AT THE NORMAL

WHY NOT HAVE THE TIME

 The Big Building Should be Honored
With a Corner Stone Laying

            EDITOR DEMOCRAT: -- Inspecting the progress at the new normal building I notice that the northeast corner is now at the proper height for laying the corner stone:  but thus far, have heard of no effort being made by those in charge to prepare such, nor gathering up the proper documents and historical facts to be deposited therein,  This surely is an oversight.  When we look at and consider the magnitude of the building, the place is destined to fill in the history and well-being of the State and the generations who will follow, us and with these, the permanency of the building itself, which bids fare, from the manner is being constructed to stand for centuries to come, and thousands of years hence may become the "Acropolis" of Cape Girardeau, a lasting monument to the men who planned it, including those who designed and erected it, would it not be well to have prepared a proper corner stone with a cavity of sufficient dimensions to contain brief histories of the present day.  The names of our National and State Officers, The Board of Regents, the Faculty, the men who secured the appropriations, the history of the school from its starting, the architect, the contractor, and a list of superintendents and workmen engaged in its erection:  and such other data as would be interesting and instructive, and place them where fire nor moth cannot reach them.  Libraries and histories get destroyed, but in a block of marble they would be safe for centuries to come.  Such a deposit as suggested would be interesting reading a thousand years from now.  Then don't put off this important matter off until it is too late.  Let us have a corner stone by all means.

                                                                                                CITIZEN.

 -- from the Weekly Democrat, 30 July 1904, Page 1. 
Located August 1983 - Cape Public Library