The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-08
CITY AFFAIRS.

CITY AFFAIRS.
A special meeting of the voters of the city
is called for Monday evening to take action
on the business set forth in the notice else
where in this paper.
Respecting the desirability of contracting
in August, or at some other early date, for
lighting the city after the expiration in
March of the existing contract, there can be
but one opinion. OF the ACCESSIBILITY OF &C
cepting the plans and estimates that have
been procured for the erection of a city hall
there may not be entire unanimity of
opinion.
Fred T. Austin, of the firm of Austin &
Brigham, ar hitects, of Boston, arrived in
town Tuesday morning with plans and
large picture of the proposed city hall,
which are on exhibition in the window of
the city clerks office.
The building as represented by the draw
ings submitted, is supposed to be built OF a
light buff brick, with brown stone trim
mings, basement walls Of rock-faced granite
and slate roof. The building is entered
from the front and two sides, and has
stage entrance in the rear. From the front
vestibule marble and iron staircase leads
to the second story and basement, and from
this vestibue opens the main corridor, also
connected with the side vestbules. This
corridor has a vaulted ceiling and floor of
Mosaic tile. From it open the offices of the
mayor, city clerk. treasurer, and auditor
and listers.
The police court room, council chamber
and toilet rooms are also entered from this
corridor. On the second floor will be the
offices of the inspector of buildings, inspec-
tor of plumbing and large unassigned Of
fee; also hall, sixty-one feet by seventy
five feet, with seating capacity, including
the balcony, of l, 10. At the rear is stage,
nineteen by thirty-nine feet.
On the third floor is shown the large Office
~ III o;t nr,ip hax 1or o,,1t
also two unassigned rooms. The engineers
Office is connected with the balcony by large
DOORS giving an eXta exit in case of fire.
In the basement is located the police de-
partment and the offices of the superin-
tendent of water works and superintendent
of streets. The floor of the basement it is
proposed to tile, while the floors of the
cells and fuel rooms will be cemented.
The finish throughout is to be of quar-
tered oak, with hard pine for the floors of
offices and hall The walls and ceilings are
to be plastered in rough cast work, and
French plate glass windows throughout the
building.
Assuming that the plans that will be ex-
hibited at the meeting are the best that can
be obtained and the estimates Of the cost Of
construction are reasonably accurate, does
1t follow that the city should accept them
and proceed at once with the erection of a
city hall? The city is less than two years
old. Municipal expenditures exceeded
$50, 600 last year and the estimates for the
current year are for similar sum. Projects
involving the expenditure of very large
sums Of money, over and above current ex-
penses, are preached, the largest of which is
this scheme for the building of city hall.
Is there any pressing need OF building a
hall at this time? Is the city ripe for such
an enterprise? The city officials are settled
in quarters recently prepared for them,
which are comfortable and ample for pres
emit needs. There are two public halls in
which the voters can assemble. Armory
Hall is certainly adequate for every public
purpose, and 1t can undoubtedly be rented
for city meetings. The interest on the sum
received for Capital Hall will pay for the
use of hall for city meetings, and leave
something of a balance, better state of
things then when the city was the owner of
that palatial edifce. The city would bor-
row the money for the erection of hall.
The borrower must pay sometime, principal
as well as the interest The additional tax
alton on account of interest alone would
probably be in the vicinity of So, 1000. La
boring men are not receiving wages that
are making them millionaires. Business
men are not piling up big bank accounts from
the gains OF traffic. Assuming that the citi-
zens of Montpelier know to-day Just how
large and what sort of a city hall they want,
and understand how to build with a wise
reference to the requirements OF genera
ton or two hence, the erection OF hall
needs or attendant circumstances.
No matter how alluring are the plans of
the architects, and how reassurng are the
estimates, no man or combination of men
can say to-day, with reasonable precision,
what Montpelier should build for a city
hall. 1t is matter for very grave DELHI
Grafton. 1t may be easy to say what will do
for to-day, but the city cannot build a city
hall every decade or two. When it builds
it must build for the next fifty years or
longer. The city is in a position to wait,
five years II need be, before it makes up
it's mind, and in that time 1t may learn
much about city halls, and be able to build
very much more satisfactorily, for the pres
emit and the future, than it Is likely to at
this time Make haste slowly is, we be.
lieve, the admonition of every wise citizen,
whatever the size of his grand list
This admonition pertains not only to the
erection of city hall, but to other things
also-the granting OF franchise for an
electric railway, for example Conditions
may be materially changed in few months
by new legislation. Wisdom suggests If il
may not be the better course to hold
the matter in allegiance till after the
next session of the legislature. Nothing
may be lost by reasonable delay very much
may be gained.