The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1900-09-20

yes, 1t does prove SO to many lobby
lists, bummers and politicians who
swarm like flies around every meet
ing of the Legislature; but would
not we all be better off if the ex-
pense were so great that these fel-
lows could not afford to go at all?
But to be fair, we will suppose
that Notwithstanding all things else,
we feel that it would be a pleasure
and pride to the State to have cone
great commercial centre, with fine
Capitol building in the midst of it, .
Very well; but do we also feel that
We would be willing to have tax of
couple of million dollars levied
upon and collected from our meagre
resources to crafty our pride and
pleasure? Or would it be just or
kind to our pdsterity to hand down
to them such a:burden?
But let us take up the next reason
given for removal: 1.-The present
Capitol building is too small, too
weak to protect the States valuables,
and is fast going to decay" A
speaker in Jacksonville the other day,
characterized it as can old hull and
fire trap-a fit habitation for owls
and bats" Upon examination, how
ever, we find the facts are thus:
CAPITOL, BITILDING AT TALLAHASSEE.
"Dimensions: 151 feet long and
So feet wide; exterior walls brick, q
inches thick; interior brick walls
brick, 16 inches thick; columns of
porticos 13 feet in circumference and
81 feet high, resting on bases 5 feet
square and II feet high.
"This massive building was con-
structed in the most substantial and
durable manner, and is today as safe
and sound as when originally built.
e The outer and inner walls were built
e of solid brick, each office, or room,
S being surrounded by brick walls as
t completely as a separate brick build
= ing, and the entire building made
i practically fre-proof.
h "The first floor of the Capitol build
e. ing consists of ely ht large offices, and
d two rooms for State ArmOry, etc.
e with wide hall extending through
y the building, besides large open hal
o in the centre. In one of the rooms
1t on this floor there is an immense alb
solutely fire-p proof vault, built by one
n of the leading Safe Companies, II
is which is stored all of the valuable
l. land records. On the second floor
d, which has a wide hall and rotunda
Ie there are nine offices, and the Su
le preme Court Room and Library, th'
e. latter containing over 5000 valuable
books, with space for several thou
10 sand more in the consultation rooms
y In the TreaSIrer's office, which i
ID situated on this floor, there is larg
d absolutely fire-prOOf vault, securel.
built from the ground up, containing
"a a splendid chilled steel safe, wit
E. time lock, which affords ample pro
le lection for all the funds and securl
re ties of the State. The third foo
lie contains large open hall or rotunds
5e two large offices, a large library, dl
y vided so as to be used for committe
rooms, and in addition the Senat
I'd Chamber and Hall for the use of th
al House of Representatives. Ther
ne are also in use in the building fiftee
OF fre-proof safes which are suficier
es for the security of the valuable re'
~ ords and papers of the differer
al offices. These Offices and rooms a
ford ample accommodations for tn
er State Officers and the Supreme Cour
an The Legislative Halls are more tha
he large enough for the two deiberatiV
Ie bodies to use with every comfort"
al Copied from Report of Committee O
I'D the ground in Tallahassee this sun
ny mer.
er Now what should be said of Il
re sneaker who made the statemen
above quoted I'M pubic speech
of Jacksonville? It would be impolit
to to say he was lying, SO we will nj
.er saw that, but vii d leave the public
ho make the comparisons between b
rs, statements and the facts, and arri0
. at inevitable conclusions.
ne Now, we submit that If the Capt.
IN must needs be removed, 1t does n
er, follow that the ;agitators and repr
OF sentatives of any place Should reso
d. to deception and arguments that {
de not bear the leaSt semblance OF tax
we Our consolation lis, however, that SUI
III a course can but react with the thu
lat ders of truth, and defeat such m'
W. and measures.
ers This speaker is by no means alon
ne Others in the same city, whose wor
We are not at our command now, ha'
in been equally false in their assertion
snt and the injury they are doing the
sht own city will likely overbalance al
lif- good that will aecrue to the said CT