Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-10-24
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IOWA cAPIToLs.

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IOWA CAPIToLS.
In 1S36the First Legislative Assem-
bly, met on Iowa soil,-then part of
the Territory of Wisconsin,-at Bur-
lington, in two-story frame house
erected for the purpose by Jeremiah
Smith, Jr. In the winter of that
year the building burned, and the
Legislature convened in the Meth
odist Church. There the Second
and Third Legislative Assemblies
met.
THE SECOND CAPITOL.
In 1889 Congress appropriated $780,
GOO for the erection of Capitol for
the Territory, and Commissioners
were appointed to 10 ate it in john
son County. There was set apart GAO
acres of land, which was to be laid
out in lots, and sold. The section Sc
lected was one just purchased OF the
Sac and Fox Indians. A town was
laid out, and called Iowa City. A
plan was prepared for the Capitol by
John f. Rayne, of Springfield. Ill.,
ct is coincidence that the architect
of the new Capitol was also SPRING
field man, The cost of this building,
when completed, was not to exceed
$5l 900.
On Monday, Dec. 6, 1916, the Fourth
Legislative Assembly met at Iowa
City, in a frame house, the permanent
Capitol not being completed, owing
to want of funds, as the only resource
beyond the Congressional appropria-
ton was from the sale of lots. 1t is
stated that, in disbursement, Of over
$24, 600 in one year, less than 81 ,O0Oin
cash was handled, ,-the remainder be-
ing struck and dicker." Dec. 5, lS42,
enough Of the building had been COM
pleted to accommodate the Assembly,
and there it met.
THE THIRD CAPITOL.
Dec 2S, 1916, Iowa was admitted to
the Union, aud Immediately it was
resolved to relocate the State Capital :
and accordingly Commission was
appointed to relocate the Capital, and
select q site for the Capitol. Five Sec
tions Of land were selected in Jasper
| County, between what is now Prairie
City and Monroe, on the keOkuk 81
Des Moines Railroad. A town was
laid out, called Monroe City, and
1,4l5 lots sold, for which 81, ,707. .4S was
received, of which the Commission
ers claimed $4O9.l4 as expenses
When their report was presented to
the Legislature, their brilliant finan-
cial achievement caused the eccentric
and well-known Judge Mcfarland to
lie in his place in he House, and
move to refer the report to a Select
Committee, with Instructions to re-
port how much OF Monroe City was
under water, and how much was
burned up. 1t was SO referred, and
that was the last heard of Monroe
City. The Capital remained at Iowa
City, and the Capitol was completed
at a cost of $4,000.
THE FOURTH CAPITOL.
In 1855 law was passed again to
relocate the Capital and Des Moines
was selected. A square Of ground
was donated for the Capitol by the
State and citizens combined, which
square was reserved for permanent
structure. A temporary building
was erected, across the street. by an
association of private citizens, and
rented to the State, which has since
been used for State offices. In the fall
of 1857 the State archives were re-
moved here. 1t was disagreeable
work. The roads were horrible, and
| 4 hor Il l,A
Of oxen and on two bob sleds the State
Trcasurcr's safe was hauled over the
route.
| THE NEW CAPITOL.
In 1870 it had become apparent that
the old State House was too small
much longer to supply the needs of
the rapidly growing State and, be-
sides, ii was going to pieces. In April
of that year bill was passed provid-
ing for the erection Of q new aud per-
manent State building, and an appro-
priation was made to begin the work.
1t was specified that the material
should be of Iowa production, if it
could be procured. Work was be-
gun on the foundation. j. G.. Cocb-
rane and A. ii. Piquenard, of Spring
field, III, architects of the new Hi
nois Capitol, were appointed archi-
tects. 1t was estimated that the
building. without a dome, would cost
| 81, 100000.
4 The foundation walls were laid
with stone from various quarrics,-
the coping being boulder granite
from Buchanan County and Wiscon-
sin. On Thursday, Nov. %, the cor
ner-stone was laid by Gov. Merrill,
assisted by the Hon. John A. Kasson
in behalf Of the Masonic fraternity.
Arrangements were made for an im-
Iposing ceremony, but fearful storm
of sleet and rain squelched the fine
feathers.
The winter Of ls7l-'72 tested the
material Of the foundation, and the
spring revealed . pilo of fractured,
cracked, and crumbling stone,
SHATTERED ny FROST.
The Legislature Of 1872 investigate
ed the matter, and the result was the
passage of law legislating the
/ Board Of Commissioners out Of Office,
ordering the rotten foundation re-
moved and the election of new Com
. missioncrs. Tho faulty foundation
. was removed, at q loss to the State OF
i Vs., ,593. The stones were subsequent-
ly sold to the City of Des Moines,
believe, for tie munificent sum OF
$1,000, and the city has used them all
in street improvements.
With the election of the new Com
missioners, Mr.. Cochrane resigned,
and Mr.. Piquenard was selected sole
architect, and Robert S. Finkbinc, Of
: Iowa City. Superintendent. In No
0 vember, 1876, Mr.. Piqucnard died
Q and Messrs. Bell and Hackney were
1 elected his successors, and have since
had charge OF the work. Mr.. Bell
I was with Mr.. Piqucnard at Spring
Q 1icid, while Mr.. Hackney was en-
: ployed hero Both are young men
I Of superior skill In the profession, 81
!. is evinccd by their work, and by the
< further testimonial of their being
elected architects of the new Illinois
. Pcnitentiary.
II having been ascertaincd thai
!, Iowa could not furnish stone suitable
for such q structure, material was
8 procured for time from Illinois
I and when that quarry failed, Nilsson
I ri was drawn upon, ,---thc quarries be
Q ing at st. Gcncvieve, in Carroll coun
9 ty.
t The walls arc now carried up I,
: the full height on the south wing
0 The remainder Of the walls are up t
! the gallery-story Of the Legislative
i Halls, sixty-tWO feet. The roof
. Itrnsses are being placed or the soutl
y wing. This i an iron trnss, ove