Morning journal and courier., 1885-12-04
THE OLD STATE HOUSE.
Views of Former New Haven Ma
 on the Su bieet.

Views of a Former New Haven Man on the Subject.
 MT. J. w. Atwater, whose youth was spent in this city and who now resides in River side, near New York, after forty years resi- dence in New York and Brooklyn, visited in this city recently at the residence of his brother-in-law, MT. George Hotchkiss, the shipping merchant residing on Orange street, near Bradley. Learning from MT. Hotchkiss of the division of opinion in this city regard ing the fate of the cid State House, he, upon his return home, indited the following, which MT. Hotchkiss received yesterday and at MT. Atwater's request brought to this office: NEW YORK, Dec. 2, 1885. To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER: A recent visit to my native city, after a lapse of years, afforded opportunity to review the scenes of my boyhood and note the great changes in growth and improvement that have taken place in New Haven during the last forty years.
 Among the notable and familiar objects ! that commanded my admiration, as of old. was your beautiful Green, surrounded by it's majestic elIns and containing within it's bor ! ders the grand old State House building, l around whose walls are clustered so many pleasant memories of earlier days. l The neglected condition of the building 1 attracted my attention and I was greatly | surprised at learning that it is in contempla- | tion to denaolish it entirely. If such is the | case, can conceive of many substantial and | controlling reasons why the building should be preserved and repaired, but am entirely at l a loss in attempting to imagine single good and sufficient reason for it's destruc- l tion.
 The architecture of the building is prob ably one of the best examples of the Grecian Doric to be found in this country, and in it's proportions resembles on small scale the | famed Parthenon of Athens, which latter a recent authority pronounced the most beau tifu1 specimen of architecture in the world, 1 representing, as it did, the best school of that art in which Greece surpassed all other nations.
 Another leading authority on Grecian ar 1 chitecture says: "Of this graceful and ele gant style we take the proportions and pc culiarities from the perfect examples Of the I Athenian Acropolis."
 Among the noted and elegant buildingt l of this country the Capitol st Washington l of great size and picturesque outline, is Ital ian in style, but depends for it's chief effect on the lavish use of:porticoes and colonnades The architecture of the State House is s' l radically different from that of all othe buildings around it as to afford pleasing contrast and make it an object of lasting in terest.
  I outline, and the cost of repair should scarcel, be considered as compared with its durabll ity and permanent value for public use l when placed in position.
 It is entirely contrary to the usual goot judgment and business tact of New England CTS to permit so valuable property to be de st1oyed, excepting in the possible emergenc. of absolute necessity. ,, | It is an old and familiar landmark in Iit city and one of great interest to many of the 1 older residents, and once in repair will stand for ages, simply requiring the usual car 1 given to other buildings.
 As regards the use to which the building 1 can be put do not deem myself competen to speak, but it seems passing strange if in 1 city prominent in it's devotion to education l and art such question can long remain un ] satisfactorily answered.
 | At this distance. I cannot understand | that the advocates of such inexcusable van l | dalism can be at all numerous as compare l with that other element of old citizens an | lovers of the beautiful in nature and ar ! who, am sure, will stard together in utterin a solemn protest against the destruction c 1 the rarest specimen of the one, which ha long stood amidst the majestic beauties o l the other.
 If the celebrated Dr. Schliemann, now
 resident of Athens and an enthusiastic con } noisseur of Grecian art, could visit you l beautiful city, I am sure that his eloquen appeal to your citizens to spare the statel ! edifice would be simply irresistible. My affectionate regard for my early hom I and the many pleasant associations con ) nected with it, and my sincere yeneration fs 1 the noble building iii question, have prompte' rae to address you on the subject.
 J. W. ATwATER.
 New York, Dec. 3, 1885.