Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-25
CAPITOL EXTENSION, ETC.
TNAvoiA -

The fuss about the capitol extension
is one Of the matters that we have al
ways had difficulty in understanding.
To be sure, 1t Will cost considerable
money; but the expenditure Is spread
over great many people and very
considerable umes and the result will
be something in which all of the
people OF the state can and will take
pride as often as they visit the capital
Of the state and look over the buildings
and grounds which are the states seat
Of government. The writer was in Des
Moines and up TO the capitol when the
new capitol was building, was there
when the capitol was dedicated and
has been there numberleSs times since
when people were there In throngs and
when they were passing thru in
groups: and never have We seen the
time there when the people looking
thru the capitol did not seem to take
pride in it, did not seem to regard it as
their institution. did not seem to be
glad that legislature back there in
the early '70s at the end Of the bitterest
sort OF fight had passed the bill! maxi
ing Apr opriations running over a SER
les Of years for the starting and build
We believe. will be developed thru
the enlargement OF the grounds ana
the erection thereon Of the additional
buildings which the increasing business
OF the state is demanding. Indeed the
buildings will come any way and from
the necessities Of the case. and the is
sue is over having room enough for the
capitol and additional building or Of
To- IT, hsNf1 ItNn {r,fa
! too small space with the capitol. The
state Of Iowa has not quit growing and
prospecting, even II one census did
| make an unfortunate showing and
the people, who have staid behind do
! not want to let their headquarters run
| down Just because lot Of people who
have made their money in Iowa have
gone OF chasing after climate In south
! ern California.
II there were appearance OF big
graft in the handling Of the pur-
chase of additional grounds. the
] matter would be different: but it
seems to be conceded that the pur-
chases already agreed upon have been
made at moderate prices and on basis
that must control as to subsequent
purchases the ratio Of agreed prices to
assessed valuations indicating that the
whole extension will be bought for only
little over a million dollars-which OF
course is q lot Of money, but which.
nevertheless IL very much less than
has been currently suggested by OPP
| ponents OF the enterprise as the sum
total 50 to be spent. OF course In
matter of this sort there IL always
room for an Infinite variety of opinions
concerning just how the matter ought
to nave been organized and handled;
but such differences ought not to be
| the occasion Of factious opposition to
reasonable discrimination. Iowa IL
| state Of Iowa has not quit growing and
enough around its capitol. It IL the
lamentable fact that some OF the faith
| ers Of the state lacked responsiveness
in their vision, and It seems not to
have occurred to them that the state
would ever outgrow four blocks 81
requirement for elbow-roohh for the
state government; but their short
sis..:edaess n setting the pattern Is
precedent to get away from and moi
TO be limited by, and the state ought
to be telling the present DIRECTORS that
the time Is one for them to be apol-
! SSss.:sS &c: ssl!.SSssssss..;;ss