Morning journal and courier., 1883-06-19

unanimously recommended such repairs Certain we'll known men who were then, fol some reason, extremely anxious that ths
 building should be demolished, strenuousiJ
 insisted that it weuld cost from sixty to sev enty thousand dollars to make the necessary
 repairs and improvements to adapt It for g
 public library. The committee, hoa ever, were satisfied, from the statements of such I architects as Brown & Stillson and such builders as Chatfeld 6 Grant-(of whom, without making any indlvidious comparison, 1 it is safe to say they stand fully in the front rank in their respective departmental, that i the necessary outlay would be less than one third the amount so claimed to be essential | The statement as to the great cost of repair
 was but sample of methods then employed | to influence public opinion to accept the de structive policy.
 Now, after the lapse of another year, in which the policy of absolute neglect has l been rieidly adhered to. the main argument 1 relied upon by those who would demollsh | the structure is that it is unsightly. Well, | grand as the old State House is in it's Gre clan outlines and it's suggestion of strength and repose, it must be admitted that, ln cet- tain details, it has become unsightly through shameful neglect. But make the proposed repairs and it will not be unsightly. On the contrary, there is not a public building in New Haven that would be less so. Is 1t so that no architecture can now be free from the charge of unsightliness, but that which proYokes the sky, with it's towers and gilded points !?
 Since the report of the State House con- mittee and previous to any definite action upon 1t, another committee has been consti- tuted to select a site for a Soldiers monu- ment." At least that was the ostensible ob ject of their appointment. But, back of all that, it is understood, lay the purpose of certain parties to accomplish by indirection what, so far, they have failed to achieve. Some excellent gentlemen who. as was well known, favored the demolition of the old State Hall, were placed upon that committee. and they have selected the site of that build ing for monument. They might, with equal propriety, have selected the site occu- pied by the ''Center church" or that of the ''City Hall"
 As the matter stands the question is not as some assume, whether ws would place public buildings upon the "Green, " if there were none there already, nor even whether we shall perpetuate those there for all time. The question, as it seems to us Is largely one of present expediency and economy, in view of increasing taxation. New Haven is thriving. Her population and taxable prop erty are greater than they were ten years ago. But there are thousands of her people who are virtually interested in the protection of public property which for some years to come, at least, may be utilized for public library or public hall. or both
 Are there rot plenty of places suitable for Soldiers monument ?" The one previ- ously set apart on the ''Green" is good one. East Rock is, in the judgment of many, far better one.
 But shall the monument be a shaft or a memorial building? Either would be appro- priate and desirable.
 If the former shall be determined upon, why not surmount it with 8 suitable statue and place it upon East Rock