The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-03-02
Lesson. From Histc y.

TO tile Editor:-A measure of no
| little and or ~ temporary Importance
whcih has beer Brought before the
General Asemgiy and which unfortu-
natnly has not been successful, was
that which looked toward the erection
! Of a ne wpublic building OF the en-
| largement OF the capitol. This meas
ure l., the outprowtn of a strong con-
| viction on the part of those who are
| familiar with the situation, that the
| State ought to make more ADEQUATE
/ provision than now exists for the Sc
curity and people preservation of its
| historical and literary regards, OF its
! interesting and valuable collection of
| historic rel icsnow in the Hall Of His
| tory" OF its public documents and re-
cords and of its magnificent library. 1t
| is generally admitted that this valua-
| Bile state property is not now prop
| erly preserved or adequately secured
| from destruction by fire; but when
| the question of appropriating funds to
remedy the situation is brought up
we are told that we are too poor to
spend the money for the purpose
1t would seem that this
Estate like the wealthy in
diyidual. can better afford TO neglect
to secure. its property than II poor
state. for if its property be destroyed.
wealth remains To replace il. But
in either case such negligence can
hardly be defended: cheaper il is
to strain u point to protect and pre-
serve what we have, than to refuse
to invest a small sum and permit the
whole to be destroyed.
Every literary, historical and
patriotic organization i'm the state,
supported by hundreds of individuals
who are not members of such
societies. have joined in the request
above referred to- In support of
their position. ] wish to quote from
the last report of the State Lii
brarian. In this library there are
36,S16 volume purchased ana col
lected at enormous expense; and in
addition TO these there arc 1.S4S
copies OF bound newspapers, which
if destroyed, could not possibly be
replaced and in which we have
what will some day be the most
valuable current history of our
State. These papers cover the
period from the close of the Revolu-
ton to the present day. Continuing
the librarian says:
II desire to call especial attention
to the condition of the building i'm
which the state and Supreme court
Libraries arc located. The building
was constructed on u cheap plan.
and is liable TO be destroyed by fire
at any time. For want of room the
basement has to be utilized for the
storage of books and papers for the
State, which of course augments the
danger of fire. The two libraries are
worth many thousands of dollars
should by all means be in a fire.
proof building. The State. of course
pays insurance on all books and
bound newspapers, which is proper
but if the books and bound news
papers We're destroyed many Of them
could not be replaced under any cir
cumstances for love or money. To-
provide a firo-proof building in or
der to save what the State now has
is one of the most important things
To defer it might bring disaster and
great loss
IT is but fair TO inquire whether
this anxiety is well grounded or
whether the librarian and othcrss in
tercstcd in this matter have called
up Il mere bug-a- boo. Let us turn
back few years. and sec il history,
SO fun of lessons on all other points,
has any instruction for us on this
one.
The first Capitol of North Carolina
was erected at u cost of $4,000. 1t
is described by DR.. Kemp =. Battle
as barn like, dingy." building
among the primeyal oaks Con-
tinuing DR.. Battle says: THE old
State House was smaller than the
present structure. but the arrange
mcHts OF the interior YVES about the
same. The exterior was as plain as
u gigantic dog-kenncl. but il is doubt
ful If any building in our state ever
served SO MANY uses or gaYc as much
genuine pleasure. AS there was no
,.fl In hull In, nil M
thorities were generous in opening
its passages below and halls above
for Fourth of July dinners theatrical
performances. dancing balls and the
religious congregations of all denom-
nations. it was the pco-
PIES house ana the people were al
lowed to use it, But this career
of usefulness was soon checked. ca
tho morning OF June ~, 1881. the
citizens rising from their breakfasts
were startled with the cry of "Fire!'
Volumes of smoke were seen issuing
from the vcntiiators under the roof
Of the State House. Tho Raleigh
Register the leading newspaper OF
the city. of the date, June %. 1891.
describes the burning Of the building
as follows
lawful Confagration.
1T is our painful and melancholy
duty again to announce TO the public,
another appalling instance of loss by
fire. which will be deeply felt and
lamented by every individual i'll our
state. 1t is nothing less than the
total destruction of the Capitol of
the State. located in this city! OF
that noble edilice. with its splendid
decorations, nothing now remains but
the blackened walls and smoulderirg
ruins. The state Library is also
entirely consumed, and the Statue of
Washington, that proud monument
of national gratitude, which was our
pride and glory is so mutiated and
defaced, that mono can behold it but
with mournful feelings, and the con-
viction involuntarily forces itself upon
our minds, that the loss is one which
cannot be repaired. The most active
cxertionS were made TO rescue the
chef d'ouvre Of Canova from the raw
ages of the devouring element, nor
were they dcssted from until the
danger became imminent
THE alarm, was given about
O'Clock on Tuesday morning, and il
was presently evident that all at
tempts to cxtinguish the fire, would
/ If