The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-07-29
Cabinet Resumes Building
After High Court Ruling

AG, July 60
Governor Caldwell today said
that the recent Supreme Court
decision has permitted the Cab
met to resume an energetic state
building program.
The Governor said the custo-
dial institutions. including the
hospital at Chattahooche. the
Farm Colony at Gainesville, the
Boys School at Mariana, the
Girls School at Ocala and the
prison system are of first impor-
lance and are being given prior
ity over all the other projects.
Funds, aggregating $1,731, 1859
have been allocated to those in
stitutions - the University, the
College for Women, A & NJ Col
lege and the School for the Deaf
and Blind = have been allocated
$4,654,0l9. Approximately a half
million dollars, most of which
was specifically appropriated for
the purpose, has been allocated
to the construction of the south
wing of. the Capitol and other
state office improvements.
I'VE are moving ahead with
plans for the improvement of
prison facilities" he said, ''Ten
thousand dollars has been allo-
Gated for the planning of prison
buildings, the necessary first step
in getting that problem solved.
The decision of the Supreme
Court cleared the way for action.
1.-TWO previous Legislatures APP
proved and made appropriations
for the new south wing of the
Capitol and the proposed SUI
preme Court building. We con-
template but have not yet finally
approved new state road depart
ment office facilities, the need
/ for which was first recognized by
the department in 1885 and to be
paid for with state road depart
ment funds, and an Industrial
Commission building which will
be a self-liquidating project, fl
nanced from rentals derived
largely from federal sources. The
Legislature authorized two Capt.
toll Center office buildings esti-
mated to cost 100000 each but
general treasury funds probably
will not be needed for that pur-
pose.
"This administration has pur-
chased no land for the Capitol
Center. The road Department
building will be erected on land
the state has owned since terri
torial days. The land which must
be acquired for the Supreme
Court and Industrial Commits
sion buildings is now occupied by
obsolescent residences. The addi-
tionaI land recommended by the
landscape architect as necessary
| part of an accepted Capitol Cen
ter, including some business
property, has not been pur-
chased and no plans have been
made to acquire that property
with state funds. If it is acquired
the action will be taken in con-
junction with the city and with
little, if any, expense to the
! state. The recommendations. of
the landscape architect look far
into the future and contemplate
the day when the state will be
proud of its Capital"
The Governor said that atten-
ton is now being given only to
construction absolutely neces-
sary to decently house the states
wards its students and its over
crowded state departments. He
pointed out that wooden barracks
buildings acquired from the
army have been moved to the lot
back of the state road depart
ment for office space, that sew
eral state departments are rent
ing unsuitable and unsatistac-
tory space in old residences, that
employees of state departments
are working in the corridors, that
| several state. departments have
been forced to rent storage space
for records and files IN ware
houses, all of which is proving
most expensive to the state from
| the money and efficiency stand
| points.
''We must look to and plan for
the future in the location and
construction of these badly need
ed buildings" he said. Some
breathing space must be allowed
between buildings and some at
tention must be given to the
need for dignity and harmony IN
the architecture and landscaping
of Florida's Capital"