The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-25

The State of Alabama through It's last Legislature entered upon a plan of improvement of the State Capitol. The | sum of sl5o.ooo was appropriated for
 this purpose. and a Commission created
 to have charge of the work.
 | This Commission has since been at | work to acquire the south end of Capi- toi Square from the owners of the | various residences there. This task has just been consummated by the agreement to pay ss5,ooo for the prop erty. So far SO good.
 Now it is announced that the Com
 mission has decided to spend a large part of the remaining $s5.ooo of the appropriation for building for the
 uses of the Supreme Court, presuma- bly a court room. Justices ofices.
 library. court clerks. rooms ,etc. It is
 understood that this is to be a sepa-
 rate building located somewhere on the,
 newly acquired portion of the Square. The Advertiser desires to enter a pro- test against the decision of the Com
 mission. in so far as 1t proposes the
 erection of a separate building on Capitol Square. It is true that the
 act creating the Commission includes | the power to do that. but that was probably put in as a mere convenience to the Commission in following out some general plan of enlarging and ex- tending the present building. It was generally understood that the purpose
 of the present appropriation was to buy | the rest of the Square and to enlarge l and improve the historic edifice now standing. Doubtless that was in
 the mind of nearly every member of
 the Legislature who voted for the bill. | Certainly that is what the people of
 Alabama expected was to be done. Now we are not disputing that the Supreme Court may need more room or more conveniences. Our point Is that
 1t is a serious mistake to erect 6 sepa-
 rate building on Capitol Square for the 1 Supreme Courts use or for any other
 purpose. It would mar the appear
 ance of that superb site. and would
 interfere with its proper use hereafter
 for the development of the magnificent
 Capitol building this State needs and will, sooner or later. erect.
 It seems to The Advertiser that the proper way for the Commission to go about this matter Is to mature a broad plan to preserve the present structure
 and to add to 1t in a harmonious, con- | venient effective way. It Is a mistake
 to assume that the present appropria- | tion Is all that is going to be availa-
 ble, and that 1t must be spent so as
 to get the most immediate comfort or | advantage. The Advertiser is incom- potent to suggest a proper plan. and
 with all due deference to the able and patriotic men who constitute the Com mission. we don't think it can expect of itself to determine without expert ad- vice. just what ought to be done. We know what has been done in other cases of the kind elsewhere and what is being done in many great en- terprises all over the country. That
 is to select some broad. comprehensive
 plan that 1t may take a period of years
 to work out, and then to enter upon
 that plan. Funds are frequently not
 available to build at once all of a great
 building. but 1t can be planned ahead
 and built in sections. One of the most
 beautiful University buildings in this
 country today has been built that way
 during the last ten years. Nearly
 million dollars has already been spent on sections of 1t. and they are in use.
 but the plan is not yet completed. The State of Alabama Is absolutely sure of
 future funds, and can more wisely university.
 Here is a suggestion that is offered
 to the Commission for what it is worth. | Let 1t inaugurate an architects prize | competition. Let 1t offer several
 handsome prizes, aggregating as much as $2,000 at least, for the best designs for the enlargement of the present
 edifice. Such prizes will attract the finest architectural talent in all the
 land. These experts can evolve plans combining utility and beauty. The
 best of the plans can be accepted by the Commission and then gradually | worked out in the next ten years. if
 the State can't afford to go faster.
 That is the logical, scientific. practical
 way to go about this great undertak-
 ing. That will prevent any mistake
 in spending the ss5.oOO now availa-
 ble.
 Alabama is a rich State. and its in- come is steadily increasing. She has
 said that she needs an enlarged Capi-
 tol. and she is able to build it right. It will be a shortsighted policy to en-
 ter on any plan to spend merely $s5,- 900. It will be great blunder to erect
 any separate building on Capitol Square, unless it Is a part of an ex- pert, matured plan to make one great
 CT whole. The Commission owe 1t to
 the people of this State. as well as to
 themselves, to act slowly, broadly,
 wisely in this matter.
 l -
 | A DELICATE QUESTION.