Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-01-31
PLAN 10 ENLARGE
CAPITOL GROUNDS
State Officials and Members of tn,
House and Senate Favorable.
The Fox Bill So Drawn That the
Property Must Be Acquired
at a Fair Price.

Harrisburg, Jan. 29.-At the recep
tion by the Harrisburg Board of Trade
last week to Governor Stuart and
other officers of the state government
to the members of the legislature snG
to the Legislative Correspondents AS
sociation, the subject OF the extension
of Capitol Park was referred to indi
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, it's surroundings were
utterly inadequate and mean. He
pledged himself and his fellow-mem.
bers to vote for any proper bill for the
enlargement of the grounds as pro-
posed. These sentiments were heartily
applauded by the senators and repre-
sentatives, as well as by everybody
else in the great auditorium, which
was filed with the leading members of
the state government and the general
assembly and the most prominent bust
ness and professional men of Harris
burg.
No one should be deluded by the
statements of chronic llickers and
pullbacks that this is Harrisburg en-
terprise and for the benefit of Harris
burg. 1t is a 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 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 q, by Senator John e.
Fox.
r1,O f1,n iY1f tht-nn
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 l, 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-
quire title in the commonwealth to all
tho 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
10 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
$1,600,00 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 it will take months for
tho preliminary work of the commits
sion to be done.
The disbursement Of the 81 10000
or so much Of it as may be necessary
provided for in the bill, will extend
over a period Of fonr 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