Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-14
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to TimeS-RepubNcan.
Sioux City. Jan. 14.--There was
nothing left for the opponents of the
capitol grounds extension to stand
upon when Governor George w.
Clarke concluded his address before the
Sioux City Commercial Club. delivered
last evening. Governor Clarke was in
request was made that he discuss the
planned enlargement OF the state house
grounds. The address was q plain,
practical defense Of the action Of the
legislature in passing the required law.
and q convincing showing that the
grounds are needed for the erection Of
additional office buildings. The gov
ernor convinced his hearers that the
charge that the bill was railroaded thru
the legislature in the interests of Des
Monies realty owners without founda-
ton In fact, and that few Of his prede-
cessors. Larrabee, Shaw. Garst and
Carroll, had urged previous legislatures
to take steps to bring about grounds
enlargement. Governor Clarke said in
part:
Gentlemen Of the Commercial Club:
When 1 was invited to address you
was advised that you wanted me to
speak upon the question OF extending
the grounds about our great capitol
building. 1 am quite willing to do so.
l. The question of charging the
grounds about the capitol is not new
one. 1t has been a matter of common
remark for many years that the
grounds are not at all in keeping with
the great capitol building itself. In
deed, ever since its erection it has been
generally admitted with deep regret
that the grounds are not at all COM
mensurate with its vast proportions
and great beauty. The ordinary OBJ
server has been thus impressed and
every Landscape architect who has ever
visited Capitol Hill has said, as polite
ly as he could, how lamentab!e it is
that the great building has not ade-
quate grounds, proper setting not
only for it but also for the buildings
that a great state will certainly need
in the future. Its location upon an
eminence overlooking the business por-
ton Of the city Of Des Moines and
the valley Of the Des Moines river to
the west south and east, the slope Of
the hill toward the city and to the
railroad tracks on the south gives an
unsurpassed opportunity at q COM
paratively small expense to transform
the whole into one of the most beau
tiful capitol grounds in all the world. I
have been intensely Interested from
time to time thru the last twelve years
to note the enthusiasm, the sparkle
OF the eye, the real exaltation Of soul
OF the cultured, genuine landscape
architect as he exclaimed, ooh how
entrancingiy beautiful it may all be-"
Then the question has arisen, will Iowa
neglect her great opportunity. her great
natural advantages? Iowa, SO great in
her wealth and in the fneness and hopes
and aspirations Of her people. Iowa,
great in the present, far greater in
the years that are to be. Will the peo-
pie of Iowa have an inspiring vision
of the state that is TO be in the dis
tant years and will she command the
gratitude Of the men and women of
coming time for her foresight and by
building wisely for the centuries? Or
will she, on the other hand, spoil her
PIeScuI great DuhOlAS, NY 1iItdScT
setting. by crowding close to it other
great buildings and all huddled to-
gether. smothered in appearance and
in fact, with no perspective. no room
for grass and trees and flowers and
fountains and monuments and statuary
which the coming years will demand
and long for in their sense Of the USE
full, the artistic, the beautiful? Iowa
will speak Of what she is on Capitol
Hill and it's surroundings more than
anywhere else. There IS the heart OF
Iowa. There Iowa is personified. There
ought to center the pride Of every man
who loves his state. There she speaks
in all the departments of her govern
mont.
Favored by Other Governors.
1t, however. is not simply that the
grounds be more spacious and beauti-
full, tho that is one great impelling
reason, but, as shall show further on,
there is a present imperative demand
for more ground for the needs of the
state. This need for enlargement for
the placement of buildings as we'll as
for proper setting has been, as said,
a matter Of common discussion for
years. Governor Larrabee said in his
message in 1890: The Improvement
Of the capitol grounds ought to be be-
gun at an early day. The grounds
should be in keeping with the capitol,
which is one of the most beautiful
on the continent
Governor Shaw in his message In
1900 said: when the present capitol
was built it was believed to be as COM
modious as the needs of the state
would ever require. It has now been
occupied sixteen years and several Of
the departments are seriously con-
gested.. An arsenal is needed for the
accommod ation of the adjutant gen
erals department. Storage of quarter
masters supplies is now provided in
Ia building rented for the purpose. 1t
was found necessary to locate the
board of control in committee rooms
back of the senate chamber, which
can not well be spared fer their de-
signed use during session Of the sen
ate assembly" Then the government
recommended an enlargement of the
grounds for building and said moth
ing will be saved by delay and the
erection Of substantial buildings by the
owners upon this property may ma
teriaHy add to the expensc. Location
Of public buildings is matter of prime
Importance. No location il too good
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