The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-14
A LESSON FOR ALABAMA.

In The AQVeruSer or tOUay appears somewhat lengthy but interesting ar ticle from The New Orleans Times-Dem- ocrat descriptive of Mississippis new Capitol. If the reading creates something like a feeling of envy in the breasts of Alabamians 1t should cause no surprise or reprehension, for we all must feel more or less of it when we see and realize what our neighbor has and what we have not.
 Alabama's Capitol is so surrounded and permeated by sacred historical memories and associations that no lover of the past and its great men and great achievements would be willing to see the old building demolished Its very walls must nourish in their hard substance echoes of the great men of the State and of the South who have assembled there, and to de- stroy those walls would almost be sac rilege. It was built when good materials and good workmanship were considered essentials in constructive art. and. unless destroyed by design or some untoward accident, 1t bids fair to stand a silent wit ness to the progress of passing centuries
 
 generations of Alabamians who shall come after us in the ages of the great future
 But all the memories and associations of the past should not blind us to the fact that the building is too small for the present. It was large enough when erected for the needs of the day, and the additions since made have to some extent relieved what would years ago have prov en a serious problem, but that problem has again to be faced. There is not room for the present State Government in the building as it stands. The offices are "cabined, cribbed, confined In a way that Is not only an inconvenience to the officials but is detrimental to the States interests. There is not State depart ment that has room enough for the prop CT transaction of the public business and the preservation of the public records. It is a false economy which would hesitate about spending money where 1t is so plainly and absolutely essential.
 Reading of the fine and commodious building that the government of our neighbor will soon occupy 1t would be strange if we did not feel some envy as well as humiliation. Alabama is as well able to build a good State House as Mis- sissippi is, but we have no desire to see our present building destroyed. It can be enlarged in such way that ample room will be provided for all time to come. | and 1t can be done without removing the present building. destroying its symmetry or interfering with the memories connect ed with it, and 1t can be done for much less than a million dollars. Whether the $150,00 which has been appropriated will be sufficient to enlarge the grounds, and to enlarge, furnish and otherwise improve the Capitol is more than doubtful. It | ought to have been at least 1850, 900, but much can be done with the amount pro- vided and We have @ firm conviction that 1t is not going to be squandered or need | lessly spent. The State should certainly own the entire square on which the Cap | itol stands. When that is secured and properly improved immediate steps should be taken to relieve the congested condi- ton of the various public departments. If all the enlargement that is needed can not be accomplished at once as much should be done as Is practicable, and that | should be done in such manner as not | to interfere with future improvements. Alabama not only needs but must have a better and more commodious building