The Green Forest tribune., 1911-03-10
ARKANSAS OLD STATE HOUSE

ARKANsAss OLD STATE HOUSE
 To sell or not to sell, that is the question.
 There is pending in the house of repre- sentatives three bills concerning the dis position of the old state house and grounds. Two of them provide that the building and grounds shall be used as a museum and public park. These two measures being nearly alike have been consolidated and now known as the -Meador bill
 The other bill by Judge Joe Hardage of Clark county provides for the build ing and grounds and the turning of the proceeds into the general revenue fund of the state. Governor Donaghey's message to the legislature shows this property to be worth S250, 000.00
 The question has already occupied several days discussion. One member slone has occupied one whole day speak ing against a proposed amendment to submit the question of sale OF presew- atioa to the people. To those not on the ground, the question naturally arises, Why spend so much time. aJso great an expense, on such question as this2" The answer is discernable.
 The principal argument for the pre- servation oI the building and converting the grounds into a city park, making it q continuous charge upon the people to keep it in repair is purely one of pre- tended sentiment. Iii is urged that it is linked with the history of the state, associated with the names of Yell, Crttenden, Sevier, Pike and Garland; that it is the place where the Articles of Confederation were adopted, and therefore from these sentimental his torical standpoints should be preserved; that it's value, $250, 0OO co, is a mere bagetelle when compared with the states vast wealth.
 It is always an evidence of patriotism for any people to show proper regard and respect to the history of the stir ring events of the state, especially the pioneer day. Sometimes a building be- comes 50 closely associated with some particular event as to immortaIize it. Particularly is this true of the Old Lib- erty Hall q very unpretentious build ing in the city of Philadelphia. But for the adoption of the Declaration of h. dependence in it, although the scene of many stirring events of colonial days, it would no doubt, have long since pass ed into oblivion. Butuo buii ding simply because it has been the legal meeting place from time to time or the state $ law making, and judicial branches until it becomes wholly inadequ ate to the de mands of the state has ever been pre- served on account of the chronological events accruing in the space of three quarters of a century.
 Twenty five years ago the people of the state, especially the citizenship of Little Rock, were asking for anew state house for the reason, as then stated, that the old buildin g was wholly mad equate; that it wa unsightly, unsafe, unsanitaly and un equal to the demands of our rapidly gr Towing state; and that in reality it WIS an eye-sore to the state and far behind, not only any other state in the south, but any other state in the Union.
 These con litjons were held out in bold relief by the boards of trade and the press of little Rock, re-echoed by the country press and chorused by the various ! lady organizations, until suf licient SC ointment was chrystalized, and the saw 9 brought to bear on the gener- al asse mbly of the state ten years ago, that the building of new capitol wa5 undertaken; alWaya in- pres sing upon the tax payers that the old building occupied very valuable grounds Il the very heart of the city and would go far towards the erection of a new building.
 As a result, today, the state can vie, not only with the states of the Union in having a neat magnificent capitol,