The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-07-23
the Old CAPlTOl.

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issue in the state ever since the
magnificent new state house was
completed some six years ago. The
old capitol stands at the head of
capitol street in a beautiful place
and occupies a block Of ground that
would be quite valuable if put on
the market. The old capitol was
considered very dangerous several
years ago, by those who wanted a
new one, but now there is, in some
circles, q. popular clamor to have
it overhauled, repaired and put in
order and kept by the state just
because. The editor of the Sentinel
happens to be a member of the legis-
lature and at the session of 1908 he
introduced a bill which if it had
passed would have disposed of this
much vexed question in a manner
which we believe would have been
satisfactory to a very large number
of Mississippians. In this issue of
the Sentinel will be found that bill
in full and we shall be glad to have
you read it carefully. In the first
place the old capitol has served it's
purpose. It was built for the Of
fetal home of the state and when it
had become dilapidated and too
small for the proud and prosperous
state of Mississippi it then became
necessary to build a new one. This
was done. To dispose of the old
one to the financial advantage of the
state would be the logical thing to
do, the business, m sense
course to pursue. So the bill re-
ferred to above provided for the
sale of the old building and the 20
Or 80 acres of land lying adjacent
thereto. For sentimental reasons
some desire to have the old capitol
remain standing "as a monument to
the past glory of the state, so we
thought if there is a sentiment con
nected with this building that must
be considered that we would provide
that the proceeds of the sale go to
establish a normal school for white
teachers in this state, an institution
very much needed in our opinion,
and instead of keeping an old worn
out building in Jackson as a "monu-
ment' we would erect in the hearts
and minds of Mississippi boys and
girls a monument more useful and
more enduring, a monument which
can be seen and felt in every com
munity of the state, where the old
capitol will be seen by but compare
lively few of the rank and file OF
Mississippians. Our purpose prim-
arily, however, was to order the sale
of the old building, which is not
now being used for anything and
which if put upon the market would
bring, including the land belonging
to it, many thousands of dollars
If we r tied by the chain of senti'
ment to the structure and must hold
out for the monument idea why moi
sell it still and use the money in
erecting some magnificent monu.
ments on the beautiful grounds Of
the new capitol, monuments to such
immortals as George, Prentiss
Lamar, Walthall, Davis, Galloway
to the private soldier of Jul wars
and to the noble womanhood of ou1
state. My friend, DR.. Rogers Of
Holmes county believes it should be
repaired and converted into a state
charity hospital, another institution
much needed in this state. AS tt
that suggestion we are not just pre-.
pared to express an opinion as the
architect says it would take $4,000
to repair the old building, and ever
then it could not be made a modern
hospital and it is very probable, we
think, that a building could be
erected for $4,000 that would bt
better, more modern and more sani
tary for use as a hospital. But the
property should be disposed of il
some way at the earliest possible
moment. The bill introduced BY
the writer was not voted on in The
House as a similar bill failed in the
Senate and it was then thought use
less to push it further at session
However if given permission by the
! Governor at the Legislative session
next January this bill will be re-
introduced and pushed, as we be