Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-31
THE OLD AND NEW STATE CAPITOL


then being but two more days to the sine
die adjournment dome of the build
ing was found to be on fire. The an
nouncement had scarcely been made in
the two houses ere the apartments were
filled with binding smoke, followed upon
opening the doors into the hallway by a
mass of flames. The scene of confusion
that ensued does not need to be repeated.
For brief space of time many of the cool
est members lost their heads, but as the
fire progressed and created draught, the
binding smoke lifted somewhat, and with
it a certain degree of calmness raturned,
and comparatively orderly exit was made
by members and visitors from the
burning pile, most of the members having
thoughtfulness to hastily pick up and car
ry out with them the documents with which
their respective desks were supplied, while
many members at the first alarm, followed
by the dense smoke, rushed to the windows
for escape, some going so far as to crawl
outside, and call for ladders from below.
It is recorded that only one, Representative
Schmidt, actually took
"THE LEAP FOR LIFE"
| from the window to the ground, thirty feet
below, escaping most luckily without any
| serious injury. In the meantime a great
crowd of citizens had been attracted to the
spot by the oft repeated fire alarm. and
the grand illumination as the rapidly
spreading flames, without fire wall to
hinder or delay their progress, burst
through the roof almost simultaneously al
all points, and seized the cupola in its
LURID EMBRACE.
In the meantime hundreds of willing
hands had been faithfully en-
gagged in rescuingI records, books
papers from the fans, with such success
that most of the furniture and all of the
records, etc., on the first floor and in the
basement, including those of the secretary
of state, treasurer, auditor, supreme court,
of public instruction, and the adjutani
general, among the effects of the latter of.
fee, being the old battle
flags and other mementoes OF
the late war. The library, located
on the second floor in the east wing, did
not fare SO well, only about one-third OF
the books and small part of the furni.
ture being saved. The books and papers
of the State Historical society, located in
the basement, we're all removed, though
many were damaged by water, as were
also many of the record books in the sew
eral state Offices. Att midnight, or three
hours after the flames were discover
ed, they had done their
work, and nothing but ragged
and broken, blackened walls marked the
spot where had stood Minnesota's capital,
during which brief time the state had suf-
fered loss of about 100000.
HISTORICAL.
And right here before entering upon
what followed Immediately after the fire,
with a description of the handsome new
structure which has risen from the ashes
of the burned building, brief review of
the events eliminating in the location of
the state capitol in 81. Paul, and the cree
ton of the structure destroyed, will be in
order:
By the organic act of Minnesota terri
tory $4,000 we're appropriated for capt.
tol building. At the time the territory
was organized, however, June 1, 1S49,) the
permanent seat of government had not
been determined and the money was there
fore not available. The Central house,
in st. Paul, a log tavern weatherboarded,
situated on the corner of Bench and Min
nesota streets, where the rear of Mann
heimer block now is, was rented for the
public offices and legislative assembly. It
was, for some months, known as 1.-The
Capitol" On the lower floor was the
secretary of states Office and the house of
representatives chamber. On the second
floor was the council chamber and the ter
ritorial library. Neither of these legisla-
tive halls was over sixteen or eighteen feet
square! The rest of the building was used
as an inn. The Union colors, floating
from.a flag staff on the bank in front of
the building, was the only mark of its rank.
During his entire term of Office Gov. Ram
sey kept the executive Office in his private
residence, and the supreme court met in
rented chambers here and there.
On September 3, 1849, the first session
of the legislature assembled at the above
temporary capitol. Governor Ramsey de-
livered his message to the two houses in
joint convention, assembled in the hotel
dining room. The whole fitting of the as
sembly rooms was of the plainest descrip-
ton.
PERMANENT GOVERNMENT.
Considerable discussion ensued during
the session on this subject, as to whether
the territory had right to e1pend the
$4,000 appropriated in the original act
for Capitol building. The question hav.
ing been submitted to Hon. W. NJ. Meredith
secretary of the treasury. he replied that
the department cannot doubt that the
public buildings in question can only be
| erected at the permanent seat of govern.
ment, located as described. Of course, the
reply to your inquiry must be that nothing
can be expended from this appropriation
| until after the location shall be duly made
| So the permanent location was not def
nitely settled this session, however, but, a
the close Of the legislature, it was draw,
battle. ST. Paul remained the temporar,
seat of government, and the governor wa