The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-13
USE STATES MARBLE E
TT IS URGED FOR DECORATION OF
 THE CAPITOL.
Geoiosist smith writes to Building Commission and Architect Loek- wood Is Asked to In-
 yestigate It.

The question of using marble pro- duced within the boundaries of the State of Alabama in carrying out the plans for remodeling and beautifying the old capitol, which has been refer red to repeatedly since the formation of the Capitol Building Commission. has resulted in action being taken which it Is thought. may result in the adoption of plans to this end. During the last few weeks, several communications have been received by Secretary T. M. Owen of the Commis- sion, from prominent men In various parts the State, urging that in the work Q, modelling the old State house the but arh be required to eonfine themselves, so far as possible, to Ala bama products.
 This course wffich has already been under the consideration of the Com mission, has been furthered by the communications received. Architect Lockwood. to whom has been given the work of preparing plans for the Improvements anticipated has been in structed to investigate the cost and advantages of Alabama marble as com pared with the marble of other states. and to make report at an early meet ing of the Commission.
 One of the letters received recently on the subject came to Secretary Owen yesterday, from pr. Eugene A. Smith. State Geologist of Tuscaloosa, one of the recognized geological experts of the South. Tn his letter Geologist Smith strongly urges the purchase of Alabama marble for the Capitol im- proyements. The communication in full follows:
 ''University. Ala. June 10. 1906. pr, Thomas M. Owen:
 Dear sir-I notice by the papers that you are one of these in charge of the building, etc, Of the new Capi- tol and the remodeling of the old part, and I write to beg you to insist on Alabama marble being used in all the interior decorative work,
 "If you do not believe that we have the marble to equal any in the country, for such purposes. just take trip to Sylacauga and see for yourself, and If you are in Birmingham, look at the wainsceting being put up on Nineteenth Street on the old Florence Hotel. If the Capitol is decorated with Georgia marble or Tennessee marble or any other kind of marble than Alabama marble, 1t will be the greatest pity of the times
 Tt may be that the architect and contractors do not know of the Ala bama marble and would not like to get 1t for the occasion, but could not the committee fix all that, even If they had to pay a little extra for in stance for change in contract per haps already madee It would be worth while to reconsider all the contracts if they do not include our native pro- duet, and have the new Capitol build ing which could show that the Alabama marble exceeded all Sthers for decora- tive purposes.
 "I am inclined to think that you, being well acquainted with what we have in Alabama, have already seen to 1t that this marble should be tried. but I write. nevertheless, to add my voice for the use of 1t In the Capitol. The establishment at Sylacauga could no doubt furnish all that was needed and in time for 1t to be used, They cer- tainly could make strenuous efforts to get the advertisement which such use would bring them. I don't think any other marble will be used in Alabama If once it be shown what our marble really is.
 Yours,
 Eugene A. Smith.
 Secretary owen said yesterday. that the investigation had already been asked for from Architect Lockwood.