Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-29
THE new CAPITOL BUILDING
The Question of Frontage Has at Last
Been Decided in Favor of the West,
| and the Work of Rebuilding
Has Commenced.
The APPROPRIATION is DISCUSSED
1t is Expected That the Building When
Completed Will Prove Source OF
Pride to the People of the Terri
tory of New Mexico.

"Yes, we have decided that the building
shall face as the old one did, that is front
ing the west, and Mr.. Rapp, the architect,
was last night notified to that effect. This
decision was reached only after very care
full consideration by Mr.. Staab and my
self.
cat meeting of the capitol rebuilding
board held last week, at which Messrs.
Manzanares, Hopewell, Staab and myself
were present, q resolution was offered
that the building face west as did the old
one. This resolution would have been
adopted then and there, but for the re-
quest of the Santa Fe members that the
matter be allowed to stand open for a
few days 80 that the sentiment of the
Santa Fe people might be obtained. 40
cordingly resolution was adopted leav-
ing the matter of frontage to Mr.. Staab
and myself after consultation with the
residents of this city, provided, however,
that if no change was decided upon by
last Monday, the building should face as
before, and provided further, that there
should be no change in the frontage II the
cost of the change would exceed $3.50. A
meeting of the citizens Of Santa Fe was
called for last Saturday afternoon, at
which time resolution was adopted to
face the building west. subsequently,
petitions were presented to US signed by
many of the leading citizens asking for
an east frontage, and on Thursday after
noon conference was held with num-
Der of other prominent citizens, at which
very strong reasons were presented in
favor of north front. There was thus
developed a very great diversity of opin-
ion on the subject, but Mr.. Staab and
myself were particularly impressed with
the reasons adduced in behalf of north
frontage, and the next question was as to
our authority to make such change un-
der the resolution of the board leaving
the matter to Us. The subjeot of the cost
was next gone into carefully with the
architect with the view to determining
whether such change could be made
with the $3.50 authorized by the board.
"While Mr.. Rapp expressed no prefer
enoe in the matter, he gave Us the benefit
of his Judgment as to what the change
would cost. 1t was found that If the
building be faced as before the old foun-
dation and excavation can be used in its
entirety, but if there be change made,
the large amount of excavation, tie extra
masonry, the additional labor required
and the hire of teams in making the new
excavation and filling up the old, would,
as near as we could estimate, cost no
less than 81 900 and involve delay OF
no less than six weeks. AS we were alb
solutely limited by the resolution of the
board to an expenditure of $3.50 we, II
Difference to the expression OF preference
in behalf of change of frontage, yester
day submitted the question by wire to the
other members of the board now in the
territory, Messrs. F. A. Manzanares and
Solomon Luna. They replied stating that
they opposed any change that would In
volve additional expense to the board
Upon receipts of kilograms from these
gentlemen, Mr.. Staab and myself decided
that we had no authority to make the
change under the resolution leaving the
matter to Us and accordingly notified the
architect to proceed to front the building
west. While there are strong reasons
aside from the additional expense, for
change of front TO the north, there are
strong objections also. One OF these II
the fact that the territory does not owl
the land between the north end OF TIM
capitol grounds and the river, for which
reason the board might we'll hesitate te
change the front of the building wher
such change will place that front in th'
rear of buildings, the future ownership o
which by the territory is matter o
mere con lecture. In addition, the Ole
capitol faced west and that frontage 81
far as We can learn gave complete salts
faction. Il is true that the old building
was considered wing, on the east side o
which another similar wing might b.
erected when the necessity arose, but thu
new building while complete in itself cal
be likewise duplicated, under the plans
on the east side at some date IN tn
future when the interests of the territor.
demand it. By that time the terr'tor,
NAV have acquired the land north to tn
river 90 that ultimately the capitol, i'm
proved aud enlarged, may be made t.
front north upon ground owned by tn
territory handsomely terraced to the river
For the present, however, the board i
limited by the comparatively small fun
provided for its use. We are require
under the law to complete and furnis
~ e. hand;n, onr Heat eneroie
anu 90 w. a." m;th tha law 90 thinh that IN
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