Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-08-06
THE NEW CAPITOL.
How it Looks To-Day--How it will
Look When Completed.

Not very many people have any
idea of the magnitude of the State
House which Iowa is building. For
three years scores of men, aggregat
ing at different times more than one
thousand, have been employed in
laying the foundation and rearing the
basement story. This work was of a
character that made little show, and
even the wise heads wagged in de-
rision at the apparent slowness with
which the structure rose. 1t did, and
does, 90 up slowly; but how big do
you think it is? A square figure
stretched by line touching each
portico will enclose over two acres OF
ground. The actual building covers
one and one-eighth acre.
The windows of the Senate Hall and
House of Representatives are 9x27
feet in size, large enough to furnish
ample room for the passage of load
of hay, and probably there will be
considerable glass within them.
The Auditors room is now COM
pleted, that is the outside wall is up.
1t has ceilings twenty-five feet high,
and, with private offices attached, is
as large as a good-sized dwelling
house. This office is located at the
southwest corner, overlooking the
city and the river, the most desirable
room in the building. Judge Sher-
man will have the honor of christen-
ing it sometime during the coming
years.
Ten millions of brick have already
been laid, and the work is now about
half done. One-half the stone is
cut. Two and one-half cars of rough
stones are received each day, and at
evening the entire lot is cut and
smoothed ready for the layers. Two
hundred and fifty-three names are on
the payroll in Des Moines; scores
more are working for the New Capt.
tol in the quarries in Missouri The
payroll for June footed up the clever
little sum of $12,423.95.
All the materials are now hoisted
by steam. Huge derricks are placed
on the upper wall, thirty-five feet from
mother earth, steam power swings
their long arms over the outer wall,
and wire cables supporting vigorous
looking grab-hooks reach down to
lift huge loads of brick and mortar
and stone weighing many tons. The
driver of the engine touches a lever,
there is whirr of wheels, the cable
tightens, and as you look, and while
you are yet wondering if the inch
cord won't break, eight or ten tons of
stone are swung through the air and
safely landed in places on the wall
One minute sufiices to elevate the
stone, and from five to ten to places it.
AS before stated, the derrlcks are
on a wall thirty-five feet high. Sixty
five feet more, perpendicular, the
point of the upright ends. Every
morning a workman, with good
deal more nerve than ordinary men
have, climbs to that dizzy height to
oil the shears. When the derricks
are moved, he ascends to the peak
and "sends down" all the gearing aud
guys.
There's no "cutting and trying" in
the manufacture Of that Capitol.
Draughtsman Hackney marks OFT the
details of everything to be done. Ar
chitect Piquenard scans them closely
and stamps them 90. H." if they are
correct; if not, he writes across them
"veto" and they go into the waste
basket. Then boss Brunton takes
them, and from his hand they 60 to
the workmen. Do you see that scrap
of paper in the hat band of each Gil
blemit? 1t is Il plan for the stone he
is cutting. When it is completed, he
it, places upon it his mark,
and the boss figures the amount Of
the work. If he spoils it in cutting,
it is charged to him. Without this
precaution there would be little trou-
BILE in wasting one or two hundred
dollars worth of stone each week.
Strict regulations are enforced among
the workmen, as is necessary when
such an army is employed. No smo-
king is allowed on the building. 1t
takes time, and time is money with
a pay roll numbering nearly three
hundred.
OF course machinery is used as
much as possible, steam being en-
ployed whenever practicable, al
though much of the work must nee
essarily be done by hand. That little
jack-screw at your feet is four feet
long. BY means of it one man can
lift eight tons, and do it as easily as
Kirkwood will lift the Iowa vote
from the shoulders of the Fossilifer-
Gus strata of Burlington.
The Secretary of State occupies the
apartments directly north of the Au-
ditor. Across the main hall, next
farther north, will be the Executive
office of Gov. Kirkwood. Then
comes the Supreme Court room, the
Judges consultation room, the Clerks
office, and the office Of the Attorney
General. Nat. Baker, will have a lift
occupancy of the apartments IN the
northeast corner. lie has stood there
before.
Capt. Christy's strong box comes
next, OH the south, fronting on the
grand entrance at the east. Across
the hall will be Supt. Abernethy and
a series of rooms labeled "Agricultu-
raj Department"
From the ground to the cornice
the building will measure ninety feet;
to the top Of the dome two hundred
and forty feet. The third story will
will be occupied by the Senate Hall
and House of Representatives. Each
office will have a fire and burglar
proof vault, and the assembled wis
dom will be hoisted to their seats by
means of steam elevator. If the
twelfth plank is adopted, they will
probably get high in other ways
State Register.
Sorry for Tiis Family.
We have u man in Cuthbert, GA
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