The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-10
Favors New Capitol Site

Editor The Tribune-By dint OF hard
york and fortunate chain of circum-
stances. the great commonwealth of Utah
is we'll on the road toward the secure
ment OF a capitol building that bids fair
TO eclipse even the most sanguine cx-
pectations Of those who. In years gone
by. looked forward to It's erection and
the various state institutions. 1t was
the ambition OF those who had interest
/ ed themselves in providing capitol
| building for the state to secure by legls~
from various sources at least half
million dollars. believing this TO be the
| least amount that should be expended
! for the purpose, With definite purpose
in view. the little coterie OF earnest ciu
Zcns set about 10 locate q suitable ste
| for the proposed building; and after
time the plot Of ground situated at me
north end OF State street was selected
and finally II was determined by legisla-
| tive enactment to designate the tract of
land now known as the capitol grounds
as the site upon which the state capitol
| should be erected.
There was no opposition particularly
| to the selection OF this site. for the rea-
son that It had been donated to the
state and there was no prospect OF the
state at that time being financially able
| TO construct a building upon II. From
| time 10 time the grounds were indiffer-
| entity improved, and on Arbor day occa-
sionally the state officials planted a few
trees and finally some grass seed was
put In. and the green sward added a
little 10 the general appearance Of the
| place as long as the water supply lasted.
| This. Mr. Editor, is q brief summary OF
the efforts that had been put forward
| toward securing capitol grounds for tho
state building until the session OF the
last legislature. when an unexpected
event transpired that put the state in
possession Of three quarters Of million
| dollars, and the last legislature. then in
| session
| priatIng the special fund 20 the building
Of state capitol and the building be-
came au assured fact by the official
appointment by the governor OF capitol
commission.
The commission visited eastern CEN
ters. looked over the capitol buildings
tentative plans from our local and out,
side architects upon their return. and
the commission is now considering the
different phases OF the matter as II
parent that the grounds designated for
the capitol building would be inadequate
for the size. and style. OF building the
| commission had tentatively determined
upon, and besides. was so situated that
the building, II erected there, could not
be So placed ms to be seen to advantage
| The frontage on State street is but eight
and three quarters rods and this does
not all face on State street. but COM
mands as well a splendid view OF the
holders. The only thing. then. TO do
would be TO so place the building that
tho main front should face the east
west, the former looking our upon a
network OF railroad tracks and the
sloughs of the Warm Springs lake. and
the latter the peaks OF Black mountain
and the barren wastes between,
Under these conditions. and sugges-
tons of the architects that another site
would be eminently more desirable. some
Of those interested began casting about
! for another site, and finally a twenty
| acre tract on the east bench. worth a
least 100000. was offered to the commits
| sion free OF charge, and this offer Is now
receiving consideration at It's hands.
When the first site was determined upon
| Utah and Salt Lake City could not point
with pride to the phenomenal growth
| that has since come TO them. and such
| was not even anticipated In our widest
| hopes and dreams But. with our great
state emerging from It's lethargy and the
! eternal turmoil That has heretofore
TO the things that satisfied US In our
| cradllng days and cram our public In
situations into Unsishtly places because.
forsooth' It's said the spot is hallowed
the world. In all walks OF life. have pro-
| claimed the future greatness OF Utah and
| It's capital city everywhere. and the
words q! Il. H Hartman. tho railway
the writer. when he said In the old
rooms of the Commercial club. that In
| the near future there would be but four
| great trarscontinental cities. viz New
York. Chicago. Salt Lake City and San
Now. where could more slightly loca-
| tion be found than on the cast or south
cast bench? II is easily accessible, and
| II placed on the ground offered out there
would DC In the thick OF the great nnn,i-