The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-27
THE NEwIIoUsE OFFER,


change in the capitol site persists. The
offer by Mr.. Newhouse of a twenty
acre tract on the northeast bench on
which to build tho capitol, tins site
free of cost TO the State. reriNes Puo'
lie interest in the effort Of those VINO
would change the location here OF the
State Capitol,
We must reitcrate, however the con
clusion stated in these columns hereto-
fore, that the idea of moving the cap
itol site is impracticable. First OF all.
the law clearly states (see page ~,
chapter "A. session laws of l9ll) that
the appropriation to build the stare
capitol is "for the purpose of erecting
a state Capitol upon the Capi'oi
Grounds in Salt Lake City,
Now, there can be no pretense tnat
under this wording of the appropfla'
tion the state capitol so provided Tor
can be built anywhere else than upon
the Capitol Grounds in Salt Lake
City, for that is the express condi-
tiou recitpd in the law.
Besides. if any effort were made TO
change the capitol site. it would nee
cssarily follow that this effort must
first be sanctioned by the legislature
But the Legislature will not be IN ses-
sion until the winter of 1913. Do those
who are striving to have the caplto'
put on some other location, wish TO
postpone all activities in the erection
of the State capitol until that tlmc'
We can hardly think so. There is no
real reason why there should be such
postpoucment. The capitol site is
commanding one. it could not possibly
be improved. 1t is more convenient TO
tho business center of the cltN than
site would be on the bench; ana,
above all. it is tho legal site, 1T is the
site which for many years has bccn
set apart for tho capitol. and IL
building suitable to the site is put up
on the capitol grounds, nothing more
splendid and beautiful could be I'M
aeined than fit capitol building on
that magnificent site.
Besides. to reopen this question would
nc TO TbODCu LhF Nuplc ouplNNN-
have the appropriation now. but who
could guarantee that VIC would have 1t
if the matter were thrown open to the
action of new legislature9 There IS
always in the Utah legislature good
deal of hostility towards Salt Lake
City. If we should ourselves get into
q row in this city over the capitol site
and The capitol building. would there
not be the danger that the legislature
would say that Salt Lake City is a
contentious place, and it would be bet
ter to have the capitol building else
where. ask for bids from this and other
cities, Of bonuses for the capital loca-
tiou. and propose constitutional
amendment 10 change the headquarters
Of the State to some other place7
Those who arc moving for the change
of the capitol site do not seem to us
TO sense the true situation They seem
to consider that the capital is ire
vocably fixed III Salt Lake City. II
is so fixed in tho constitution, TO be
sure: but it must be remembered that
there has never been Institutional
amendment submitted here that has not
carried and the possibility at least foi
au amendment TO carry changing tho
capital must be admitted.
1t is evident. also. that if this qucs
ton were reopcncd in that form, as
| it would be verv likely 10 be, with 0
new chance at it by the legislature
another long delay would intcrpose be
fore We could get at any State capito
construction. even il Salt Lake City
should win out in the final contest.
We do not for one moment believe
that the State Capitol Commission vii
consent to the reopeninc OF this ques
tion of site. Too much is involved, an,
too much would be opened. Too mucl
| delay would be involved. The tru'
business is to keep right along rs tbt
commission has begun. thinking OF nj
change III the site. as the law does mo-
permit the Capitol Commission t.
think of any such change. And then
the Commission should open up the bid
for capitol structure, entirely unrc
strietcd by any previous determination
of plans. aud let the architects OF UtaE
and elsewhere. so far as possible, tax
part in tho competition. and give II
a capitol adapted to the site. aud which
would show forth in splendor and beau
tY. while at the same time being full,
mp TO date in convenience, utility, au'
safety.