Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1907-02-15
PLAN TO ENLARGE
CAPITOL GROUNDS
State Officials and Members of tie
House and Senate Favorable.
The Fox Bill SO Drawn That me
Property Must BE Acquired
at Fair Price.

Harrisburg, Jan. 29.-At the reeeP-
tion by the Harrisburg Board OF Trade
last week to Governor Stuart and
to the members of the legislature and
to the Legislative Correspondents AS
sociation, the subject of the extension
of Capitol Park was referred to iHdi-
rectly by Governor Stuart in his
speech. While he did not in terms
commit himself he very clearly indi-
Gated that he was in favor Of the en-
terprise, saying that he understood
what was wanted and that he believed
the legislature, which he said is OF
unusually high character, could be de-
pended on to do whatever was for the
best interests Of the state.
Anyone who knows conditions sur
rounding the capitol knows that the
enlargement Of the park, as proposed,
is of prime Importance to all the peo-
pie of the state.
Other speakers referred to the mat
ter more directly. Senator DeWalt,
who spoke for President Pro TEN.
Woods, of the senate, who was un-
avoidably absent, declared that while
Pennsylvania has the most magnificent
and most beautiful capitol of any state
in the Union, its surroundings were
utterly inadequate and mean. He
pledged himself and his fellow-men-
hers to vote for any proper bill for tho
enlargement Of the grounds as pre-
posed. These sentiments were heartily
applauded by the senator's and repre-
sentatives, as well as by everybody
else in the great auditorium, which
was filled with the leading members Of
the state government and the general
assembly and the most prominent busi-
ness and professional men of Harris
burg.
No one should be deluded by the
statements of chronic kickers and
pullbacks that this is Harrisburg en-
terprise and for the benefit of Harris
burg 1t is great public Improvement
for the benefit of the people of the
whole state, which the people OF Har-
risburg recommend because they are
on the ground and see the necessity
for it. There is no pecuniary or specu-
lative interest whatever behind this
movement.
The people Of the state can rest as
sured of this.
The following is a summary OF the
provisions of the bill to provide for
the extension of Capitol Park intro
duced in the senate on Monday even
ing, January 81, by Senator John q.
Fox.
The governor shall appoint three
commissioners, none of whom shall be
interested directly or indirectly in any
of the property to be acquired, who
shall constitute the Capitol Park ex-
tension committee, whose work shall
be completed and which shall expire
by limitation June /, 1911. Any va
cancy in the commission shall be filled
by appointment by the governor for the
uneXpired term.
The commission Is authorized to ac-
uuire title in the commonwealth to all
the land between the present Capitol
Park on the west, the Pennsylvania
railroad on the east, North street on
the north and Walnut street on the
south, containing about IA acres, ex-
elusive of streets.
No land shall be actually taken by
the commonwealth until the city of
Harrisburg shall by ordinance provide
for the vacation of all the streets. al
leys and other highways in that sec
tion without any liability on the part
of the commonwealth for damages.
The commissioners may acquire the
land by purchase at reasonable prices
to be agreed upon between them and
the owners, but if they cannot agree
the commissioners may on 60 days no.
tice to the owners of their intention to
do so take possession of the land and
such possession shall vest absolute
title in the commonwealth.
The commissioners may assess the
damages after full hearing on due no.
tice to the owners. If the owners are
not satisfied they can appeal to the
Dauphin county court for the fixing of
damages in the usual way.
The bill carries an appropriation of
81, ,60O, 900 or as much as may be neces-
sary for the payment of the real estate
taken.
AS will be seen there can be no spec
ulative snake concealed in this bill.
The commission is to be appointed by
Governor Stuart. Probably none of
them will be residents of Harrisburg
or Dauphin county; NO unfair prices
can be paid for the land because in case
of disagreement the price after full
hearing and inspection will be fixed by
a jury of view subject to confirmation
by the court. None of the money ap
propriated will probably be required
this year, as 1t will take months for
the preliminary work Of the commits
sion to be dSne.
The disbursement of the 81 900, eco
or 80 much of it as may be necessary,
provided for in the bill, will extend
over a period OF four years, so that
there will be no draft on the treasury
in any one year that will at all inter
,fere with proper provision for the state
charitable and penal institutions, the
public schools and the making of good
roads
Any one who is familiar with the sH-
uation must see that this is great pub
lie Improvement that every considera-
tion OF good business demands should
be made now. Unless the property is
secured at this time 1t is sure to en-
hance in value and is bound in the near
future to be built up with large fac
tories and warehouses that will entire
ly shut off the view of our magnificent
capitol from the east and from the sight
of persons who pass through on trains.
Communications received from lead
ing editors in every county show that
the public sentiment throughout the
state is overwhelmingly in favor Of
this great work.