The Harris-Ingram ExperimentBolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward)
Science
The Harris-Ingram Experiment
Bolton, Charles E. (Charles Edward)
Science fiction, American
Every country road leading into the city had its electric railway with
combination passenger and freight cars, and farm products for the people
were delivered in better condition, earlier at the markets, and at much
reduced prices. The advantages enjoyed by rich and poor in Harrisville
were soon noised abroad, and the influx of new comers constantly
increased the growth of the city. Mayor Ingram had been given a
re-election. Prosperity in his own business had brought great returns,
and the mayor's chief concern was, what to do with his accumulations.
One day the County Commissioners, the City Government, the Chamber of
Commerce, and the Board of Education were equally surprised to receive
from George Ingram the announcement that he would build for the people at
his own expense a court house, a city hall, a public library, and public
baths. He had often wondered how it was possible that other millionaires
could overlook and miss such opportunities to distribute surplus funds
among the people. Gertrude early observed the city's needs, and had
pointed out the opportunity to George, urging that part of her father's
money should be united with their own increasing wealth to supply funds
for the execution of their plans.
The four committees appointed by city and county acted speedily in the
consideration of details. It was decided to construct a group of
buildings on the park. The architecture adopted for all four structures
was Romanesque in style; granite was used for wall work, and darker stone
for ornamentation. The plans accepted exhibited less massiveness than the
original Romanesque, and showed a tendency towards the lightness and
delicacy of finish which modern culture demands.
The new court house located on the park enabled the architect to connect
it by an historical "Bridge of Sighs" with the prison and old court house
across the street. The city hall was properly made the most prominent of
the group of buildings. Its first floor and basement were combined in a
great assembly hall, capable of seating 10,000 people with an abundance
of light, fresh air, and eight broad entrances for exit. As the belfry or
tower was a leading feature of most mediaeval town-halls, so the artistic
feature of the Harrisville city hall was its lofty tower, containing
chimes, above which was to be placed an appropriate bronze statue. The
library and the baths were built on the park.
The Romanesque style of all the buildings gave fine opportunity to
introduce elaborate carvings about the entrance arches, and across the
facades to chisel quaint faces above the windows, and grotesque heads out
of corbels at the eaves.
The group of public buildings was finally completed and dedicated with
much formality. The city government unanimously adopted resolutions as
follows:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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