Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1905-02-23
CAPITOL L'SPOOR SETTING
Bill. 10 Enlarge State Capitol Park
Now In the legislature
at Harrisburg.

The House of Representatives win
within few days act ON the Fox
bin for the extension of the
Capitol Park east from its
present location in Harrisburg in
order to provide setting for the new
building which will be adequate and
afford chance for the magnificent
structure to be seen. The bill has been
generally discuss by members OF
both branches of the legislature, all OF
whom are in favor of acquiring the
additional land.
The Fox bill provides for commits
sion to purchase the land, the commits
sion to be appointed by the governor
and to be of men who have no interest
whatever in the land proposed to be
taken for the purposes of the state.
Authority is given to secure for the
use OF the commonwealth all OF the
land described within certain area OF
Harrisburg. and ii the properties can
not be purchased the commissioners
nave the power TO exercise the state S
right of eminent domain and take the
SNo
rcs that the governor is opposed to
the bill in its present form are without
foundation, as baseless as can be imag-
ined. He is in hearty accord with the
plan and will approve the bill as soon
as it is passed.
The project of adding to the Capitol
Park has been earnestly advocated by
everyone familiar with the location OF
the state house in Harrisburg. The
capitol building which is conceded to
be one.of the handsomest in the United
States. superbly proportional and or
namented in most artistic style, stands
on a slight eminence in the city OF
Harrisburg. At no place is the hill
more than l5 feet above the level OF
Harrisburs's asphalted streets which
surround the park on all four sides,
so that the building, which is almost
as large around as St Peters at Rome,
rises from the midst of Harrisburg
streets. 1t is literally lost in the midst
of the city. when by addition of few
acres its location could be made ad-
mirable.
The land which 1t is proposed to ac-
! quire for the use of the state and TO
add To the park comprises about 20
city blocks. They all lie to the east OF
| the capitol. North, south and west OF
/ lhe park lie the best sections OF Har-
risburg. that fronting on the river
comprising the residential section OF
| The city, the largest churches and many
/ beautiful residences and Institutions
. in this side the capitol has little bet
/ ter setting than on the east. The build
ing is placed 100 feet or more from the
street and approached by fight 'o1
brOwnstonc steps surmounted by
statue of General John r. Hartranft
At distance of few blocks a view
giving a fair idea of the beauties Of the
structure can be obtained, but it is no
satisfactory and does not give one wha
an be obtained in so many other state
capitals, an unobStructed sight of Tho
official home OF state. The erca
building towers above the city to III,
height of 200 or more feet, oyerpower
ing in its immensity and so wide
spreading that the eye, limited 70!
buildings, can not see more than hal
Of it.
On the east side the conditions ar
worse. The huge building rises shee
from the street, being built almost o1
what would be the house line. Onl,
one street opens toward it, and it give
view more cirCumscribed than tha
obtained on the other side. This sec
| ntion can be secured for state par
: purposes at comparatively little ccst
e 1t contains the poorest section Of Har
! risburg, some thoroughfares which ar
( little more than alleys containing oil
and rickety buildings and stable!
There are few begrimed factor
buildings and a market in this part c
the city. and on the whole it is as t1r
inviting locality as one could imas
inc. The residents offer no objection
: as the buildings are all old, and in tn
C course of time will have to be removed
.. anyway If they could be taken dow
and the land thrown into a park
splendid prospect would be opened an
the beautiful building be seen in i
Il grandeur and form a picture in whic
y every Pennsylvania could take Il
" greatest pride. The chance is there X
making the state house famous; d
that is NEEDED is to grasp the opport'
nifty before it becomes too costly.