The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-14
THE CAPITOL.
Report of Hon. Il. %. GrOsven-
or. or the Building Com
mission.
ACCEPTANCE nv THE GOvERNoR

reply
FELLOW -CrrrzESs:-The Board o
State Building Commissioners welcom'
most heartily this occasion, and witt
pleasure avail themselves of the oppor
tunity il affords them 10 render an nc
count of their stewardship.
The members of the commission were
appointed by His Excellency, Gov
| Henry Il. Baldwin, and confirmed 10y
the Legislature in Joint convention Oh
the llth day of April, 1871. On the
day following they met III Lansing and
! took and subscribed the constitutional
oath Of Office, and the oath required
under the provisions of Section 3, Act
number 6s, OF the Laws of II. and al
once entered upon the work assigned
them.
At the session of the board on May
their organization was fully completed
10y the election OF Commissioners Gros'
venor as Vice President, at which time
the members Of the board also filed
with the Secretary of State the bonds
required 10y the act.
The first duty required of the board
was the erection Of n suitable building
for the temporary Use OF the State OFF,
GERS, as the building then in use for
that purpose occupied the center of the
block of ground designated as the site
for the new capitol. The building was
erected and completed ready for occu-
pancy in November, 1871.
While the erection of the temporary
offices was progressing, the commission
ers were engaged in collecting the nee
. essary information to enable them prop
erly to carry ont the instructions of the
Legislature, and on the 9th day of June
they issued an advertisement soliciting
| competitive designs for new Capitol,
and pamphlet of instructions TO archi-
tects, giving them the number and
sizes Of the various apartments requir-
ed, the kinds and quality of materials
| 10 he used, and such other directions
and information "a We're deemed essen
tial and charging them especially 10
avoid superfluous ornamentation, and
the necessity of keeping strictly within
the limit Of expenditure authorized by
the Legislature.
In response to this advertisement 20
designs were submitted on December
2S, 1871, 10y architects of various local
tiles.
After a careful examination of each.
in which the board was engaged almost
constantly for nearly month, they de-
cided on the oath of January, 1872, 10
adopt the design submitted by Elijah +.
Myers ian architect then residing at
Springfield, Ill), as possessing IN a
greater degree than any other design
submitted the most essential features
for a suitable capitol building for the
State Of Michigan. The drawings OF
Mr.. Myers were finely executed, COM
biniug beauty Of proportion with sub
stantial construction, and evinced that
the architect had carefully studied and
adhered To the suggestions OF the com
missioners in securing compactness and
solidity Of design, in avoiding unneces-
sary ornamentation, and in properly ar
ranging the various apartments with re-
gard to light. ventilation, and the gen
errl convenience of the departments
that were 10 occupy and transact busi-
ness in them.
As the work progressed. the plans
were found 10 be quite correct. and the
construction good and substantial, evi-
dencing that the skill and ability of the
architect were of high order.
Mr.. Myers was employed as an archi-
t.'ct and general superintendent, which
position he retained until the close Of
September last, the work being at that
time 80 nearly completed as 10 require
his services no longer.
In the examination aud selection Of a
design for the capitol, all the State de-
partments were consulted as 10 the rela-
tive location and amount Of room de
sired, and other requirements, and near
ly all Of the officers were present and
witnessed the final adoption.
At the extra session of the Legislature
in March, 1872, the cost Of the capitol,
| including all expenses incident 10 its
construction and completion, was limit
ed 10 ~, 200, 600. and the contract for
the entire building was awarded on the
18th of July, 1872. 10 Messrs. y. Os-
born X Co, for 81 1873, 057. 20, leaving
nearly $50, 600 10 provide for extras,
salaries, ana other expenses. OF the
six proposals submitted, that of n. Os-
born & Co. was the only one within the
limit of the Appropriation, the other
five ranging IN amount from 1873,
9Sig7 10 81 SOC, 600.
She subject Of building stone occu-
pied the attention of the commissioners
| for long time. and was fully discussed,
! and samples examined and tested at all
| their meetings. until the selection was
decided upon.
While the board felt a proper pride
ia using material found within the State,
and were desirous of carrying ont the
suggestions Of the Legislature in this re-
| spect, they were unwilling to adopt any
stone which could not command then
fullest confidence. OF 10 try any expert.
ment in a work Of such importance and
magnitude.
There was found no quarry within
the State sufficiently developed 10 in
sure the required quantity Of stone,
uniform in color and of suitable quail
" for a building Of such size and char.
acter.
II WAS therefore decided 10 adopt th,
Amherst. Ohio, sandstone, the character
Of which was fully established, and ia
color well adapted to produce the pleas
ing contrast Of light and shade desira
hle in building Of this class Of archi.
lecture. The limestone from Lamont,
Ill, WAS adopted for the foundation
and furnished in massive blocks, ex
tending the entire width OF the walls -
The first base course and all the out
side steps and landings are Of Jolie'
limestone Of very superior quality.
All the materials employed In the con
struction Of the buildings are Of th'
best Of their several kinds
On the 2d Of October, 1873, the cor
ner-stone was laid with appropriate Ger
emonies, pursuant TO the provisions Of
Joint resolution Of the Legislature o
that year.
In addition 10 the appropriation ofr,2oo,-
0qo for the construction ~ the building.
the Legislature of 1875 appropriated for
steam-heating and ventilation. ... i. 5000
For changes IN the construction % TIE
roof, the steps TO the Portieos, and inie-
rdl ,Vs eon.iSsi,s the main cornc. ana s.i '''
ustrade Of stone Instead u galvanized
tron. as provided 10 contract. ...... g. %
The Legislature Of 1877 also appro
priatsd S25, 900 TO pay for electrician
work and other needed improvements
making the aggregate appropriations 10
construction, steam heating and electri
cian work, Al $780, 900.
All the work has been fully complet
ed within the amounts appropriated.
The condition Of the several appro
priations for all purposes connecte,
with the construction, steam-beating
electrician work, and other employ
monts Of the capitol building, includ
ing that part Of the furnishing OF th