The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-02-07
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF BUILDING
COMMISSIONERS.
To the Hon., the Legislative assembly
ofthe Terriforu of Minnesota.

ings-in the Territory of Minnesota" the
Board of Building Commissioners have
the honor to transmit you, herewith, a
brief outline Of its proceedings from the
organization up to the present date.
The Board held its first session on the
18th May, 1851, in St. Paul, C. K. Smith,
Acting President; at which time the pre-
sent Secretary was elected, and entered
upon the discharge of his duties. On the
10th May, ID. F. Brawley was elected by
the Board, Building Commissioner for the
Capitol, and J. McKusick, Building Com
missioner for the Prison. On the 2lst
May, E. A. c. Hatch was elected Treas
urer of the Capitol Fund, and ]. McKu-
sick, Treasurer of the Prison Fund.
The organization of the Board having
been completed, immediate steps were ia
ken for the selection of suitable sites for
the Public Buildings and on the 9th
June. good and perfect title, without any
charge on the fund, was given to the Gov
ernor and Representatives of Minnesota
Territory, of block six, co. in BAIL s.
Gurrin's addition to St. Paul +; this spot
having been selected by the Board as a
suitable site for the Capitol Buildings. On
the 23d May, the Board adjourned to Still
water, and selected four acres of ground
above the town, on land belonging to
Messrs. McKusick & CARL for which
500 per acre was paid.
The grounds having been selected, an
advertisement was issued on the 24th
May, inviting proposals for the erection
and completion of Capitol and Peniten-
tiary for $4,000 each.
AT the next session, the Board resolved
to entertain no bids for which contracts
were TO be entered into involving a larger
expenditure than the present appropria-
ton. In pursuance of this resolution, the
Board having adopted the plans of N. C.
Prcntiss for the Capitol, and J. Fisher for
the Territorial Prison, again advertised
to receive bids for the erection of the Pub
lie Buildings according to the plans adop-
ted.
In compliance with this advertisement,
bids were received from several parties !;
and on the 18th July, the Board decided
the bids of Joseph Daniels for the Capitol
Building, and Jesse Taylor s. Co., for the
Territorial Prison, to be the lowest, and
instructed the Attorney to draw up con-
tracts with the parties. At this session,
contract was entered into with J. Dam
iels, with security in the sum of $4,000,
Tor the completion of the exterior of the
Capitol Building, entire, according to the
plan adopted, including painting and gla-
zing. The Council Chamber, Represent
tatives' Hall, Governors, Secretary S and
Clerks rooms are also to be finished in a
suitable manner; all for the sum of seven
teen thousand ($l7,OOO) dollars. The
dimensions Of this building are l39 feet
front ~ 53 l-2 feet deep; with wing
back, "A feet by 52 feet.
The work on this building has pro-
gressel as well as circumstances would
admit. The heavy rains during the sum-
mer, retarded the work of excavation, and
il was necessary that the ground should
be drained before the work could 60 on
Notwithstanding this, however, the base
ment walls are nearly completed and rea-
dy for the brick work; and during the
present month, all the door frames, win
dow frames and cornice will be completed.
The Board have every confidence that this
building will be finished according to the
contract, and within the time specified, to
wit, December, 1852.
Warrants have been drawn on the Trea-
surer Of the Capitol Fund for $2.7S5 90,
on account of work done and material fur
nished on this building to date.
The plan for the Territorial Prison,
adopted by the Board, embraces an area
of about 2SO feet square; the whole to
be enclosed by stone wall IL feet high,
feet thick at the base, and l-2 feet at
the top. The Wardcn's house is outside
of the wall. The present contract en-
tered into with Messrs. Jesse Taylor g.
Co., does not include the workshops but
only specifies, that the outside walls, the
Warden's house and the main prison build
ing. including two CD cells for solitary
confinement, shall be finished.
The contractors have been to great ex-
pense and labor in grading, but it is now
nearly completed, as well as the princi-
pal part OF the foundation walls. There
has been about 800 perch of stone laid in
the wall above ground; greater part of
the lumber to be used in the construction
of the building is on hand, and large
amount of stone on the ground and being
quarried. There has been expended on
this building for labor and material fur
nished, the sum Of $3.50, up to date.
The treasurers OF the respective funds
have received from the treasurer of the
Unit ed States, the full amount appropri-
ated by Congress for the erection of Pub
lie Buildings in the territory. There has
been expended for salaries of officers, and
per diem of members Of the Board, and
for work done and materials furnished in
the erection of the Public Buildings, the
sum of $9,l3O So; of which amount,
$3,S49 IL, have been drawn from the
treasurer of the capitol fund, and 1921
IN from tho froaSnrar of tho fund.