Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-08
The State L,prarv and the Capitol.

penitentiary spring lot and OF some snaiier
pieces of property were set aside by the
General Assembly tor the erection on the
Capitol Square Of State Library ana
Court of Appeals building.
This fund now amounts to about Sl42, 600,
| which is not considered sufficient tor the
purpose, but we may indulge tho hope
that the time Ia not very remote when IL
will be supplemented by legislative appro-
priations or by the sale of unproductiye
State property.
Our Library is q noble one and should
have nome worthy Of it. Besides, the
space in the Capitol which it occupies Is
wanted for other purposes. The legisla-
tive committees badly need rooms for their
sittings, and several important depart
mental officers, unable to find shelter IN
the Capitol, have been forced to 60 outside
and hire quarters.
It's doubtful If the people of Virginia
will ever consent TO tear down their Capt.
toll 1t is associated with so many memo
rable events in Virginia and Confederate
history that to blot it out would by great
many persons be considered sacrilege.
We know of no such proposition. Ii the
Virginia Treasury were filed to overflow
ing popular sentiment would not permit
such thing. and involved as we now are
in debt troubles it is not to be thought OF.
Nor is there any real need of o new Capt.
toll and as an object of interest the present
structure transcends any that millions OF
money could build. Erected in the life
time of WASHINGTON from plans chosen by
JEFFERSON, when the population of the
United States was only about three and
half millions, for more than century 1T
has been identified with our most glorious
history. Nor is it lacking in imposing ap-
pearance. Standing upon the crown OF
| Shockoe Hill, amid the foliage of the
SQUARE, with stately columns and ample
portico. 1t is an architectural specimen not
unworthy of this day, and century ago
must have been the pride and wonder of
our people.
The proximity of the new City Hall, a
very large, tall, and elegant building, i'm
pairs its effect only as to size. The archi-
tectural designs are so different that they
suggest no rivalry.
The proper view Of the Capitol is from
| the South, and 50 seen it looms up with all
its old-time stateliness. So may 1t stand
until il crumbles into dust, or-what is far
more likely-falls q victim to fire. Despite
the presence of the Capitol police it has
been lin small way on fire dozen times,
but prompt and energetic work subdued
the flames before they had made disastrous
Roadway.
At the evacuation of Richmond, when
the business portion of the city was
destroyed, the wind carried sparks to
the Capitol. Some of these falling upon
window-sill set it afre, but a citizen
whose own property to the value 800, 600 or
more was at that very moment burning up,
with his own hands quenched the flames
and saved the building from the fate
which on that unhappy day befell hun
dreds of warehouses, factories, mills,
stores, and dwellings.
To secure much needed room the General
Assembly has in contemplation this other
building which will relieve the Capitol of
the library and of some of the offices, and
leave it with ample accommodations for
the Senate and House and their commit
tees, and the Governor. Auditors. Trea-
surer, &c.
The question has often been asked. Is
there proper site on the Capitol Square
for Library buildingS The answer is yes,
but the best site is where the Governors
houseis. Here is an eminence equal to that
on which stand the Capitol, the Washing
ton monument and the City Hall. 1t has
all the desired prominence; is within q
stones throw of the Capitol, and yet is in
quiet corner where neither the reader in
the library nor the Judge upon the bench
would be disturbed by the roll Of heavy
vehicles or the thunder and buzz of cleo
tric-cars.
The Governors palace" as it was de-
signated on the maps Of Richmond when
il was first built 10 take the place of the
plain wooden-house which preceded it, is
not without pleasant historical associa-
tions also, but it may be doubted if it is
the best possible place for the residence of
the Executive of the State. His family
have no great privacy there. They go in
and come out in the face OF all
the world, and one of its occu-
pants of long ago bitterly complained
that his daily marketing was the sub
iect of inspection by the Richmond pub
lie. We dare say that there are many Viz
ginians willing to live there and endure the
annoyanees. yet there are houses on desira-
bic residential streets that would be pre-
ferable and which could be leased on easy
terms by the State.
1t is distant contingency We are dis
cussing, but when the time comes to erect
our Library building let US trust that site
upon hilltop will be selected. AL over
this city badly-locsted buildings are to be
seen, standing as memorials of that false
economy and stupidity of judgment which
sacrifices costly structure for the sake of
a cheap lot. A fine house, wherever posi-
BILE, ought to be placed on commanding
eminence.
1t is understood that at the next session
of the General Assembly official recon-
mendations will be submitted to make the
State Library of greater service to the pub
lie. The Library was originally designed
lOr tue bptCldl uSS Va tLo ItkibAatuics thc
Courts, and other public officers. Many
years ago the law-books were withdrawn
from it and collected into the law library,
which now occupies room in the Court
of-Appeals building. In the general Library
in the Capitol there are now about 10000
volumes. These are accessible to the
public from A. M. to p. NJ, but no
book can DO taken out except by the off,
Gals named in the rules and regulations.
With larger force at his command, and
with due authority so to do, the Secretary
Of the Commonwealth might extend the
Library hours, but it is not possible to
make the Library as seryiceable as it ought
to be until it has fre-proof quarters of its
own. Then, if sufficient appropriations can
be obtained, it might be kept open to the
public from A. NJ. to IL p. III. To this,
possibly. objection would be made that it
is no part Of the duty Of the State to pro-
vide public library for Richmond; but
the answer would be that when long hours
can be arranged and allowed many persons
viii come here from all parts Of the State