Oxford eagle., 1901-06-27

We copy to heartily endorse the fol-
lowing from the Greenviile Times:
There is a considerable amount Of
nonsense in the talk about letting the
old capitol stand.
One argument IL on the sentimental
side OF the proposition. and one on
the material. IL is argued that on ac-
count Of the history which has been
made in the old building. on account
Of the memories which cluster around
II. II should be preserved. kept a. a
link between the present and the past.
This Is good enough. perhaps. but.
after all. the sentimental here depends
entirely upon the practical Unless
the building can Be preserved. decently
kept up. at once oyerhauled. sentiment
will not long have anything 10 cluster
about and cling to. In short. enough
money must he expended on the build
ing to put It in good repair. and keep
II so. IL 1t is attempted to preserve II.
No legislature is going to appro-
pirate suficient money for such a pur.
pose. unless IL Is going to pay. The
supporters of the preservation move
ment will have to make n better show
ing for their permanent exhibition
plan than they have so far. before 1t
will have any weight with a legisla-
ture. Even granting the force OF all
their arguments. II is a fact that ten
thousand dollars would put up a build
ing better adapted to such an exhibit
As they propose than Is the old hulk
OF capitol. Such a sum would be a
bagatelle when 1t came to putting the
capitol in permanent repair.
The old building is an eyesore-a
home for bats and place for sparroxs
to live: its roofs leak. its walls are
cracked. its floors sunken. and its
foundations no longer able to support
its weight. II has met the fate of all
public buildings not kept constantly.
monthly. in repsir-and IL tells a story
of parsimonious treatment. of lexisla-
tive neglect Of supper rtwithholden until
too late. and then doled out in driblets
from a mean and stingy hand
Yet. even in its doomed condition.
IL holds a lesson for the State in
her treatment of the house which is to
suppiant this erumbling ruin. Only
by constant care and skilled atten-
tion-the immediate repair Of every
leak or crack or sinking-can its
proper life Of usefulness be assured to
the new building There are men
living in the State who watched the
construction Of the old capitol. who
Will be here to see il dismantled. Such
a building should have had a longer
hfe-and would have. but for neglect.
The new one should last hundred
years as easily as twenty-five: IL will
last no longer than the old IL il re-
ceives no better attention.
The old house is valuable as an OBJ
ject lesson only. and as such has sery-
ed its purpose. Let it come down"
Some of the arguments urged for a
new capitol are very strong for the
total abandonment of the old. The old
building not only leaks even to the
ground floor" but the walls are out Of
plumb. and unless a large amount OF
money is expended on a new roof and
foundation. some OF these days there
VIII be a general collapse. The Capitol
City has bright business future. and
the old capitol grounds ought to bring
a large sum for storehouses. Let the
legislature authorize the board of
control to sell the property to the
best advantage and turn the proceeds
into the State treasury.
The attorney general passed judg-
ment. June 18th. on several matters
which seem to be of sufficient import
ance for us to put before the public.
He advised the Land Commissioner to
decline to cancel the wineman patents
issued by the Secretary of State In
1852. which would have called for the
refunding of about $1,000 Of purchase
money. Also to decline to refund
Stewart. Gwynne & Co. Memphis.
$6.s15 alleged to have been expended
by them in protecting their warranty
to certain lands in Issaquena county.
patented to their vendors. and sold by
them to /. l. Lyon OF New Orleans. He
also advised the Auditor that a chart
cred institution whose purpose is to in
spect property and report the danger
risks. which has nothing TO do with
rates and is free of antagonism to our
trust laws and honestly conducted.
may do business in our State. The
Board OF Supervisors of Tate counsy
was advised that the County Registrar
is entitled to receive. monthly, what
ever compensation the board may al
low him under section 1888 OF the
code. The State Denial Association
was advised that an applicant who had
never had a temporary license, and
has applied at the general examina-
tion. and failed to pass. is not entitled
to temporary license. but must wait
and try again at the next regular ex-
animation.
There was a beautiful marriage
ceremony in the drawing rooms of the
executive mansion last Tuesday. when
Mrs. Longino's lovely young sister,
Miss Gay Buckley was united in
marriage to DIR. T. E. Cooper. of
Natchez. son of ex-Chief Justice T. Z.
Cooper, now Of Memphis Owing to
recent bereavement m the brides fam
lily. the ceremony was very quiet. be-
ing witnessed only by the immediate
relatives of the bride and groom. The
young people. who are greatly beloved
in Jackson, left Immediately for their
home in Natchez. followed by the
good wishes Of hosts OF friends.
Copiah county rejoices that work on
her new court house will be commenc-
ed by September LIST. Copiah never
does anything by halves. SO We may
safely look for handsome Temple OF
Justice" when we visit Hazlehurst next
year.
Good news comes from Monroe