Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1907-02-28
OPPOSITION
DISAPPEARING

strons 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 for
the extension OF the ground surround
ing Pennsylvania's magnificent ne"
state capitol will be passed hnally
Through the senate during the present
week.
The bill has been amended so that
NO more than S500,000 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.
II will be- demonstrated by facts and
figures rom the official reports and es-
Inmates OF the expenses of the state
government for the next two years
that the payments for the Capitol
Park eKte 7sion can be- made without
In the slightest degree infringing upon
the money necessary for tho malnte-
nance of state charitable institutions,
the semi i-pIiyate institutions which are
accustomed to receive state aid, the
public schools and 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 mich more favorable to
the proposed enlargement OF the capitol
grounds than it was at the beginning
Uf the session The members have
looked over the ground have seen the
absolute necessity for this great i'm
piovement. and they realize that il
can never be made at any other time
Tor so little money as ii can now. They
rtu!ize that the growth of the com
monWcalth and the increase in the
public business will make necessary
within the next few years the erection
Of additional buildings for the accom-
mediation OF some departments of the
state government for which there will
soon not Hc 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 $4,000. 900 for property which i'm
madiately 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 10 the capitol and permit a
fine view OF it from the railroad over
which 12,000,000 passengers go every
year. and from which 1t is now hidden
by buildings mostly poor, mean and
unsightly
Senator Fox's bill carries an appro-
priation as IT stands now Of 81 SOC, 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
commission to be appointed by Gov
eTnor Stuart, and the valuation to be
assessed by 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 its
value will multiply every few years
The state cannot possibly make a 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 1t inevitably will be II tho
states does not take IT,