Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-11-11
THE COMING LEGISLATURE.
Contemplated Improvements To
State Capital Grounds
Some Things
Needed.
A VERY IMPORTANT SESSION FOR AN
NkPOLlS.


election, Annapolis has begun to be
interested in the many questions which
grow out of the approaching meeting
of the Legislature, which body Will
convene here on Wednesday, January
9th. Besides the subjects of general
interest TO all Marylanders, Annapolis
has certain specific interests in the
sessions of the Legislature and this
time they are greater than usual.
|. The importance of the matters to
be considered, the possibility of the
meeting of the lawmakers III their
new surroundings and the many mat
ters of local interest which will be
brought TO the attention of the legisla-
tors, all unite to make the coming
session one of great local interest and
Importance. 1t does not yet appear
TO be by any means settled whether
or not the Legislature will meet IN
the addition to the State House which
is being built for it.
To the ordinary observer, it would
appear that the building could not be
put in proper shape in the two months
that now remain. However, Mr..
Henry Smith, of Baltimore, the con-
tractor, gives his positive assurance
that while the building will not be
entirely completed yet it will be III
such condition that the Legislature
can conveniently meet iii the chambers
designed for them. The contractors
have been much hampered by trouble
with workmen, but that seems all to
be cleared away and the work has
taken great strides of late.
The subject of what further i'm
provement will be ordered by the
State this winter for Annapolis has
received some attention. 1t is pretty
well assured that the State authori-
ties will continue the policy of beauti.
fying the State capital ON scale com
mensurate with what the United
States Government is doing at the
Naval Academy, and there are several
much needed works that may receive
attention. While the new Court OF
Appeals building is most handsome,
both as to exterior and interior, it il
generally admitted that a great mis-
take was made in not providing ap
proaches in keeping with its general
appearance. The whole square, it il
thought, should have been procured,
the new building placed in the center
and proper parking made to surround il
Now it is proposed that the remain.
der of the square be purchased anc
that some scheme be fixed upon tC
remedy the lack of fitting surround
ings. To do this it has been suggest
ed that Bladen street, between Col
lege avenue and State Circle, be pur
chased from the city of Annapolis anC
| the grounds around the Governor
Mansion be extended, leaving only ;
| foot walk where Bladen street ran. 1
would probably cost round sum t,
procure the property of the First M
| e. Church, which stands ON tn
square which would have to be oh
| tanned but the cost would be wei
repaid in the increased beauty o
the States property.
Another suggestion is that the prop
erty ON the same square as the Cour
| of Appeals Building, consisting of tn
First M. Z. Church and parsonage
and private dwellings, be procured
| and that the State erect there build
ing to contain headquarters of tn
National Guard, State arsenal ant
armories for the two fine local mill
| tary companies. 1t is pretty well set
tied that the Legislature will max
provision for building of this sort
but as to whether it should be at thi
location or elsewhere, opinions differ
1t is stated ON the best of authorit,
that one of the chief appropriation
measures at the coming session is on
making provision for the erection o
suitable armories in all the smalle
towns of the State where well estab
lished military companies exist.
AS Annapolis is the only place il
the State outside of Baltimore tina
maintains two companies, fine arm
ory is naturally expected here. On
of the most prominent members of tn
State Senate which is about to NEE
was in Annapolis this week and ap
peared very much Interested in the fur
therance of the improvements ON th'
part of the State here. He said tina
he was personally strongly in favor o
carrying on the work and that tn
only difficulty that presented itself il
| the minds of the Legislators were tn,
difficulties that the contractors her
had with their working people. H
said that if this could, in a larg
measure be obviated, he was sur
the coming Legislature would MAX
sufficient appropriations for any kins
of nuhlic work that anrlarpd npcpeaar-