The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1903-01-17

The members or your honorable BODY
are moro or less familiar with the ac-
ton OF the legislature relating to the
building OF new state house,
As you know, under the proyls-
ions of the last act appointed
four commissioners, VIZ, Thomas
Cox james i, Eagle, y. W. Norton
and j, H. Martin VINO Immediately upon
thoir organization, through their score.
tury opened correspondence with the
supervising architect at Washington
city looking TO the employment Of on
architect to revise the plans ana submit
am estimate of the plans ana spoclNca.
lions OF the architect George r. Mann
for the purpose of aSCcrtainng whether
or not IN tho judgment Of said expert
architect the state capitol Hs proposed
by said plans ana specifications OF
George r. Mann could be built for one
million dollars, IRON number or
architects suggested by the supervising
architect at Washington, u. G.. the
board selected one Frank Miles Day
Of Philadelphia, who came to the city
OF Little Rock, examined the foundation
as far as completed and discussed at
and specifications OF George r. Mann.
lie finally took home with him 60 his
Office said plans and specifications AMI
submitted To the board q detailed report
I'M writing, which 10 now ON file I'm tho
governors office subject TO your cyaml.
nation and inspection, showing clearly
that said proposed now capitol
building could not be- butlt Tor tho
amount OF money provided lu the act
of the last general assembly VIZ. one
We are, At u new beginning point
and think the state is to bc
congratulated that She has escaped
from this very doubtful tnnsac.
and That she ~ now NJ point where
the legislature can proceed Intelligent,
~ ana economically and erect u STATE
house suitable 60 the needs and uoprssi.
would respectfully recommend drN,
that the law be 50 rev lspl Az in prevent
NJ nonrly an possible the reckless and
CNtrHVagnnt expenditure OF public
money ana that all necessary aaf es
guards be- thrown around the law ng to
make the construction ut this building
an absolutely honest transaction and
for the least possible cost ubtuuablc,
second, mat you empower the board to
advertise for a suitable Hui of plans
ana specifications Tor u building 10 cost
not more than one million dollars, tn be-
yubmlttod by competitive bidding by
competent architects, aud that NJ tho
board N IN doubt ua tu which .ri OF
the moro suitable. then II he empowered
10 employ nm expert architect tn pass
upon THIS matter Tor glId hOurd WId
expert architect 90 hr paid reasonable
,'Nll. l'N''l'l I'l 900. ".IiIN nhl tNINuO.
lng ilooo, thld that md pluus aud
specifications ut George r. Maun be- ali.
NulutplN rejected and Nr Ur urpnItr.i bp
discharged from further connection with
the building uud erection uf I'd state
house, fourth That thu architect when
employed De- required lu rutuI into bond
ul not lrHH than t2huUuO that the "a
TINS tpun wld building uuh grounds
when completed shall not uNppud b prr
cent Of the cost eft tine building mn
that the law be- So changed ANA rrmod
clrd ~ that the state huurp shall be
built upon the site of n present state
house abandoning absolutely tho old
prnitcnturN grounds. which are, in nv
Judgment absolutely unsuitable ana AN.
NJ for tho erection Of "A building nf this
character II the question OF location
could he submitted 10 the taxpayers ~
TINS state, the unanimous verdict would
be that " should be- bult upOn this
ground II w accessible, II M tonNpn,
lent, II Ia large enough. or coursa ia
~ not large enough TO pat the George
~ Mann state house upon II, which was
contracted Ton without amy Hnu az
competition or without any one plae
haNlhk thHnCu tu be- huuTd, hut il IN
large enough tn place a suitable buuds
ing ON That viii hp "A ere nd mud honor
to our state, II Tho legislature atm de-.
aires 10 build out ana out "a now s,ntr
mouse THESE are my recommendations
but IN my Judgment, with the money
already collected IN the Rtute treasury
ana WIN very little additional the preg,
eht building might be m0dornlsrd an,
n,h.f H,o,y placed on " Hnd made
very handsome and imposing building