The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-27
SAYS STATE MUST
| HAVE WHOLE BLOCK
Purchase of Ford Hotel Site
Urged by Appropriations
Committee.
QUARTERS BADLY CROWDED
IIobson Thinks City May Agree
to Scll-Refused to Dis
pose Of Half.
QUARTERS BADLY CROWDED

The purchase from the city of the
entire Ford Hotel block adjoining the
City Hall, as the site for an imposing
nreproof State building to house the
general offices of the state government
was recommended by the House Appro-
priatlons Committee last night, Two
thorizcd tho Governor, whenever there
was 9. surplus In the state treasury, to
negotiate with the city for the pur-
city declined to sell, having gen
eral plan In mind for the erection OF
City Hall. The urgent need of more
space for the State departments was
clearly shown last night. and the only
question before the committee was one
of location. a bill offered by DIR. Kent.
OF Halifax. was pending proposing, the
erection OF II building in the sontheas st
drawn by Charles i. Bryant, of Rich
mond, were shown To demonstrate how
n, "a site could be G 9o W. D;
the Davis property at Franklin and
Governor Strects--the only piece OF
property Immediately adjoining the
Capitol Square which does not belong
TO the State.
stnte Records I'm Danger.
Delegate Montague. of Richmond.
urged the Importance OF having tho
where It would DO seen and used--not
hidden behind n hill In the most OBJ
scure corner of the square. lie favored
selecting a site within two blocks of
the Capitol Square, suggesting. several
available locations which could be Sc
cured at fair market price. Speaker
Cox spoke of tho need for n proper
building. to house State. offices now
scattered all over the city, many of
them in inadequate rented quarters.
II. Stewart Jones. clerk of the SUI :
prcme Court Of Appeals; told OF the
overcrowdcd conditions OF his quarters.
l.
calculnble loss through Keeping valu-
able court records in a non fireproof
Corporation Commission. said that the
work of his department was seriously
hnmpered by lack of room. For lack
OF filing space. valuable state records
have been carried TO the garnet of tho
Capitol which Is now loaded beyond
the weight It is calculated to carry.
West Virginia commissioners here TO
study the debt problem have had TO
work In the garnet, where there is
neither heat In winter nor ventilation
in summer.
Believes City VIII Sell.
Mr.. Hobson. Of tho committee. said
that while II was true tho city had
acquired the Ford lot with the idea
lieved a proper sentiment could be
created for n state building adjoining
Capitol Square. which would Induce the
city to part with the property. The
city could go across Broad Street and
find several available sites for an an
lex, where the Police Headquarters are
now located. or at several other points,
while such site would not bc de-
sirablc for the state, because 1t would
be separated from the square.
Chairman Brewer said that II was his
idea that the first floor should have
adequate and We'll arranged quarters
Court of Appeals, Judges Offices and
law library would also be provided.
The upper floors could be divided as
needed for Office space for the various
departments. many Of which arc now
paying rent In public buildings seat
tered over the city. i'he committee ex.
dressed the idea that az a permanent
public building, adequate TO house all
of the State departments would be an
ornament to the city and n suitae,c
addition to the growing group OF pub
lie buildings arranged about the Cap
itol as Il centre, the city would not de-
sire TO make II speculation of Its pur-
chase OF the Ford property, but under
the circumstances would be willing to
turn II over to the State at cost, $685.
600. plus interest since the time of
purchase. II was regarded Hs not un-
cined to sell half Of the lot, as that
would have given neither the State nor
the city proper setting for such pub :
lie buildings as arc proposed The reso-
luton reported authorizes Il commits
sion headed by the Governor to make
the purchase as soon there is {.
sufficient surplus In the State treasury
The matter OF financing an adequate
and permanent lreproof office building
VIII then be taken up at tho next seS-
sion OF the General Assembly