The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-13
AND A NEW ONE BUILT
PLANS HAVE NOT YET BEEN
ADOPTED.
THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING UNSAFE
The Walls and FIoor are eng Strengthened
by Iron Pillars. improvement in Cor
porati.n Commission Cffica.
Agricultural Bu ding.
Agricultural Bui ding.


The old State arsenal, standing ON the
southwest corner of Capitol Square, VIII
be torn down, and new building erect
ed on the lot recently purchased by uhe
State for this purpose.
This lot is ON the corner of Salisbury
and Morgan streets, directly across the
street where the old arsenal now stands.
1t was expected, when the lot was
bought, that it would be possible TO move,
Mt small cost, the building, as 1t now
stands, to its new site.
Investigation shows that this can be
done, but the cost would be very great
greater than the value OF the buildlhs'
Contractors and house-moyers say II
would be more advantageous TO the sStale
TO tear down the old building and sell
the brick or use them IN the new pullo-
ing.
The resolution passed by the Leglsia-
tllre in regard to the arsenal authorizes
''the State Board Of Public buildings
and Grounds to remove the building
known as the State arsenal, located
upon the Capitol Square and "the
GOAA'N
arrangements for storing the arms and
ammunition belonging to the State as
they may deem satisfactory; provided
same be not located upon the Capitol
Square"
Though this resolution does not. in so
many words, carry an appropriation, 1t
does so by implication, otherwise the
Legislature would have been doing a
vain and foolish thing in its passage
This is the construction put on it by
the board when it bought the lot ON the
corner of Salisbury and Morgan streets,
and under similar construction money
will be drawn for erection of new
building.
No plans have been adopted as to the
building, though meeting of the board
will be held at an early date for this
purpose. 1t is likely that only a small
brick building about the size of the pres
emit arsenal, will be put up now. 1t will
be set back from the street, however. so
that the Legislature may, when it shall
see fit so to do, erect a handsome build
ing on the lot--one worthy of the State
and it's citizen soldiery.
1t is to be hoped that the board will
have the old arsenal removed at the
earliest possible day. 1t has long been
an eye-sore where it now stands, and II
does not improve with age.
Another Improvement i'm the States
public buildings is that now being made
in the Supreme court building. Mention
has already been made of the changes
for the better in the arrangement of the
Supreme court library. Following up
these changes the worklnen are now
STRENGTHENING the floors, which have
sagged with the immense weight of
books, by putting under them in the
basement huge iron pillars placed on
solid stone foundations.
An Improvement somewhat of the same
nature is to be made in the office of the
State Superintendent of Public Instruc
ton. This is a very long and large room.
without wall or pillars in it, and the
great weight Of books above it in the file
room of tine State library is beginning
to crack the walls and sag the floor
Beams will be put across the room sup
ported by pillars and the doors between
this office and the attorney generals Of
fee viii be bricked up. further strength
ening the dividing wall.
Work is progressing very rapidly on
the new annex to the Agricultural build
ing. The foundations have been laid and
the brick work is already above ground
A large force of hands is employed on
the building.
A partition has been torn out in the
office of the clerk of the Corporation
Commission and the office doubled in
size. It is a very great Improvement. as
the increased space was badly needed.
The same enlargement of the Commits
sioner's room should now be made. It
is entirely too small for court room.