Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-10-26

river, at Markham and Center streets in Little Rock, the old state house stands; it's history is closely inter- woven with that of the State and it's progress since Arkansas was admit ted to the Union as a State in 1886. Eminent authorities on art and arch lecture have pronounced this old building to be one of the most strik ingly beautiful types of classiS old architecture in existence today. The construction of the old capitol was begun during the administration of Governor Pope in 1S33 The site chosen for the building was declared to be one of the most attractive that could be found on the banks of the Arkansas river. The grounds, now wor,h several hundred thousand do1- Jars ill money and much more than that to true Arkansans in sentiment, were secured by Governor Pope, our last territorial governor, at a nom?- nal cost, a portion of the site being donated by Colonel Chester Ashley, William E. Woodruff, A. H. Sevier and other public spirited citiens. Years before, some adventurous Frenchmen had come up the. Arkan- sas river look ng for gold but found sickness and death instead, and this site had been used as a pioneer cemetery for a few of these explorers. Some protest was made in the public press against using the burylng- ground for a building place but Gov erncr Pope answered these critics by stating. that the capitol would be built and woul1 stand by monument over the resting place of those buried there.
 ''Two wings and other additions have been added to the old capitol building since those days, and it has been kept n fair state of repalf: Until the removal fthe offices ot the State departments to the new cap- itol, now practically completed, the legislature made an approWlatlon every twIo years for the repair and maintenance of the building. TWO years ago this appropriation was made aga n, but the appropriation was vetoed. Nc funds have been available for the care of the old capitol, except few small donations by rriyate citizens. The custodian has borrowed money from Little Rock and kept a ground keeper i'll charge of the place during the day. and made such repairs as had to pc made from his cwn picket. NOW that the State Treasurer has left 'he build ng, it is left without a Watch- man at night and as the building and grounds are open all the time to the public, and the grounds used as res ing place and pary by passers-by, there is really dsnger of the building bein, destroyed by fire The build ing is also in need of many repairs, hui this work cannot be done without money.
 When the old capitol was first completed it was regarded far ana near ss the show place of the entire southwest, being the finest building in this section of the country 1h 1876, at the philadelphia Centennial, the figures now on the top of the builling. with the fountain now Tn front of the building were exhibited as works of art and admired by the mnlJlCu0GS. HC UulluilS dAo S- have been visited by such distinguish ed men ss Davy Crockett, James Audubon, General Grant, President Hsrrison and President Cleveland, F tzaugh Lee, William J. Bryan. Colonel Roosevelt, Elihu Root and many others who have written their names in the history of the country.
 Recently a movement has been started which has for it's object one one purpose-to preserve the old capitol I for future generations. This organi- zation IS known as the State Museum Association. It is non-political and non-sectarian. There is disposition on the part of some of our people to dispose of the old state house but this will not be done if the people are consulted in the matter. The organi- zation referred to above is trying tc raise money to care for the huildlns and grounds temporarily, as 1t be-