Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-16
THE VERMONT BUILDING.


"hy Mnteriais from this state "il not
Enter More Largely into lis ton'truc-
ton.
Extracts from some correspondence which |
has la ely passed between Mr. r. j. Humph |
rey of Poultney aud Commissioner H. II. |
Mcintyre of West Randolph will serve to
correct some mistaken ideas which socm to |
prevail as to the material of which Yer
mont's building at the worlds fair is to be |
constructed and at the same time explain |
why Nermont's products will not be more
generally used. Mr.. Humphrey says in b 9
letter:
"a am surprised to learn that the build |
ing is not to be slated happened to be a
member OF the LEGISLATURE of 1890 at which |
session the first nspropriation was made
Tho understanding at that time was that the
money was needed for the erection Of a
building and to paw for materials. ! Glso
understood that Vermont products were to
be used Ia and about the building. So ): g q
We have in Rutland county alone between
60 and rs firms and corporations engaged
in the slate business, and | am very sure
that 10 times the amount of slate required
for the roofing of the Vermont building
could be obtained free if the necessity of
the commission requires it. My idea about
tho building is that it should be constructed
'
rich n its murbie, granite mud slate, aud
these products should bs advertised aud /
! supposed that il was for that purpose tho
appropriation was asked for il not, please
! inform mo what for. We have in
Vermont oil colors of roofing slate,
! purple, green, black and red and to
| r oof building with all these cojors inter
mingled would make Il most attractive roof.
The letters Vernon Slate in red slate
each side would attract attention, nor can
any other State in the Union furnish such
a variety of its own product. There are
many buildings on the fair grounds slated
with Vermont slate, and to think that our
own building is to be covered with shingles,
the product of some other state, is q great
mistake; in fact. it is little short Of n dis
grace to the State. | hope that the error
will be corrected and that one of the great
and growing industries of Nermont will be
advertised or, at least, be given the oppor-
tunity."
Commissioner Mcintyre in his reply says:
"The Legislature OF 1890 of which you
were q member, did not appropriate for the
building, but limited the Insignificant sum
set apart for worlds fair purposes, to
preference to expenditures in aid of the OK
hibitiou of agricultural products. AT a
later date when the same Legislature in
remained unmoditled.
In the winter Of 1912 100 patriotic citi-
zens OF the State guaranteed $40, 600 for tho
building and the pains taking commission Gre
ated by the act of 1890, contideutl Xpecting
that the quarried wealth of the State would
DO placed at its disposal as profitable
business advertisement Tor the quarry own
ers, and hoping that the measre sum of
600 at its command would serve, by
very economical management, to put the
etone so donated and prepared, in place in
the building, announced that atone struc-
ture would be erectsd. But in this expecta-
ton it was mistaken. In response to the
announcement and to no little personal So
lictation, not single foot of stone, except
the very handsome imitation onyx man tel
made by the Fair Haven Marbelized Slate
company, and the hearth in front OF it
from the Vermont Marble company, has
been offered. TIC su n guaranteed was
far too small to allow moments hesta-
tion in rejecting the idea of stone
building as impracticable. The architect,
therefore, modified his plans to the use of
the wood and staff employed by nearly all
who are building within tho exposition
grounds.
The appropriation Of $l4 100 for the
building, its furnishing, care and mainten-
ance was not made until the 18th day of
| November, 1892, aud even If this sum had
been sufficient to warrant the construction
of stone building, the time was too short
in which to build it.
When the scheme for stone structure
was submitted to the super ising architect
OF the exposition, he said; Don't make the
mistake of putting permanent building
material into a temporary building. New
Hampshire in a limited way, and Maine to
a much greater extent, made this mistake,
and both already regret it.
When you see the Vermont building and
Its form and surroundings, you will, | am