Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-15
The New Capitol.


Senate that was instructed to inquire
whether or not the best interests of the
! State require the use OF Georgia material
in the new capitol building was doubtless
something of a surprise outside OF Allan
! ia. The report f8vors the use OF Georgia
marble instead Of oolitic limestone.
! 1t seems strange that at this late day,
I and after the building has been begun,
/ that it should be thought necessary to
change the principal building material.
We do not pretend to know whether the
material that can be obtained in Georgia
is better than oolitlc limestoneor not, but
we have no doubt on one point, and that
is that the capitol commission ought to
have had UNREASONABLE evidence that
oolitic limestone was a durable, and in
other respects satisfactory, stone before
deciding to build the capitol Of It.
We nave said from the beginning OF this
capitol business that we preferred Geor-
gia material provided 1t was as
good and could be obtained at as rea-
sonable price as that obtainable else
where. We have not at any time, how
ever, been in favor OF paying two prices
for Georgia material simply because 1t is
Georgia material. We believe in getting
the best and in getting it whore it can be
an extra burden on the people and en-
riching few individuals simply for a
sentiment.
The sub-Senate committee SAYS that II
the evidence il has received is to be
relied upon, it would not be either safe or
wise to invest $1,000, 900 OF the peoples
money in building constructed Of oolitic
limestone. Where is the evidence that
justified the capitol commission in con
tracing for iti II this oOltIo stone is SO
worthless how came it to be chosen by
the cOmmissiOni 1t cannot be said that
the opportunities for getting at the truth
about the stone that were open to the
Senate subcommittee were not open to il.
If, therefore, what the Senate sub-cOm-
mittee says about the stone is true is
there not reason to doubt whether the
commission is entirely equal to It's duties
We do not, of course, assume that the
Senate ub-Committee is right in the con
illusions it has reached, and therefore, do
not pretend to pass Judgment on the COM
mission. 1t must be admitted, however,
that il would be we'll tor the Legislature
to give the commission an opportunity to
furnish the reasons which Influenced it TO
choose the ooIitic stone.
1t is true that the commission, being
restricted to stated sum, couldn't spend
more than certain amount for building
material, but there is nothing in the law
that compelled it to accept unfit material.
But why is it that the Legislature didn't
in the beginning say whether the capitol
should be built of Georgia stone or not?
Would it not have been better to have
appointed committee TO decide upon the
building material before the contract for
it was made than TO have appointed it
afterwards? The appointment OF the com
mittea certainly shows a lack of conf
dence IN the judgment of the commission.
There is one thing cropping out that
perhaps the people have already seen.
1t is that the capitol isn't going to be
built for 81 600, 600. 1t will not be Mt all
surprising if it costs 100000 or $4,000
0O0 before it is finished. Indeed, il is
said that the remark is frequently heard
at Atlanta that the capitol will never be
built for $l,000,00O. 1t is certain that 1t
will not if Georgia marble ID substituted
for the oolitic stone, and it looks very
much as il the substitution would be
made. If the door is once opened for
changes in the law there is no tell
ing what the cost of the building will
be- The New York Legislature started
out TO build capitol tor $4.000,000. The
building has already cost $l4,0000O0 and
is not yet finished.
or course, if oolltic stone is not a III
material ii ought not to be used even il
the State has to stand heavy damages for
breaking the contract which it has made
| for it. IL would be very unwise to waste
| million or more dollars on a building
which is expected to last centuries, but
which would crumble to pieces in a score
Of years.
II is clear that the capitol isn't going to
be built out OF the surplus in the Treas
ury. There isn't any prospect of a sur
plus. The people will be taxed to furnish
a building fund and the best thing for the
Legislature 10 do is to decide the building
material question before any more work
is done on the capitol building.