The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-05-31
THE OLD STATE HOUSE AT
JACKSON.

The Picayune contains a handsome
picture OF the old State House which
was taken thirty years ago. Mr.. vii.
son, the able manager of the Picayune
bureau, thus discusses the disposition
OF the stately old pile:
"While stands the old Coliseum,
Rome shall stand"
The time is near at hand when the
fate Of Mississippi's old capitol build.
ing must be decided.
Shall it be torn down and DESTROYED
or be preserved, renovated and utiliz.
ed for some other purpose?
There are not a few who will look
with sad eyes upon the demolition OF
this venerable structure. About it
gather many sacred memories, cher
ished associations, connecting it with
all that is noblest in our history as a
State, and making 1t in some measure
visible symbol OF the wisdom, clio.
quence and valor OF the great Missis.
sippians who have passed away.
In its executive Office have sat a
long line of hOnored Chief magistrates;
It's legislative halls have echoed the
matchess oratory and sagaclous coun.
ellis OF the most eminent statesmen;
In its Supreme Court room Justice has
been administered by as able and up.
right judges as ever donned the er.
mine. In its rotunda during the dark
| days 0f war the bodies 0f Burke and
Barksdalc lay in state, heroes hotl,
from their fields OF fame fresh and
CORY" 1t has been the scene OF in.
Vulnerable gatherings of the people
whether in times of distress and per.
plexity or nf hope and gladness. and
whether to advance social reforms,
promote industrial development, OF
to declare the limits Of oppression
and to defy the. Oppressor. Sur0y
such a building is heirloom. one OF
the family Jewels OF the State which
should have immunity from the plIiliS.
tines who estimate all things accord
ing To their pecuniary value. M one
should fear the accusation that the
desire to preserve this cditice is u sen
timent. The Grandgrinds with all
their assumption 0f practical wisdom
are never true leaders, for it is senti.
ment at last which rules the world
There is, however, a practical side
to this question as we'll as Il senti.
mental nno, Why CaunOt this build
ing be utilized as a means Of establish.
ing a permanent exhibit OF the res0ur-
ces 0f the State? That it still stands
would seem to justify the claim fre.
Quently made that IL cnuld 40 Il small
cost be used FIR that purpose for
many years. It's stately walls and
columns are marked by the teeth OF
time. but the outlay necessary to re.
store IL to les presLine beauty would
be but an insignificant sum TO u COM
monwcath tho assessed values Of
which have In twelve-m month In.
Tcreased twenty-seven million dollars.
Mississippi has just begun to feel her
future in the instant. More factories.
more railroads, better dirt roads,,
more homes and more people are rap.
idly changing the aspect Of affairs and
with Il low rate nf taxation the rcve.
nues Of the State are being greatly
magnided. Already it seems that IL
will be perhaps unnecessary to issue
the new. capitol bonds. One tenth of
the interest saved by not having to Is
sue these bonds would thoroughly
renOvate and restore the 0ld capitol.
i In aid TO the material development
of the State, this building couldn't hi
utilized to u better advantage thar
in the manner above suggested Mis-
sissippi Is attracting attention ant
, has much that Is worth observation
A permanent exhibit Of her products
and resources would be OF grea
interest to the people OF the State ~
well as to strangers. Agricultural ant
i, horticultural exhibits, a forestry AM
!. fisheries exhibit, and a manufacturer
exhibit would prove instructive ant
serve as object lessons illustrating lht
bounty OF heaven and the industr,
and genius Of man, The cost OF main
tanning such an exhibit would he
r slight in comparison to the many ad
y yantaves that would result from IT,
s A c0mpcnt curator could be readily
!. found among the many able men II