Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-10
Editor Courier:

Editor Courier:
have been much interested In the
comment from Ottumwa on the pro-
rosed capito. grounds extension and
particularly In your editorials and the
statements by my friends Weber and
Mitchell. II still lived in Ottumwa,
might be able to see this matter In the
same light you do, but don't believe
my change in residence has anything
to do with the views hold.
The principal objection to the i'm
provement seems to be that 1t Is I'M
constitutional. When Governor Clarke,
Attorney General Cosson and lawyers
of equal ability In our general assem-
bly, VINO assisted In preparing the bill
are convinced Of .tS constitutionality,
1t seeing to me that we ordinary citi-
zess IMMERSED In legal matters had bet
/, ter leave this point for the courts to
determine, and not waste time In argu-
ment over point we know so little
about.
The next objection given Is that we
need good roads and the opening of
our rivers to navigation more than we
need this improvement. All good citi-
zens will concede this, but will the
waving of the capitol ground extern
SIGN set us these or either Of them
! 1t occurs to me we have been putting
[, In q lot of energy, time and money In
that direction for several years with
out accomplishing any great results,
SO why not take this improvement now
while we can get 1t and then all get
! together and boost for the others?
, Des Moines has done it's share on both
opd ran ho counted IN tO
continue to do more than Its share in
the future.
Another objection given is that it
will make the capitol even more diff
cult to get to than at present. | don't
see how an extended area in grounds
without affecting the street cars or
other means Of approach will make it
any less accessible than at present
An objection is that the improve
ment will not add a cent to the wealth
of the state or increase it's population
or bling in any new factories. If we
were figuring on this as a business
proposition possibly 1t would be, econ
omy to tear down the capitol building,
erect a few modern ONCE buildings in
stead, and sell the balance OF the
ground, but we must consider culture
along with our business needs. How
many dollars actually paid out by the
state Of Iowa for the maintenance OF
the state university, public schools or
other institutions our merciful genera
ton supports ungrudgingly. and which
our ancestors $50 years ago got along
without, are actually returning any
thing to the state treasury?
The argument that people owning
property in the capitol grounds dis
trlct will hold the state up for fancy i
price has no weight when it is under
stood that already options to purchase
have been taken at prices recognized
by all authorities as very low and ap-
praisers from outside Des Moines will
be appointed to condemn the property
not optioned at a reasonable figure.
The statement that the bill was rush
Cd through without giving time for con-
sideration does not seem to me to be
borne out by the facts. The matter
was discussed continually from the II
time Of the publication of the COVER
nors message on January 16, till the
passage Of the bill on April 8. Pub
licity was given it freely and It was
well known that the majority of the
assembly favored passing such bill.
The fact that only SIX opposed 1t in the
senate and twenty-eight In the house
shows It was popular measure.
II objection to the project is not bas-
ed ON jealousy of Des MOines, why do
such phrases as "This whole thing Is a
scheme OF Des Moines, "Des Moines is
hogging everything 1T will be easier,
brother, if you turn your attention to
figuring out what Des Moines wants :
Of It," ITO prevent the state being put