Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-14
sKYsCRAPER FOR State
OFFICES NOW PROBABLE
Joint Legislative Committee VIII
Work Out Plans and
Report.
DEPARTMENTS NEED
ROOM
Proposed Structure Would House or
fees Of State Departments Now
Occupying Rented Quarters-Com-
mittee Working Under Resolution.

The dream OF the erection by the
State OF a modern skyscraper to house
the of1ces OF tho several State depart
ments now In rented quarters, and to
relieve the coneested condition Of Of
fices In tho Capitol building is likely
to become reality in the not far dis
tant future
Under resolution adopted in tho
recent special session OF the General
Assembly Joint committee was APP
pointed to investigate the proposition
10 erect the structure. determine upon
suitable site. obtain estimates Of cost
attend to other numerous details and
submit report. The committee ia
composed OF the following: Senator a.
c. Hartman, OF Richmond: Senator G.
Walter Mapp. OF Accomac: Delegate
julien Gum, of Hcnrico: Delegate S.
T. a. Kent. of Halifax, and Delegate
r. Lindsay Gordan. Jr., OF Louisa. The
hrst meeting OF the committee will be
held when the General Assembly meets
again on March S, but 1t Is not likely
that report will be submitted be
fore the next regular session CT the
Legislature.
COMMITTEE HAS NOT YET
GIVEN PROBLEM CAREFUL STUDY
Members OF the committee last night
stated that they had as yet consld-
cred the proposition only in casual
manner, and were. therefore. unpre-
pared to discuss the project in detail.
The resolution under which the COM
mittee is acting makes no appropria-
ton for the purchase OF property or
other expenses, and contains practi-
cally no suggestions to guide the COM
mittee In It's work. While tho commit
tee may recommend the selection of
site outside the Capitol grounds. It
Is not thought likely that this will
ia hal
suitable site can be found on the
grounds without mourning the expense
Of purchasing additional property.
The necessity OF providing suitable
quarters for the State departments has
been called to the attention OF the
General Assembly on several occasions,
and tho adoption OF the resolution, fol
lowed by the appointment OF the COM
mite ut tho recent special session, II
Is thought Will bring results.
MANY STATE OFFICERS ARE
NOW IN RENTED QUARTERS
That tho State is badly In need of
more office space and better facilitie s
FOR the preservation of important
records and other documents Is a fact
undisputed. Critics of the present ar
rangement are continually calling at
tentfon to the fact that records OF the
state Supreme Court are now stored
In wooden boxes In the State Library
BUILDING, Wnere tho court COnvenes
and that fire or other mishnp would
be likely to wipe out these importa mt
documents. causing endless legal con-
fusion. officers OF the State Board of
Education, the Agricultural Depart
ment laboratories. Banking Depart
ment. State Board of Health and the
Adtutant- Generals office are all To-
Gated In rented quarters.
State offices In the Capitol Building
are crowded. and lack adequate facil-
tiles In the courtroom of the State
Corporation Commission there Is not
enough room and there Is practically
no provision for the preservation of
important records of the court. The
State Library has most valuable his
torlcal manuscripts, which could not
be replaced. stored in nonfreproof
building.
Just what plan the committe has in
view regarding the proposed building
Is not known. but It is certain that q
large and modern structure will be re-
CURED to meet the needs of the State
at this time 1t is to be remembered,
too. that the committee will bear in
mind when submitting It's recommen-
dations the fact that the State de-
partments are each year widening their
scope and that other departments are
likely to be created. 1t Is therefore
practically certain that when the
structure Is finally erected It will be
In q class with other modern office
buildings OF the CITY