The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-30

MASON CARRIE SIsMEs-BUILDING FIR
was a small two-story frame house that
stood near the site of the present Executive
Mansion, Before the erection OF the latter,
the brick building on the southwest corner
of Ninth and Marshall had also been oc-
cupied by the Governor and his family.
LAW FOR CAPITAL REMOVAL.
Under the act OF May, 17l9, removing the
seat OF government, II was PROVIDED tnat
certain amount Of land in the city OF Rich
mond should be appropriated for the uses
of the State; that upon this land certain
public buildings should be erected; Capt.
fol. halls OF Justice for the courts, house
for the Executive Council, and residence
for the Governor, all OF which were 10 be
built ain handsome manner, with walls OF
hrick or stone, and porticoes, where the
same may he convenient or ornamental, ana
with pillars and paycments OF stone"
Five directors were appointed by JOlnl
vote of the Assembly, whose duty u should
be 10 select the proper ground for the pur-
noses indicated in Gan open and airy
part OF the town, agree upon the plans for
the buildings, employ proper work
men. and select materials therefor. IL does
not appear that any immediate steps were
taken TO carry out the provisions OF thls
act. just one year alterwards-May,
1Is0--the General Assembly, by special en-
actment, ordered the public buildings emu
merated in the last act to be located on
"shockOe Hill" aud appointed Ellis Excel
lancy Thomas jefferson, Esq, Archibald
Cary, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard
Adams, Edmund Randolph, Turner South.
all. Robert Goode, James Buchanan, and
Samuel DuNali, esquires," directors 70
Law of the grounds for these buildings in
such form and of such dimensions as should
be convenient and requisite. The area OF
land thought necessary for the foregoing
purposes was decribed as six whole
eausres OF ground, surrounded each OF them
by four streets, and containing all the
ground within such streets" etc. This pro-
perry, so necessary 20 the public uses, was
10 be acquired by writ ,of lad quod dam
num- end the owners 10 be paid a fair al
Iowance for II. At the date OF this pro-
cedure Richmond was a small town. the
corporate limits OF which were bounded on
the west by Shockoe creek. As the new
public buildings were TO be located 'on
Shockoe Hill, il became necessary to en-
large its area so as 10 include the site indl-
Gated. The land required for this and other
purposes mentioned In the act for removing
the seat OF government was therefore OBJ
tanned from the authorities OF Henrico
county, aud the corporate limits OF the
town proportionately extended. In TOR
mer article full history OF the Capitol
Square has been given. tits not necessary,
therefore, TO add anything more In that dI'
rection.
INCORPORATION OF RICHMOND.
we have now seen when and why the
seat OF Government was removed from VII.
liamsburg TO Richmond, and how, by legal
enactments provision was made Tor The
new order Of things. All ihis occurred IN
the years 1119 and 1850, inclusive. Time
passed on, and nothing seems to have been
done towards carrying out the provisions OF
the acts OF lI70 and 1850. except that the
directors appointed had found temporary
quarters at Richmond for the Governor and
General Assembly. Meantime the town
had 80 increased IN population and trade
that Ia May, 11s2. II was "incOrporated anC
styled ,City OF Richmond having origi
naliy been "made town by law" in May
l742.
CHANGE IN PLANS.
A change In the plans adopted by the Gen
erai Assembly providing buildings fer TIE
Government, appears 10 have taken place
during the years Immediately succeeding
their hrst action. In October, 1884, II hay
ing been represented 10 the General Assem-
bly, by the directors OF public buildings
that apartments could with greater adyan'
rage be PROVIDED fof Tue ulHcfVnt urp~It
meuts under one roof than In separate build
anys, an act was passed empowering them
10 proceed accordingly. This action caused
an entire change in the plans first adopted
and was followed up by corresponding in
terest not only in Government circles. but by
the people at large. Two OF the original
board OF directors having died. Jacqueliu
"Ambler aud William Hay, gent,emen,'
were appointed 20 MI their places; and
now began the initiation OF active measures
20 carry out the will OF the Government. The
delegates and other public officials had be
come Disguised with the quarters they bad
been occupying for the past i've years
The State Treasury and other Offices
were IN daily hazard either from fire
or from the hands OF robbers ant
plunderers. The directors were authorized
10 draw on the Treasury for the sum O
twenty thousand pounds 10 meet the ex
penses incident 20 the provisions OF the act
81 1779. But IL does not appear that an,
special sume were voted until after thl
change had been made, which provided fol
ore building instead OF several. Mean
t.ms the directors had determined on ,
plan for the new building, and hat
actually witnessed the laying OF the corner