Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-23
business centres, but, with their numerous
beautiful private residences, most attractive
and desirable homes
THE CAPITOL EXTENSION.

N>A"AAASOo SSAt1cbs Out, Will tueA1 AOuoI0O0
beautiful private residences, most attractive
and desirable homes.
THE CAPITOL EXTENSION.
Architect Burlington Replies to the Criti-
cism on tho Building and Asks the Public
to Suspend Judgment.
To the Editor of the Globe:
The criticisms that are being showered on
the extension of the State capitol, instigated
by few timid persons, and famed by the
unfortunate and unaccountable falling in of
the top arch of the auditors vault, prompt
me to make plain statement of fact, and
plead that no hasty judgment be formed.
Inc giving way of the arch has not as yet
peen traced to any particular cause, but a
NUMBER OF conditions seemed to have con-
splred TO cause it. AS to the construction
OF the arch, IL was in material and in con-
temptation abundantly strong. We have
very satisfactory proof of this
statement In the vault beneath which has
sustained the falling mass from the vault
ABOVE without preceptable injury. 1t should
oe remembered, too, that the mass of debris
1eli distance of twelve feet, and comprised
| weight of over As, 600 pounds. br1npino to
pear upon the arch strain fully four times
as great as any dead weight of equal actual
heft could have imposed.
Now as to the stability of the building:
10 an uneducated, or even professional
m1nd' erroneous opinions may be thought
lessly formed, upon the clamor of
criticism that is always ready
TO be heaped upon the construction of any
public building, in which the whole public
seem to appreciate their property right. 1t
should be remembered that the structure in
question is but in its embryo state: that il
is In no way completed; that many Orders
columns, bolts, stay-braces, partitions, etc,
have yet to be placed in position, all of which
Will add to the strength of the structure
When MIR. Gale turned the crude hall owe,
minneapolis market house into Association
a.''nere We're many censorlous persons ready
with untayorable comment and criticism
who freely expressed their fears, and there
We're many derogatory statements published
IN the newspapers. The building has {
length OF l57 feet, and width of eight,
| 1eet. Its plan of construction is Identical
with that of the capitol extension, except as
will hereafter appear. The carrying Width
OF the Jolst is divided by two rows of wooder
columns, eight inches square, nineteen fee
nigh, and are placed fourteen and hslf fee
apart. They carry Orders, on which res
tue Joists of the floor. The length of these
Jolsts are uniformly twenty-six feet In the
capitol the columns are of the same size. bu
only ten feet high, and in every instanc,
except one the joists which they sustain
are shorter than those introduced in Associa
| ton hall. Yet Association hall has contained
more than 1000 moving people at prom
enade concert, and remained unskake1
under the most severe test that could be an
piled to it. It is to day regarded as one O
the most substantial halls in the Northwest
| 10 be more specific in the comparison i
may be stated the columns in the capita
building are 8inches square, 10 feet long
and are placed from 10 to IL feet apart, AM
will each sustain, according to Troutwine, ;
standard authority, (page 243), a weigh
OF 268,OOO lbs. AS 800 will b.
the largest assembly that cal
at any time be crowded into the Representa-
tives' hall, 1872 pounds would be the WEIGH
sustained by each ioist. The SUSTAINING
weight of each ioist at the present stage o
construction is already over 1000 pounds
and when the stays are placed, they will ado
more than six times to the sustaining power
AS to the girders they are proportionatel,
strong.
1t may be further remarked that while tht
capitol extension, is as have shown, suf
tlciently strong to maintain on any and al
of its floors whatever weight may be placed
upon them, it should be remembered
that the building is not a costly structure Of
iron or stone, and built with view to ever
lasting permanency. It is understood that
the legislature made the limited appropria
ton of $14, 700 to meet only present de-
mands, and avoid, if possible, extensive out
| lay until such time as the condition of the
State treasury shall warrant the. construc
ton of a building be6tting the great State OF
Minnesota. So far as the work has pro.
crossed, and in The fulfllment of nv plans
for construction the building will be
the very best for the amount of money. and
will fully and safely comply with the design
OF the legislature in their provision for its
construction.
Hoping that you desire no injustice to any
one, am not prescriptions in asking thai
you forbear from criticism until the BUILDING
is further advanced and all the constructions
work placed in position. Then if the bes,
expert evidence shall condemn the safety Of
the building, shall be willing to relinouisl
my professional recognition. I ask this in
the confident belief that the confidence the
State authorities and the public have i'm
posed in me will be amply sustained, ane
that the most skeptical will be entirely sat
isfied. d. S. BnEF1NcroS
Supervising Architect.
Minneapolis, Sept. 22d, 1878.
Yellow Fever Entertainment at the
Athenaeum.
The "Jolly Students" has been placed
before st. Paul audience SO often by tn,
combined German musical and dramatic so
cieties, that it will be sufficient to say tina
last night the piece was placed upon th,
boards with the completeness of minute