Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-03
Hiatoru of the .Capitok.

From the Legislative Manual Of 1881
By the organic act of Minnesota Territory
$4,000 were appropriated for capitol build
ing. By the time the Territory was organ
lied, however, June !, 1849) the permanent
capitol had not been determined on, and the
money was not available. The "Central
House." frame building since burned down
on the corner of Minnesota and Bench streets,
st. Paul, was rented for the public Offices and
the legislative assembly. 1t was for some
months known as "The Capitol" Gov. Ram.
sey kept the executive Office at his residence
The Territorial library was for time located
in building on Third street. The first legis.
lature failed to permanently locate the capitol,
and nothing was done for some months, tenn.
porary apartments being rented for the next
three sessions. The next session Q851) the
seat Of government was fixed at st; Paul. d
Kussck and E. A.. Hatch were
elected building commissioners, Charles
Bazille donated block of ground for the
capitol, and plan drawn by n. G. Prentiss
was chosen. The contract was let for $33, 900,
but the building finally cost over $4,000. It
was commenced at once. but not completed
until the summer of 1858. On July 81, the
governor wv. A. Germany first occupied the
executive chamber. The original building
the alterations and repairs that but little of
it, except the walls, remain. For some years
it amply accommodated all the Slate business,
and its interior furnishing and equipments
were as plain as the exterior. Up to 1866,
when gas was put in, the legislative halls were
lighted during night sessions with candles;
and up to 1871, the building was heated with
wood stoves, and all the water used in it was
supplied by carts. That year the steam heat
ing apparatus and water works were ordered
by the legislature, and the building "began to
have some of the comforts of civilized life, !"
as witty member expressed it in one of his
speeches; but it had grown too limited for the
rapidly extended business of the State, which
had increased in population eight fold since
the building was completed. After the in
creased representation commencing in 1872,
more room was imperative. Next session the
wing fronting on Exchange street was order
assembly rooms, roofs, cupola, etc., cost
$4,000 more. This gave relief for several
years, but at every session of the legislature
the members suffered from the crowded con-
dition of their hall, bad air, etc., SO much
that a larger room was absolutely demanded;
The session of 1878, therefore, ordered the
erection of new wing fronting on Wabashaw
street, capable of accommodating the House
of Representatives properly. 1t has
just been completed at cost of
$4,000. The third floor of this wing is
devoted to the House assembly and ante
rooms. The main hall is 96x48 in the clear
and is handsomely furnished. It will seat
1000 persons comfortably, and the ventila-
tion is believed to be perfect
The capitol building with its additions, is
now of cruciform shape, and is not, there
fore, symmetrical building, while it's archi-
lecture is plain; but it is, Notwithstanding, a
very fair and creditable edifce. The material
is red brick. It has cost in all S1o8,000. It
has an extreme length of 204 feet and width
of $50 feet. The top of the flagstaff is 1876
feet above the ground. There are fifty apart
ments in the building, most of the Offices
being supplied with ire-proof vaults