The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-24
THE NEW STATE HOUSE.
The Third Quarterly Report of the Board OF
State House Commissioners.
A Sad Blow to the Disappointed Architects
All the Plans Examined in Detail
An Account Of How the Work
Was Done.

of the board of state house commissioners,
submitted to the governor yesterday:
To His Excellency James ID. Williams, Cover
nor of Indiana:
board, submitted on the 9TH of January last, il
is stated that "a plans for new state house
had been received from competing arcnlteclS,
and that In pursuance Of the law, experts
(architects, engineer and builder had been
appointed, and having taken the required
oath, were then engaged in the examination
With q view to facilitate the work, and TO
cOnfine il as far as practicable 10 the require
ments of the law. the commissioners Instruct
ed the experts to report dn addition to any
formation derived from careful consideration
OF the following questions:
l. Can the building DE completed according
to the plans and specifications within the
limit named in the law, viz, SS,OOO,OOOT
?. Are the foundations in character ana ex-
tent sufficient to support the supeTstructure in
such manner that no injury is 10 be appre-
hended 10 any part OF the work, from setting
crushing?
3. Are the materials of the superstructure, in
kind and quantity, such as to insure stability
and permanence?
A. Are the combinations of materials such as
to give strength and security to the entire
structure, regard being had to the methods OF
spanning spaces between walls, construction
of roofs, dome and towers, supporting STAIR
ways or other dependent portions?
5. Are damages from fire sufficiently guarded
against?
8. Having regard to convenience, adaptable
ity to the purposes required, harmony anu
ADEQUATE for light TO the corridors and rooms
and offices-sunlight by day and gaslight by
night?
ing the building and all its parts, as also the
needed supply of water, gas, etc.
s. Are the pipes for conveying heat, gas and
water easily and conveniently accessible?
9. Is drainage amply provided Tor? $50,
Your opinion is also requested as 10 archl-
tectural symmetry, beauty and harmony OF
parts, including ornamen alton and general
conformity to the dignity, resources and pro-
greSs of the state.
AS the first step in the examination, the
commissioners directed each expert and each
commissioners 10 separately examine carefully
each Of the plans, SO as TO decide upon prs per
classification of them as to merit, the best be-
ing in the first class, the second in merit IN the
the third class After this examination
was completed comparison Of opin-
plans as being clearly in the first
class, leaving the remaining seventeen as be-
longing to the last two classes.
As the next progressive step the commission
ers directed The expert engineer and expert
builder TO make critical and thorough test of
each item of the estimates accompanying Two
of the plans. One OF these plans contained, IN
our opinion, a surplus Of materials; the other
about proper amount. and both required APP
prOpriate materials and 81 class of work of SUI
perlOr finish in all details. This work con-
sumed over two months time OF these experts.
The Iabors OF the commi ssioners and expert
architect were continued in further critical
examinations of all the plans, giving to each "a
separate and careful examination OF all draw
which each of the questions above stated We're
asked by the commissioners in respect to each
plan, and fully and satisfactorily answered by
the architect expert Memoranda OF these
answers We're kept by each commission
er for future reference, TO aid them
In determining the relative merits OF al. me
plans. The experts, engineer, and builder,
having reported the result OF their test of the
eStim8 es of the two plans submitted to them,
were then directed TO ascertain the average
price per cubic foot of these two, and to apply
TINS price 70 the cubic dimensions OF ten adj
each for like materials and workmanship.
This test of the cost was regarded as reliable
Der cubic foot Ravine been caTefuiiy e a Pct9e
tanned of similar plans OF und0u0ted stability
and sup Tioc work and material, would give
mansions fair and safe relative cost OF con-
structiOn. From this Data the experts aScer-
tanned and reported the cost of five plans OF
the first class and i've faore OF the most meri-
tOriOus Of those OF the second class.
The commissioners now directed all the ex-
perts to thoroughly examine tue plans and
specifications submitted by each competing
architect, and make joint written report to
the board upon all the characteristics of each
plan as set forth in the law, together with
such other suggestions as they might deem
important. To avoid all uncertainty as TO
case il was thought to be more satisfactory
that they should state the facts shown by the
plans and specifications. thus permitting the
commissioners TO form their own conclusions
from the facts presented. IN discharge OF this
duty the experts have examined each Of The
their labors upon them, signed by all, which
report was received by the commissioners and
recorded in their record of proceedings.
These examinations having fully sa isfied
the commissioners that u of the q plans were
evidently tEys not suitable IN respect
not adapted to all the purposes and
aims of a state house building, and not in
keeping with the dignity of the state, as re-
quired by the law defining the duties of the
commissioners, apd therefore could not in any
case be selected by them, they considered IL
= n he no mr. tllr laf
pense on their examination.
The commissioners, after further and more
thorough examination of each of the plans
designated as Of the first class, agreed unani-
mOusly that three of these were superior in
merit 10 the others; they therefore limited
and critical inspection of these, calling to
their aid for this purpose the expert architect.
After this examination, each OF the CON-
missioners having satisfied himself that he
was prepared to select the plan regarded
the most meritorious, the board, in con-
forInity to the bylaws governing its
proceedings, ordered such selection TO be
made by ballot, the result showing four votes
for the plan bearing the motto OF "Lucldus
Ordo" and one vote for that OF the motto
"Phoenixo Whereupon the acceptance OF the
plan designated ..Luciaus OrdO' was agreed to
by a resolution adopted by unanimous vote.
This plan being. IL the opinion OF the board,
such as the law requires-that Is, it can be
suitable IN respect to permanence ana con-
venience, is adapted 10 all the purposes and
aims of a state house building and Is in keep
Ing with the dignity of the state. The archl-
tect, Edwin May, was notified Of Its adoption.
The architect having accepted the award,
and having agreed to receive for his
compensation as supervising architect two
per centum of the cost of the build
ing-the per centum in no case to be
allowed on a greater sum than two millions Of
dollars-the board has referred the matter
of making the contract and bonds required of
the architect TO the attorney general of the
stale. These papers will be executed az the
earliest period, and the plans and specidca-
tons be Immediately prepared for the inspec-
ton of contractors, with the expectation of
commencing the construction of the building
as soon "a possible.
Below is an exhibit of the expenses incurred
by the board during the third quarter ending
April /:
Oh
Expense OF experts in examining plans. LIP 49
lncidental expenses of commissioners. - %
Miscellaneous repairs to Office, pump
for We'll stationery, gas and water I0I 80
Testing depth OF sand for foundation
Tor new Dulid1n So 90
Commissioners per d1eIn-..-............... 150 co
s2,5OI O5
All of which is respectfully subnftted