The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-28
UNIVERSITY sOUARE.

The proposition to subdivide and sell Uni
versity square, in this city. ought, and proba-
bly, will, meet with prompt and emphatic dis
approval. The State has been very econom-
icd in its expenditures in the capital city,
noticeably so in the matter Of providing suita-
BILE surroundings for the new State-house. A
building of size such as it is should have had
not less than four squares space instead of
it is already crowded, and no proper view of the
capitol can be obtained, the spectator being
obliged to stand Immediately under its walls
to see it in its entirety This could be par
TALLY remedied by the purchase, as has al
ready been suggested, of the two quarter
squares facing the east and principal front, on
either side of Market street. With this space
vacated, much finer view could
be had, and the little square could
be utilized as a place for public
gatherings, as occasion may demand. The
buildings now occupying the space named are
and removal would entail but nominal cost
compared with the advantage received. Left
as it is, it cannot be long until buildings will
be erected on those lots so high as to greatly
detract from the intended architectural effect
of the State-house. The mistake was in not
including in the State-house grounds the two
squares Immediately west of those now en-
braced, so that the Capitol could have faced
Washington street. This done, the purchase
of half square between West Ohio street
and the canal would have afforded ample COM
munication with Military Park, and Indiana
ings of character that would have been a
credit to the State for all time to come, the
failure to secure which was bit of
inexcusable short-sightedness for which
the people of Indiana will suffer indefinitely
We ought not to forget that we are building
for the future that, so far as possible, the de-
mands Of the oncoming generations should be
anticipated. A structure is now erecting
that in all probability shall endure not less
than five hundred years. In those years there
will be many marked changes. The archi-
lecture Of Indianas Capitol must remain prac
tically unchanged through all that time,
while the erection of higher and still higher
private and business structures must go on.
Removed from immediate contact with these,
the Capitol would remain an imposing struct-
ure Its designers should have borne in
mind that, pretentious as it is, it is nothing
like the Capitol at Washington, which
enjoys the advantage of ample
grounds and elevated location. Nor is it to
be compared with structures like st. Peters,
st. Pauls the cathedrals at Cologne and Stras-
burg, and other such monumental piles, each
and all of which suffer because of cramped
quarters, and are only imposing because so
vastly grander than their surroundings, an
advantage that the house now building in In
dianapolis cannot hope for.
1t would seem short sighted policy now for
the State to sell University square, a very
pretty little breathing place, open to every
person visiting this city. While belonging to
the State the benefits derived to the city
could be and would be more than returned by
the city in other directions. The existence of
such square is no burden upon the State, and
the fact that it has not been turned into
money, and the money into the treasury,
has not been felt by the taxpayers of the
State; for, while the square might be made to
produce thousands of dollars for the treasury,
it has cost the State probably not more than a
hundredth part of what could be realized from
its sale. The State ought not to be greedy in
this matter. At cost of some few hundred
dollars the capital city has reserved a very
pretty little square, open to all the world and
easily accessible to every visitor to Indianapo-
lis. The benefits enjoyed would be to all, and
the few dollars expended by the State during
the past half century would be paying in
vestment, in that more than value received
would be returned by the city whenever oc-
casion required, University square should
remain as it is.
BLANCHE K. BRUCE, of Mississippi, at pres
ent Register of the United States Treasury,
who enjoys great influence with the colored
people of the South. emphatically denounces
Blaine's Augusta speech as demagogical and