The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-07-08
The Library Building.

Mr.. EdtOr:-There seems to be cOnsidera-
BILE discussion some difference of opinion
and much dissatisfaction at this time
throughout the state on the subject of the
location of the library and court building by
the committee. / confess to some surprise
at the position your paper has taken on the
subject, yet l presume you Will allow fair
discussion, although an honest difference of
opinion from your own. If so, will state
some of the reasons that present themselves
to my mind 1t seems to be in exact contra
vention of the will of the legislature, as ex-
pressed by its members. both before the act
was passed and since. In conversation with
senators and representatives in many towns
in the state, only one expressed an opinion
that it should be put anywhere but on the
east side of the capitol, and he had no idea
of an annex to the capitol One of the SEN
ators in a recent conversation, said the
members in coming down from the state
house always looked, pointed and talked to-
wards the east side, and always discussed
the different sites between the state-house
yard at the Pavilion hotel. One of the Ii
brary committee says it was most undOubt-
eddy the intention of the committee to favor
the location on the east side and outside of
the state-house yard. The gentleman who
drew up the bill says he never had any
thought of any other site than on the east
side, outside the yard. The act says the
library building may be located on any
ground controlled by the state. Now that
WOulu UdTulN SttUl W lltdu dill duntA W bllt
capitol building for if the distinguished gen.
tlemen forming the majority of one, on that
committee, had seen tit to locate on the east
or west side, they would have needed, to
make an annex, tunnel longer by consid-
cradle than the one contemplated by the
present plan. Again if there is any one
thing library needs it is light. With the
present plan it would appear that there
would be three sides of the building into
which the sun would hardly ever shine, and
as for the court room--well, perhaps that
could be lit by the light of the judges coun-
tenances. 1t also, coming so near to the
west side of the capitol and so high, must
greatly obscure the light coming through the
windows on the west side of the representa-
tives' hall and the windows of the general
committee-room underneath. Again, is
there any state in the Union that has court
house tackled on to the rear end of its capt.
toll? AS to the item of cost, do you think it
will reduce the cost much to eXpend several
thousand dollars in excavating the rock for
the basement, when if put on the common
the cellar is already dug. We believe the
locating of this building behind the state
house is something like the colored preach
er's notice of his next meeting, when he
said, Brudderin, dere will be meeting in
dis house next Saba day if it's de Lords
will, and Saba after next any way for
the committee will locate there if its the
peoples will, but if not very well, put it
there any way. Some papers in the state
have accused Montpelier of being directly
interested in the matter, and striving TO get
a separate building to beautify her village.
Whatever they may insinuate, they must
accord to Montpelier the same right of ex-
pressing her opinion as they claim for them
selves, and whether he lives in Burlington,
Rutland, Montpelier, or the most remote
and obscure town in the state, he ought to
have that common interest for the best
good of all. 1t is the hope of the writer that
the will of the people, as expressed through
their legislature, will not be thwarted, but
if it must be so, that the responsibility go
where it belongs, ON that committee, and
not elsewhere. Respectfully,
CARL l.. SMITH.