TIS REGIMINE DONATA A.D.1822

City Document No. 50.

REPORT ON REMOVAL OF OLD STATE-HOUSE. IN COMMON COUNCIL, May 18, 1876.

The Joint Standing Committee on Streets, to whom was recommitted the majority and minority reports in relation to the Old State-House, with instructions to hear certain petitioners, beg leave to submit the following report:

Your committee gave two hearings and heard the statements of those in favor of, and of those opposed to, the removal of the Old State-House. The result has confirmed your committee in their opinion that the removal of the building is unnecessary and inexpedient at the present time.

There is no immediate necessity that the street should be widened. On the south side or the building it is already as wide as Washington street, and on the north side, very nearly so. To remove the building would leave an open space 113 feet wide, a width wholly unnecessary for the amount of travel which passes through the street. The principal lines of travel are through Washington and Devonshire streets, passing the easterly and westerly ends of the building. If the street is blockaded on either side of the building, the cause is not the narrowness of the street nor that the building is in the way, but that the vehicles are compelled to wait for an opportunity to pass at the above points. Nor does it appear that the removal of the building would obviate the difficulty. On the contrary, it would be more likely to increase it by encouraging heavy travel at that point. It does not, however, appear that any difficulty exists at present. A gentleman who has occupied an office on the north side of the building for nine years, testified before the committee that he had not seen the street blockaded during that time.

Your committee believe that it is futile to expect that the city will be compensated for the loss of the income from the building by any increase in the valuation of the surrounding property.

Real estate in that vicinity is already taxed to its utmost value, and in view of the tendency on the part of tenants to seek newer and cheaper quarters in other parts of the city,

and the consequent reduced productiveness of the property, it is a question whether the abuttors will not look for a decrease, rather than an increase, in taxation.

The present seems a most inopportune time to advocate the removal of a building so closely connected with the history of American Independence. The inhabitants of Boston are joining with those of other cities in celebrating the centennial year, and it would certainly be inconsistent with the prevailing sentiment to demolish one of the few remaining landmarks of the time which they are engaged in commemorating, and especially when this is public property in which the whole community are interested, and which can be preserved without expense, and even with profit to the city.

For these reasons, together with those stated in the former majority report, your committee recommend the passage of the order appended to that report.

ALVAH A. BURRAGE,
FRANCIS THOMPSON,
LEVI L. WILCUTT,
J. AUGUSTUS FELT,
MARTIN L. HAM.

The undersigned, a minority of the Joint Standing Committee on Streets, respectfully dissent from the report of the majority of the said committee in relation to the Old State-House, and recommend the adoption of the former minority report.

The petitions in favor of the removal of the building, which were referred to the committee, represent taxable property of an assessed value of over thirty million dollars, or an actual value of over one hundred millions. These petitions were supported by gentlemen heavily interested in real estate, who would not be likely to favor a measure calculated to increase taxation, unless in their opinion some benefit was to be derived from it. Representatives of property, which will be liable to a betterment in case the building is removed, expressed themselves in favor of the measure. It was the general opinion that not only would the value of property in the immediate vicinity of the Old State-House be increased, but that property on other parts of State street and the streets contiguous thereto, would be benefited. Notwithstanding their opinion that it would be a great improvement, the undersigned would not favor the measure had they believed that betterments could not be assessed in case the building is removed; but in order that

no doubt may exist on that point, they have consulted the City Solicitor, who gives it as his opinion that betterments may be assessed as if private property was taken.

In the former minority report it was stated that the removal of the building would, to a great extent, prevent the frequent blockades on Washington and Court streets. It is hardly necessary to point out the advantages arising from open spaces at the junction of crowded thoroughfares. Scollay's square and the square at the junction of Washington street, Cornhill, and Devonshire street are illustrations. of their utility as preventatives of blockades, which in those localities were frequent before the buildings were removed, but now seldom occur. The same conditions exist in the present case that existed in those localities, and it is believed that the same results would follow a corresponding improvement.

The complaint has been made that the value of real estate on State street is declining, and that the occupants of the buildings are moving to the "Burnt District." If this is a fact, the reason is evident. The widening of the streets in that locality led to the erection of a superior class of buildings, which afford accommodations that cannot be obtained on State street. State street has been for years the great financial centre of the city, and may continue so, if proper facilities are furnished for the transaction of business. These can only be obtained by the erection of suitable buildings upon a thoroughfare adapted to them.

In other sections of the city an improvement, such as is contemplated by the removal of the Old State-House, is immediately followed by the improvement of the surrounding property. It is hardly to be expected that real-estate owners will erect costly buildings on narrow and inconvenient streets, where the facilities for business are limited. But let the city lead the way in the improvement of the locality, and the owners of the adjoining property will soon follow. Having done so much for other sections of the city, it seems but just that the City Government should appreciate the wants of the real-estate owners on State street, and do its share towards maintaining, if not increasing, the value of their property.

The value of the Old State-House, as a source of revenue to the city, is diminishing. If the portico is removed, as recommended by the majority of the committee, alterations will have to be made, which will decrease its value still further. The rooms and offices in it are small and inconvenient, and the tenants are moving to more modern and convenient buildings in other parts of the city. The his

torical associations connected with the building should not enter into the consideration of the question. They might have been urged with propriety when the building was converted to its present uses, but now, when so little of the original building remains, they can have but little weight. If the building had been kept in its original condition, and preserved as a historical monument, some value might have attached to it; but in its present state it is hardly an object to suggest patriotic emotion, or to be exhibited as a relic of our early history.

For these reasons, together with those stated in the former minority report, the undersigned recommend the passage of the resolve attached to that report.

JOHN T. CLARK,

WILLIAM C. BURGESS,
AUGUSTUS PARKER.

ORDER ATTACHED TO MAJORITY REPORT.

Ordered, That the Committee on Public Buildings be authorized, at the expiration of the lease of the Old StateHouse, to remove the balcony from the eastern end of the building, and to make arrangements for leasing the said building for a term not exceeding five years, upon such terms and conditions as they may deem best for the interests of the city.

RESOLVE ATTACHED TO THE MINORITY REPORT.

Resolved, That in the opinion of the City Council it is expedient that State street should be widened by removing the Old State-House, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Street Commissioners.