Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-05
ANNUAL MESSAGE
GOV. LUCIUS +. HUBBARD.
DELIVERED TO THE MINNESOTA
LEGISLATURE JAN. 4, 1888.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House o
Representatives:

You assemble ~ silI, lime uAdec c;rcUEn :,
stances favorable for careful and coItsid
crate action upon the questions that will
command your attention. You bring with,
you from your several localities the @ssur-i
ance that the people of the state are pros
porous, and enjoying that feeling OF con-
tentment that follows well-rewarded indus
try. The various material interests of thu
state have developed and prospered during
the past two years to an extent not OK
ceeded by any previous experience tor a
like period in her history, and all existing
conditions are favorable to a contiEued
rapid and healthy growth. The exercise
of wise and careful judgment upon your
part in the deliberations of this session,
will greatly aid in realizing for our state
that promise which the future presents be-
fore Us.
It is a pleasure, gentlemen to greet you
as the first Legislative assembly convened
in the new capitol building. ThoAgh in q
somewhat incomplete state, it VIII doubt
less afford you sufficient facilities for the
proper prosecution Of your duties.
The old territorial capitol, completed la
1858, was destroyed by fire on the night Of
March ], 1884, during the last days of the
session of the legislature of that year. 1t
was thought probable Immediately after
the fire, that the Foundation aad portion
of the walls efi the buried building could
be utilized for a new structure, and an ap-
preparation Of $4,000 was made with the
expectation that the expenditure of that
sum would substantially restore the old
building 1t was decided aft or more
thorough inspection that it would be un-
safe to build upon the ruins of the old
capitol. It was thsn determined by nay
predecessor to erect an entirely new
structure, and the plans of this building,
were adopted by him, and the foundation
laid during the summer of 1881. The
abandonment of tae old building and the
adoption of new plans involved much
greater expenditure than was anticipated
or had been provided for. At the extra
session of November, 1881, an additional
appropriation of 100000 was made to
finish and furnish" the new building,
which slill it was provided by the terms of
the act making the appropriation should
complete the building in all respects"
The autumn months of 1881 were very un-
favorable for the prosecution of building
operations, hence, no work was done upon
the superstructura, though it was largely
contracted for, and portion of the ma
terial for the walls and roof delivered up
on the ground.
Upon a careful examination of the mat
ter shortly after my accession to the exec
utive Office, ] felt much doubt as to the
suficiency of the amount appropriated to
complete the building according to the
plans adopted and the terms of the act of
the legislature. s therefore called upon
the architect for en- estimate of the amount
required to complete the building, includ-
ing what had already been expended. In
response thereto he submitted an estimate
aggregating $245,00o.
This was largely in excess of the appro-
priations made, which were 1000 includ-
ing $4,000 made for repairs, etc., for the
old capitol, which were deemed available
for the new building. This exhibit which
showed deficiency of $61 900 was disap-
pointing and surprise to many who be-
lieVed the appropriations were sufficient to
complete the building. / was assured by
gentlemen familiar with the facts, among
whom were members of the legislature to
whom the details had been submitted, that
the final appropriation for the purpose was
understood to be ample to cover the full
estimates of the architect. A further con-
sultation with the architect disclosed the
fact that he had made some months pre-
vious and submitted to my predecessor an
estimate contemplating a cheaper con-
struction and finish of quite a
different character and which
omitted some essential features of the
building altogether, notably the tower,
fire PROBING, etc., which reduced his fig
ures to point within the appropriations.
1t appeared, however, that the estimate
was made at a time when labor
and material were cheaper, that
the same figures even for the cheaper fuisA |
could not then be duplicated. made
formal call upon the architect for his
lower est mate which was furnished, but
which in my judgment it was not for the in
terest of the state to adopt, as it eontem-
plated very cheap interior finish of the
building, excluding all fire proof features,
and in most respects quite out of harmony |
with the exterior construction, the con-
tracts for which were already let. The |
lover estimate was, however, out of the |
question in any event as it was made upon |
the basis (as stated by the architect) of |
prices for labor and material below those |
prevailing or at which it was possible to |
obtain them. The correspondence and
estimates referred to are submitted for your
further information.
The appropriations being entirely mad
equate for the completion of the building,
had determined to prosecute the work SO
far as to complete the contracts already
let, and add such further expenditure as
would enclose the structure and protect it
from the elements, and await future &C.
ton of the legislature. Upon the an
nouncementof this determination upon my +
part tender of $4,000 was made to me
by citizens of st. Paul, for the purpose of
putting the building in condition to be