The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-07
Dust of Lafayette, In ro,undn Of Can
itnI

trees ana. IN hummer wero sweet win
the song of birds PuhMc sncakors
often addressed audiences ia ono or
the other Of tho deprossious Eacn
mad never falling spring Of lmpid
water from when THIRSTY visitors
might be refreshed.
+ a. Sahattan was tho man VINO
Planned and constructed tho iron rail-
ing around the Square. which cost
nearly $4,000 Oris Paine was the
! contractor FOR the stone work and for
drilling the holes TO receive the rail-
inss that were to protect the pre-
cinets Of the square from Intrusion,
and impart 10 il tho dignity OF privacy
and secluslon. Tho expense Of lmprov-
Ing the Capitol grounds. OF wrfing
thom and preparing tho soil for orna-
entail trees. so barren was Tie orig
inal spot VAS something considerable.
changes Under Governor Wise by
Thomas r. Giles.
During tho administration Of Gov
ernor Henry \. Wise. in 1885 many 81
the earlier features OF tho Capitol
square were changed ana tho confor-
nation OF the grounds took on an ap
pearance. retained largely at tho pres
ont day Thomas r Giles l1si. was
7 appointed by Governor wise to direct
tho transformation effected In the Cap
tration This was done hy digging
down tho old terraces. hline up the
dells and draining the springs. The
ground in front OF the southern nor
tico was graded and a nrecipitous dcs-
cent To Bank street was smooihcd and
rendered gradual and comparable.
Suggestions of Crawford Sculptor OF
Washington statue.
The location of the Washington Mon
~ MT l11 in,
TO the Capitol Square to be changed
from the north side. opposite the Old
CITY Hall to the eastern end Of Grace
street. The corner stone of the sta
tue was laid In the square on Feb
ruary %. 1850 y very DISTINGUISHED
gathering. including President Zach
airy Taylor. was present
IT was not until November Of 1857.
that the statue. sent from Munich,
reached Richmond 1t was unveiled
February 90. 1855. q sunbeam breaking
through a snowfall and saluting horse
and rider in the moment of the veil's
withdrawal Mr. Crawford the sculp-
tor of the monument. did not have his
plan carried out in its situation lie
thought it should he put upon Tho ele-
waited plateau fronting the southern
portico and occupy the same relation
10 the Capitol as the statue of Minerva
does to her shrine on the heights of
violet-crowned Athens. The new post
office and custom house had not then
been bulk. Mr. Crawford suggested
that the state should buy the then com
parauvely few and vaIucless struc-
lures occupying the space between the
Capitol and Main street. so that tho
monument might have been approached
from Main Street by imposing and beau
tiful steps and terraces. These suE
gestions were supplemented by others.
recommending tho extension OF tho
Square northward. to Broad street. tho
acquisition of tho Powhatan House ana
tho taking in OF the old City Hail,
the only building of Importance then
in he way of this recommendation
But the General Assembly Of Vir-
Ginia, in 1912 was not the only body
in the State remarkable alone. in what
1t did not do. 1t evidently had n Dre-
dccessor in the sos OF the last cen
fury that turned a deaf ear to an artist
whose advice. if taken. would have
added greatly to the value beauty and
spaciousness Of the Capitol Square
The BcIfry md Gunrd Mount.
AS carly as 1890 the Legislature OF
Virginia Appropriated money Ito buy
q fit bcll' to summon members unmfnd-
full of their duty. wooden bclfry
was built at the southern portico. ana
hero the bell remained until AN act OF
Legislature. in 1924. substituted for
the wooden structure a brick guard
house with belfry on the Ninth street
side of the Square. near tho Franklin
! Street entrance. so long as Virginia
| kept O company of regulars as State