public buildings
and monuments should never be all jun.
bled up together, but should be scattered
over an extended surface, so that a favora.
bic impression made by any object at one
point should not be effaced by something
else in its immediate vicinity. a glaring
instance OF this kind already exists on our
Capitol Square. The Washington monu-
ment, in gradeur and beauty, Is hardly sur
passed by any other in this country or IN
Europe. Yet the statue OF Jackson, beau
tiful as 1t Is, is so completely overshadowed
that the spectator turns from il with indif-
ference after the glance OF a moment.
As 10 the cost OF the City Hall. the tax on
the amount necessary To ifs erection need
not be burdensonie ii distributed over a
series of Years. The system adopted IN
other countries, and in some parts of this.
might be observed here. Decide both
upon the lot and the design. Begin the
work complete in its parts, and occupy
them from time TO time us finished. The
whole time might consume a period of say
ten years, with IN appropriation therefor
OF. say, $4,000 a year.
The plan OF the building | would pro-
pose should be in the form Of a trident. /
use this term AS suggested by the Escurial
gridlroa. III the Broad-street lot is adopt-
ed the prong resting on Ninth street should
be " stories In height, Tor the accommo-
dation OF the Police and Hastings Courts
one above the other. That on Eighth
street for the Circuit and Chancery Courts
In like manner. The City Hall should be
the middle prong Of one story only, Of lofty
pitch. But the whole front Of the building
on Broad street, 100 feet supposed, should
be three stories In height, and filed with
all the necessary offices. 1t Is here only
that there need be any architectural dis
play, and a building of the front and height
mentioned above would he certainly very
imposing. w. Fl. II.