, 1872-12-25

! | the Sale OF the old State House, The second
! passed March II, 1869, made an additional ar
! preparation Of 965o,000, reduced the number O
Commissioners from seven to three, placed thei
appointment in the hands Of the Governor, an
limited the entire cost OF the building to S3 o0o
} 600 in addition to what had already been e1
, pended. This act also provided for Join
Committee Of the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives,. to whom estimates for til.
ing any further. The plans and specifications
on which this estimate WAS made brought it ur
to 83,031, ,04o, or S31, ,040 in excess Of the limi
prescribed. It was concluded, however, thai
certain notifications could be made which
would bring the cost Of the structure
within So, 100000, without materially detractine
from its general appearance or stability, and the
plans we're approved Aug. 26, 1860. It was
not until after the following winter, however,
that work could begin in earnest. Tho founda-
ton was completed in September, 1869, and the
basement story, including the iron beams for the
floor above, was finished early in 1871. The
General Assembly made 8 third appropriation in
June, 1871, OF 1000, making total OF 81 7oo =
600 available funds which have been voted
for the enterprise. In the accompanying report
of the architects there is statement OF e1pen-
ditures, as follows
Expenditure for year ending Nov. s0 1867 $ $685.
Expenditure for year ending Nov. &c. 1863 70
Expenditure for year ending Nov. 30 1867. 1877
Expenditure for year ending Nov. &c. 180 27s643 43
Expenditure for year ending Nov so 1871. 400 56 ~
Expenditure for year ending Nov. 80, 1874 3826o231
Total expenditure 81, ,597 56sr
The amount thus expended has brought the
State House to this condition: Three-fifths Of
| the walls are now complete and ready for the
roof ; the stone required for the completion Of
| the outer walls is paid for and ready for ship
ment from the Penitentiary, and the greater part
OF it could have been in the walls by this time,
! II there had been sufficient money on hand to
do the work it will require nearly two years to
prepare the State House for occupancy by the
State officers and Legislature, and four years for
its entire occupancy. To this end, the Commits
sioners ask an appropriation OF 81 600, 600 for
the years 1873 and 1874. They say that the ap-
propriations already made will be exhausted be-
4OAo bAo UtDkAA6 O1 LIZ uBAL d6Q4Tal Ag8em1IV,
Under the law, the Commissioners must have
their appropriations before continuing the work.
It will require several months to construct the
iron framework for the roof, which cannot even
be ordered until the necessary approximation
shall have been made. Hence, the Commission
ers urge the necessity for fixing the appropria-
ton as early as possible after the conyening of
the Legislature. "With no interest separate
from that Of the people OF the State" they say
to the Governor, "and with no desire but to
carry out the will Of the people as expressed
through their Representatives, We present this
matter, asking that you make such recommend
ations to the General Assembly as your iudg-
ment may dctate.'
From the details OF the report re discover
that many changes for the better have been
made, as the work has progressed. Most of the |
contracts having been made prior to the advance
in wages and the cost OF building material,
caused largely by the Chicago fire,
it has been found feasible to intro
duce these improvements without going |
beyond the limit fixed by law, or exceeding the
estimates which were approved. The roof, gal
leries, and many Of the ceilings are to be con-
etructed Of iron, the architects holding that the
Chicago fire demonstrated the superiority OF
iron over brick arches. Finding that the work
OF the basement-story had been done under the
estimated cost, the decorations Of the building
will be more elaborate than was at first pro-
posed. The columns and wainacoting Of the
upper part Of the rotunda will be Of granite, in
stead Of iron, as will the columns and arcades
around the grand staircase. The architects
recommend group OF statuary for
the front pediment, representing the ad-
vance of the State from barbarism
to the present point OF civilization, and
also 6as reziefs for large frieze inside tho TO-
tunda, representing the most important points
Of the State history from it's colonization to the
present time,-theae to take the place Of fres-
Going. According to the estimates, the archi-
tects might have expended the SUN of 81 s43,-
929 On the work done thus far. They have
actually expended, however, only s1,278, ,48o,
which includes values equal to those represented
by the authorized sum stated. "In fact" say
The architects" as soon as re have found that
We could afford, without exceeding the estimate,
10 do better, stronger, and finer work, without
any regard as to the extra labor it may give u.s.
We have changed all the drawings, and made
hem anew to suit the better class Of work."
The report is certainly Us favorable as any one
:ould have anticipated. Tho most general good
ceiling seems to have prevailed among Commits
'ioners, architects: superintendents, and con-
ractors. And the work appears to have been OF
20 much better character than that which inau-
,urated the construction Of the new State House, !
hut there is for congratulating both
hose who have been engaged in the work md
he people at large.
TIE LOUISIANA C0MM1TTEES ADDRESS.
The nddrpgs Of the Louisiana Commit+aa can