Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-16
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 16, 1894.
Our New City Hall.

winch many tOCdl eNcnto win 10 ""N$
just as they have been dated heretofore
from the unwilling OF the Washington
and Lee monuments.
We have provided a palatial building
for our public servants. and we trust
that their official residence there Will
bring them comfort and yield the com
munity good returns.
The old City Hall was an ancient little
building. IL was two stories high. OF
brick. succeed. and had ample porticos
on Broad and Capitol streets. Altogether
II was a pretty thing TO look at-from
distance. for in its latter days 1t had
fallen into decay. and its porticos were
were never kept very clean. Their floors
OF tiles. much cracked. showed that gene
ration after generation Of tobacco-chewers
had gathered there. 1t was. In fact, the
resort of politicians. and from Its porti-
cos many public meetings were addressed
by orators who are silent enough now
in Shockoe and Hollywood cemeteries.
After the Capitol disaster on April n,
1879. the people of Richmond got TO be
mighty skittish about the strength and
safety OF all their public buildings. They
wanted no more floors to crush in under
heavy weights no more crowded gal
lcries TO topple over into space as had
been the case at the Capitol. So vigil
lqnt and censorious eye was put upon the
oil City Hall. and after much oiHcus-
sion in the papers, In the Council, ana
by grand juries, experts examined 1t,
and IL fell under their condemnation. The
choice was between repairing and enlars'-
ins the venerable building and erecting
a pew one. The latter course was adopted.
'rhe fact Is that the old hall had become
unsuited TO our wants. So. inasmuch as
the old hall was VIGOROUSLY Insufficient
fer the city's requirements, end was pro-
nounced unsafe. 1t was abandoned for
rented CHARTERS.
Theu fell upon us the piuching times
consequent upon the panic OF 1873, when
the titv could take no step towards build
ing q new hall But whsl business lad
got lively again-and this was after seve-
raj years "a vote of the people was taken
as to whether 100000 should be appro-
priated TO construct new hall. and
the question was decided in the afiirma-
tive.
Then a rev tcrpor fell upon the City
Council. and no decided action was taken
until there had come upon Richmond an
unenviable condition OF political affairs,
which was largely the product Of the
dilly-dallying policy OF the City Coun-
Gil.
At last With one accord the community
declared that the hall should be built.
And IL was resolved-and wisely-that the
city needed the entire City-IIall square.
The old hall had stood upon the half
Of the square nearest to Fords Hotel
the other half of II was occupied by the
First Presbyterian church and large
old-fashioned dwelling. The city thus
possessed itself of the whole square. and
after much fussing plans were at last
chosen. and q resolution was carried that
the building should be built by day labor.
And 30 Il was built. and the entire cost
grounds ana building and furniture. will
not foot UP much less than sl.5oo.o0o. when
the account is nfally closed.
We shall not undertake to apportion
the blame for this vast expenditure.
When q correct apportionment Is made,
doubtless the Dispatch and other papers
will come I'm for share. We should
have known better-but didn't. Nor can
we honestly put the entire blame upon
the day-labor system. That was very
costly system. nc doubt. but the adop-
ton of II was not the only mistake that
cost which the city made. There were
several others; but at this moment 1t is
better to look at the other side Of the
picture and see II we cannot find COM
pensations for our expenditures.
In the first place. we may remark that
Richmond needed such q hall as she now
has. In tho next. We may consider that
we are fortunate in having adopted a
plan which gives us a fire-proof, granite
and iron building which is generally
pronounced q gem OF architecture. outside
and Inside. Indeed II Is going 10 DO "a
show place." as they say in the old
country OF the famous castles and coun-
all visitors who come TO Richmond will
zee the building-its location guarantees
this--and seeing It will be pleased with
II. 1t Is TALL stately. symmetrical. and
refreshing TO the eye. especially after one
has seen the many architectural mon
sirosites In this country now doing duty
az city halls.
A.. l.. lsA init ucf o(o tan N
know that the building from the corner
stone to the weather-vane on its tall
tower. bears no faint OF 'jobbery." The
money spent on 1t was honestly. II some
what heedisssly. spent More than this.
our money was mostly distributed right
hsrs 1t home. II must have done great
deal Of good In Richmond Now Rich
mond will not have TO lease buildings
n various parts Of the city for the &C.
oommodstiou OF IT. olncera. for the whole
e0icisl houschold. coartA Council. and
al. Win b accomplished under the City
Hall root. 80
W. cannot. however,. b certain that
- luxury Of living In the new hall and
poyins interest On the City Hall bonds
wlfl not lmpose upon our municipality
u nsoessity Of cutting down expenses
a elher 6irsetioaa. Whils ws may have
q eooooniss -Anl sssa '.plneh" TOR .
~ ysass-our cityrs future = prcnaslns.
yJn1er : peuloeratis tayf6 this country
= eolns - peospee greatly. Richmond =
~ncw1n9 r wooith and popu1attoa right
L. -