Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-02-28
OPPOSITION
DISAPPEARING

Strong Sentiment in the Legislature
In Favor of the Enlargement of the
State Capitol Grounds.
Harrisburg, Feb. 25.--It is believed
that Senator FoX's bill providing foI
the extension of the ground surround.
ing Pennsylvania's magnificent new
state capitol will be passed finally
through the senate during the present
week.
The bill has been amended so that
no more than 100000 of the total ap-
preparation to pay for the fourteen
acres of land which it is proposed to
take can be expended in any one year
It will be demonstrated by facts and
figures rom the Off ial reports and es-
Inmates of the expenses of the state
government for the next two years
that the payments for the Capitol
Park extension can be made without
in the slightest degree infringing upon
the money necessary for the mainte
nance of state charitable Institutions,
the semi-private institutions which are
accustomed to receive state aid, the
public schools and a large additional
appropriation for the construction of
good roads and still leave always a
comfortable surplus in the state treas
ury.
The sentiment among legislators
appears to be much more favorable TO
the proposed enlargement of the capitol
grounds than it was at the beginning
Of the session. The members have
looked over the ground, have seen the
absolute necessity for this great i'm
proyement, and they realize that it
can never be made at any other time
for so little money as it can now. They
realize that the growth of the COM
monwealth and the increase in the
public business will make necessary
within the next few years the erection
of additional buildings for the accom-
modation of some departments of the
state government for which there will
soon not be room enough in our new
capitol, just as new buildings are be-
ing erected in Washington for the
executive department of the national
government.
To accommodate those new buildings
in Washington the government is pay
ing $10,000.000 for property which i'm
mediately after the close of the civil
war could have been got for $500, 900
1t is absolutely impossible to erect
any additional buildings on the pres
ent capitol grounds without destroying
the effect of our splendid new capi-
tol. The proposed extension would
provide sites for the additional build
ings which are sure to be necessary
and at the same time give a proper
setting TO the capitol and permit a
fine view Of it from the railroad over
which 10000 600 passengers go every
year, and from which it is now hidden
by buildings mostly poor mean and
unsightly.
Senator FoX's bill carries an appro-
priation as it stands now of 81 600 600
no more than $500, 900 of which can be
expended in one year. This. it is esti-
mated, is sufficient to pay for all the
ground needed, which will be taken by
a commission to be appointed by Coz
ernor Stuart, and the valuation to be
assessed by a jury of view to be com
posed of entirely disinterested per-
sons
Property in Harrisburg is enhancing
in value very rapidly. Unless the sec
tion which is needed for the enlarge
ment of Capitol Park is taken now it's
value will multiply every few years.
The state cannot possibly make bet
ter investment, simply as a business
proposition than to take this land be-
fore it is built up by fine large build
ings, as it inevitably will be if the
states does not take it.