The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-19
Before Literary and His
toricaI Association.
A Paper Showing the Need OF Fire.
Proof State Library and Enlarge
ment of the State Cap
itol.

impossible to cancel, his paper on
.aThe Need of a Fire-Proof State LII
brary and Enlargement of State Capt.
toll" was ready by
The paper follows:
Irha state REQUIRES greater space and
accommodations for the adminlstra-
ton of the affairs of its several de-
nartments, A fire-proof building is
essential for the accommodation OF
the State Library and the preserya-
ton of it's invaluable records. Inc
present Capitol, together with the oth-
err buildings owned and occupied by
tho state. are inadequate both in size
and equipment and the State Library
is peculiarly incident to the peril OF
fire. These facts appear to be undls-
puted.
How shall the necessity be met? BY
the enlargement of the present Capltoi
OF. by the construction OF separate anu
segregated buildings? The Executive
and Legislative Departments of the
Government should certainly be pro-
yided for in one building. This would
affords means of convenient consuita-
ton between the Governor and the
several departments and contribute To-
ward the administration OF eacn as
one harmonious whole. The Judicial
Department could with more proprlety
be provided with a separate building,
but this separation should only pc
considered in the event sufficient room
could not be provided in the same
building. 1, therefore, submit that
provision should be made for all the
departments of the State Government
by an enlargement of the present
State Capitol. The example of the
majority of our sister States sustains
this view and this was also the con-
clusion of the distinguished members
of the commission appointed under
authority of the General Assembly OF
1903.
Can the present Capitol be so en-
larged as to preserve its historical
outlines and, if possible, emphasize its
symmetry and beauty? A. favorable
answer to this question would appear
to many citizens of the State VINO
would otherwise be inclined to be IN
different to the proposition. Foftun-
ately, the Capitol Commission were
able to recommend a plan meeting
this condition and in this view they
are sustained by many others VINO
have given the subject consideration
1 beg to submit, briefly, three rea-
sons why the present Capltol shoulu
be enlarged to meet all the demands
of the present and of the immediate
future, and that provision thefe1or
should be made at the next session OF
the General Assembly. The admin
istration of the States affairs in this
period require greater space ana pet
fer equipment than at any time in the
past. This is a unitarian age. we
as citizens of this good State take
nride i'm the claim that we are pre-
Serving the best in the ideals and us
ages of the past, and that we are also
intending to march abreast with other
States by adopting the best OF the
methods in the present. The state is
gradually getting closer and assum-
ing more intimate relations with the
economic and commercial pursuits OF
its citizens Observe the several de-
partments which our Legislature has
added in recent years: A Board OF
Agriculture Corporation commas
sion a. Commissioner of insurance, a
Commissioner of Labor and printing,
together with an enlargement or the
sphere and jurisdiction of other ana
older departments. All these new ue-
partments represent merely proper
and fitting response TO the deHanos
of the times.
Again. we have established a new
criterion or rather we have reVivlned
and given effect to the old standards
applicable to those who hold positions
of trust and honor. No man can De
reelected to office today, no matter
how distinguished in ancestry or In
the discharge of his duties ability, 10y
atty, zeal and industry. He must also
be a sober and God-fearing man, in
other words, he must Illustrate IN OIL
fee the qualities Of good citizenship.
These present-day conditions, the eX-
pansion of the sphere of supervision
and administration of Government, the
manifold increase of official duties and
the more effective enforcement or the
standard of public service, all contrl-
butte to the demand for more COM
modious capitol.
Again, the construction of a suitable
building will be an active stimulant TO
State pride. The remodeled building
should preserve the stately beauty OF
the present Capitol and should be an
imposing and beautiful specimen OF
architecture. Such a building would
invite to the capital city the humblest
citizen from our remOteSt borders, ana
from every section and of every class
each could point to the structure With
pride and exaltation. This is no mere
chimerical suggestion, but each of us
could recount experiences which illus
trate the value of attractive pubic
buildings.
We are constructing in my home
town of Washington building for our
public schools which we think Will be
the largest, most attractive and best
equipped structure Tor puDHc ScHoolS
in the State. Even in its unfinished
condition the stranger who visits the
town today is always asked the ques-
tion Have you seen our school
building?" Court houses, city halls,
school buildings should all appeal to
the local pride and qualification of
their respective communities. OF the
thousands of Americans who view an
nually for the first time the magni-
ficent Capitol at Washington and gaze
upon its massive and graceful outlines,
where is one whose love of country is
not quickened and whose patriotism
is not stirred. We have all reiterated
with frequency the stale declaration
that the people of North Carolina are
lacking in State pride. We are rapid
ly improving in this respect because
we are gradually acquiring more to be
proud of, and here is another oppor-
tunity not to be negdetlec. o" o"
tunity not to be neglected.
Again the people of the state are
not too poor to build a magnificent
capitol and it ought to be done quick
~ Little, provincial men have talk
ed so much to the people about low
taxes in our State that many leglSla-