Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-17
WEBER DID NOT
SUPPORT THE BILL,
Continued From Page t.,

4
be reached by switch, thereby saving
the large amount Of money that is an
nually paid for hauling coal with team
and wagons and also getting rid Of thu
dirt and smoke and the somewhat I'm
slightly appearance of heating plan
Immediately in front of the capito
building.
Owners Willing to Sell.
In suggesting the enlargement o.
the capitol grounds, I wish to say thai
the owners of some of the lots includ
ed in that which have referred to
have already expressed willingness
to sell the same and some have sub
mitted a price for their holdings.
want also to say that at two or three
different times efforts have been made
to secure change OF grade in some
of the streets about the state house
which change would have a very ma
terial effect upon the surroundings, II
additional lands are to be acquired
The council has each time objected to
these changes and asked the parties in
terested therein to wait and take the
matter up with you with view of Sc
curing cooperation between the city OF
Des Moines and the state in some gen
eral plan of improving the state house
surroundings and recommend the ap.
pointment by you of committee to
take this matter into consideration and
cooperate with the officials Of the city
to the end suggested. r.
"In my opinion the state might prof.
itably dispose Of Governors square,
allowing the city. to purchase it for a
park If so desired, and invest the pro.
ceeds in lands above suggested for
purchase"
Clarke Urges Measure.
Later on January 16, Gov. Clarke
discussed the project in his message
to the thirty-fifth general assembly In
the following words:
"The subject of the extension of the
capitol grounds is matter that should
have consideration. The day is now
here when these grounds surrounding
US should be more spacious and they
should be made more beautiful. They
DO not meet the material demands OF
the present and for the future they
will be entirely inadequate. The fu.
t,lre should ever be In mind. We build
lOT IuOSo WIN dIc " dllCl I'D. w 9
should have a vision of what Iowa ia
to do and be. In the extension of the
grounds regard should be had for a
better setting Of the capitol. The
whole question of the enlargement and
location of buildings and monuments
should at once be placed in the hands
of the best landscape artist that could
be found with instructions to prepare
plan commemorate with the needs
and ideals of great, progressive and
cultured people. 1t cannot all be done
at once but beginning can be made
Every day of postponement only makes
the realization more expensive and
difficult. What is done should be in
accordance with plan to end In both
utility and great artistic beauty"
Debate is Shut OF.
Following this there was some
casual discussion Of the project in
connection with proposed state Of
flee building" and the location Of the
Allison monument, but so far as
know nothing very definite was done,
except that the matter was discussed
at two or three meetings in the Office
of the governor and in one Of the
parlors at the Slavery hotel, and at
which Governor Clarke and Curator
Harlan Of the state historical build
ing were the leaders in the discussion