Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-01-05
Site For New Capitol Selected.

erection of the new West Virginia cap.
itol building. Announcement Of the
choice was made by Secretary Of State
Houston G. Young, as secretary Of
the Capitol Building Commission es-
taolished by the last Legislature.
The decision by the commission
came at the close of a session in which
Mayor Hall, of Charleston, had an
nounced that he considered the promise
of additional land for a building on the
old site had been made void by actioa
OF the Legislature and that he doubted
whether money could now be raised
for the donation of the square ad-
joining the old site which had ones
been offered by a popular petition.
The site chosen comprises about six
teen acres, on which there are now al
number of dwell ings, and is in one Of
the very best residential districts In
the city. 1t faces on the Kanawhsj
river and extends back about 900 feet
to Washington street.
The statement issued by Secretary
Young as the commissions formal an
nouncement OF its choice follows:
"The Capitol Building Commissions
at the close OF the session authorized
the announcement that il has selected
as the site for West Virginia's new
capitol the piece Of ground located in
the eastern portion Of the city of Char
lesion bounded by the following streets q
Duffy, Washington, California aad
Kanawha. The property fronts 1000
feet on the Kanawha river and has a
depth of 900 feet, and contains ap-
proximately IS acres. The front on the
Kanawha river includes that land whieh
lies between Kanawha street as at
present located and low water mark
of Kanawha river.
"The capitol site is on the highest
portion of the valley in which Charles
ton is situated, and is we'll above the
highest water mark ever known in
this section. II is a symmetrical block,
and so located that it will be easy of
access from every portion of the city,
lends itself admirably to the art OF the
landscape gardener, and can be o ain
ly seen from both the Kanawha and
Michigan and Chesapeake and Ohio
railroads. Its size, is acres, is suf-
ficient not only for the present, but
also for the future needs of the State.
The entire tract, owned by more than
forty individuals, can be properly pro-
tected by building regulations.
"The property can be secured fer
reasonable compensation, so that no
question will be raised about the
ability of the State by sale OF the tract
now used for State purposes, contain
ing less than Ave acres in the city OF
Charleston, 10 more than pay for the
new site without touching the fund ap-
propriated for the buildings proper.
The citizens of Charleston who live
within the boundary OF the new site
assure the commission that no OBJ
struction will be placed in the way of
the State quickly obtaining possess
sion OF the property, provided fair,
prices, and no more than fair prices,
shall be paid for it, and the commits
sion expects the hearty cooperation
Of the citizens and the city Of Charles
ton in securing the site at prices fair
to the State Of West Virginia.
"The commission will proceed wild,
the final pans OF the capitol as rapid
ly as possible. A plot Of land bought
by the State recently for the purpose
of erecting an executive mansion on
Kanawha street facing the Kanawha
river adjoins the site selected for the
capitol on the western side"
Adoption OF the Duffy street site
marks the proposed removal OF the
seat of State government from the
heart of Charleston's business district
to point about mile east Of the main
thoroughfare, on the same side Of the
river. II was one OF the sites rec-
commended to the commission bv the
architect, Cass Gilbert, OF New York. /
The other, known as the South Ruff |
ner site, was on the south side Of the
river directly opposite the site which !
was chosen
The old capitol which was burned
January Sd, 1921, stood on Caritol
street, three squares north from the
river. Chief objection to the cd site,
II. was said. developed in the ON |