Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-12-11
CAPITAL NOT
OWNED BY
ATLANTA
City Has No Deed to the
Property.
State OF Georgia OWneS 1t Absolutely
and Has the Right to Dispose of
Building and Grounds ---Capitdl and
Mansion Worth 100000.

Atlanta, Ga, December 10.-Worried
by Macons PERSISTENT and consistent
campaign for the removal of the state
capital from Atlanta to that city, a
man of prominence here decided to
look up the records to see just what
tile status of the capitol building and
site is as relates to the city.
Investigation of the record of deeds
in the county clerks office here shows
that the state now holds clear and
undisputed right to the square upon
which the present capitol building
stands.
This explodes very common belief
that when Atlanta decided this proper
ty to the state for capitol site it tied
the strings SO hard that the capitol
could never be moved without reverting
ito the city.
State Holds the Deeds.
But this is not the true fact. Thc
record shows that in 1883 the city Of
Atlanta decided to Tire stlte the old
city hall property for capitol site.
The acts of the legislature for that
year show the appropriation made for
the building Acceptance of the city rs
proffer and the further stipulation that
should the state need more hind fol-
the building the city was to provide
it without cost to the state.
The only stipulation Atlanta made n
the matter was that the state should
erect building ON the property thus
donated. There was no other cold!-
tion contained lin the transaction, sc
there can be no question Gs to the
states title to the property.
Building Cost Million.
The fact is known that one million
dollars was appropriated for the pres,
ent capitol, and the commission ap.
pointed TO do TIE work not only did
build Within thai appropriation, bat
had money left to turn back ilto the
treasury condition without brece-
dent i'll the building of state cllp't1rs.
A real estate man long identified
with the business here, and WHO has
followed closely TIE tremendous rise
in values ntlle past few years, as
serts That tide present capitol b. d
ing and the land on which it rests 5
worth close to two and half milliel
dollars
Could Use as Courthouse.
This property would make Fulton
county a courthouse, and as the va.
rious state departments have out
grown tie present building it woulo
be just adequate for the needs of the
county. Fulton lis now agtatiag the
question of new courthouse and the
purchase of the state capitol budding
would solve the problem.
In addition to the capitol and site the
state owns the executive manison now
in the center of THE rapidly Shifting
business center of the city. Mere thnn
one investor has his eye on that prop
crty, and it is stated that a standing
cffer of $3.50, 900 has been made fer the
property.
Money in the States Pocket.
so here are two of the biggest aues-
TONS regarding THE capitol answered
the stlte's indisputable right to TIE
property and the mems to erect a new
capitol building in the event Macon
wins its fight.
lit will be remembered that the last
session appointed a special committee
to investigate the question of selling
the executive mansion and buying
property for another mansion near the
capitol, also enough, for a capitol an
mex
Atlanta is beginning to realize fully
now the seriousness of Macon's move,
and far seeing men here are worried
over the situation. And most of them
do not hesitate to say so when asked
about it.