Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-03
cao.o;. D,ar,,,e and tbe New Capitol,

Georgia Marble ana the New "a PAoOA'
A very determined effort is being MADE
to induce the Legislature to so cnahge
the contract for the construction OF the
State capitol as to provide for the use
Georgia marble in the building, msVeau
of ooIItic limestone. The main argument
that is being used is that GeOrgia's capl-
tol should be built out Of Georgia material
TIE argument is an appeal to ol2Ie pllue,
and is q strcng one. Doubtless goOu
MANY members Of the Legislature viii be
Influenced bv il. It is noticeable that
a number Of tte papers Of the state mas
beer influenced TO a greater or less eX-
tent by it.
There is no doubt that the people Of the
State would rather have the capitol built
Of material obtained within the state
than material obtained outside Of it, pro
vided tle home material is as good IN eN-
cry respect as the foreign material, and
provided the cost is not very much great
er. Perhaps they would be willing TO
nav a great deal more for Georgia mate
rial.
II Is. reasonable TO suppose, however,
that all these questions were discussed
bv the CapitoI Commissioners. when they
were considering the various proposals
for building the capitol. Before the con-
| tract was made Tor the building the own
| ers Of Georgia marble were afforded am
pie opportunity TO present the claims OF
/ their material. and if we are not mis-
/ taken they did present them. No fault
/ was found with Georgia marble, but 1t
! seems there was some objection to the
/ price at which it could be furnished. The
| commissioners were restricted TO a GER
/ tain sum 10 do certain work, and they
found that they could not 90
the work for the money and
/ use Georgia marble. We have not
seen il stated anywhere that there was
any prejudice against Georgia marble, or
that objections TO it as a material were
| made. The use Of it was regarded as out
Of the question on account Of the cost.
Now, the question which presents itself
is this: Are the people willing to pay for
a sentiment: That is, assuming that
Georgia marble is as good
as oolitic limestone, are they
willing to pay the difference between the
cost Of the marble and the limestone for
the sake Of having the capitol built out OF
Georgia materials? If they are, let us
have the marble by all means. The cost
Of the marble, perhaps, Will not be so very
much more. 1t may be $4,000 or 100000
but that is a trihe when the wealth OF the
| great State of Georgia is considered. Ii
must not be forgotten that the new build
ing VIII probably serve the State for
century. and that the State can, there
fore. afford 70 spend more on 1t tnan If il
were to be only a temporary affair. 1t is
to be the great building Of the State, anC
should be made worthy OF the State.
Before making any examination of The
merits Of the Georgia marble, however, Of
in any way casting doubt upon the sta
bilitv of the agreement which the STATE
has entered into with the present capito
contractors, the Legislature ought to de
termine whether, in the event it Is founC
desirable to authorize the use OF Georgia
matble, it Will provide for whatever add
ti0nal expense a change III the eXistin:
contract may involve. There is no use il
wasting time in discussing Georgia mar
bic unless it is fully understood beforehand
that the 81. 100000 limit viii be removed
il shall be found advisable to use build
inc material different from that alread!
decided upon. The MORNING News ha
sustained the commissioners all along
because they have apparently aimed
to do the best they could for th'
State. The MORNING NEWS, however
would prefer 20 have the capitol con
structed OF Georgia material, provided
is shown that it is equal to that for whicl
the present contract calls, and believes
that the people Of Georgia would sanction
an increased outlay to insure the use o
that material. Unless, however, tn
amount allotted to the capitol is 20 be in
creased. the MORNING NEWS is opposed
to opening the subject at all, because
considers that the commissioners hav'
done the very best that could have beel
done under the 81, 900, 900 limit.