St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-16
THROUGH THE CAPITOL.
The Senate Chamber Still Closed to
Our Solid Reporter
But He Finds Brick lard Under the Mas
sive Mansard,
And Discovers Cage Constructed in the
Dome.

The only new feature observsAeo In the
lower floor of the state capitol Yesterday was
big 'crank'' crack in the ceiling OF the
structure which may be attributable to the
uneasiness of trusses in the roof or the tigers
OF the Emmett Light Artillery and the Wash
ington City Guards, who on this spot have
paid their respects to the governor within the
past year.
On int rviewing Gen. Jennison he re-
marked that the investigating committee
would probably take several days in coming
to a conclusion in the premises, as each
would for himself prepare a statement
of fact and opinion derived from the in
spection, after which they would meet to-
gether and compare notes and discuss the
several questions expected to be answered in
their decision. In regard to the weight ca
pablo of being supported by the truss work
of the roof with safety to the interior build
ing, Col. Smith of the Manitoba road and
Architect Stevens, experts in this matter it
was asserted would give disinterested and
unbiased calculation, they having had great
experience, while the opinion of Thomas
dations and walls would of q course
be satisfactory, it being intimated that he
had expressed an opinion that these were as
substantial as when first built
While the GLOBE representative was pur-
suing his investigations workmen were
seen descending the stairs leading to the
second story with burrows containing debris
of coal ashes worked into fire proof material,
which had fallen on Saturday night and
Sunday in the third story or been pecked off
the ceiling of the house of representatives,
In order to strengthen the spinal columns of
the trusses suspended from its ceilings. On
the theory that mankind is naught
after all but dust and ashes these
professions were funereal, while the
''remains" were evidently of public edifice
of but few and tender years.
As on the day previous the GLOBE repre-
sentative pleaded with the engineer and as
sistant janitor to open sesame on the senate
chamber mysteries, but was informed that
such accommodation was out of their power
as Capt. Chas f. Chapel, the janitor, now
on a visit to his tree claim in Cottonwood
county, had the keys in his pocket, and that
the mechanical spirits therein had sole con-
troll of the premises. Engineer Martin,
however, gave the information that the ap-
preparation of the last legislature of SIS, 900
10 have the presidents desk tucked under
the gallery, SO that the honorable gentleman
from Fillmore county on the right hand
could see the honorable gentleman from Lac
qui Parlc county on the left hand when he
secured the lOor and vice versa, was being
expended, which improvement would also
give room for several additional desks and
chairs in the front of the chamber He
could not say whether any of the committee
rooms were to be thrown into the chamb err
or whether the disease of prolapsus had com
municated to the trusses in the ceiling, in
sympathy with the weakness exhibited In
other parts of the structure.
1t was not with satisfory feeling that he
had made reportorial mash on the engin-
Ger, that the representative of the GLOBE
climbed the golden stairs,n as far as cost Is
concerned. but of blue stone quality of ma
terial, and found the senate chamber locked
rs tight rs fit was the cave Of forty thieves
and they were inside dividing the accumu-
iatons Of successful foray. The noise of
hammers and other instruments
used to build and tear
down were to be heard, making more echoes
than the presidents gavel in a stormy par
tisan debate, and all attempts, vocal or ply
steal, to gain entrance were treated with the
same courteous response of silence as the
day before, no one giving back talk.
Another flight Of stairs, however, brought
the reward off fresh bulge in the ceiling
ovrra platform rest in the same, which had
literally sprinklcd the floor with a medley of
hard finish and fre-proofing, while
small committee room in that northwest cor
ncr Of the structure showed marks of strain
and leakage from the roof. Thence around
to the front Of the senate gallery, a huge
crack in the wall, running from door to door
OF the same, a Ia earthquake, gave promise
of entrance TO the chamber by that route in
fey days, and an explanation of the lock-
out.
From thence the representative proceeded
10 the front of the new office in the third
story occupied by the secretary of the state
board of corrections and charities which is
directly over the executive chambers with
story between. Here lay huge pile of
massive cement blocks, each weighing from
fifteen to twenty pounds, which has been ia.
ken from partition on the first landing of
the stairway to the dome. The removal of
this partition further revealed mass of these
blocks running up in partitions, and snak-
ing along on beams from the caves towards
the very sick truss, showing that in addition
10 fire proof ceiling everywhere
attcsted TO a wilderness of timber the inotiid
trasS had on its shoulders verltabe brick
yolyi, as far as dead additional weight was
concerned, all looking FOR sustainment to
the same and bearing upon it from all direc-
tons
Adiourniug from this quarry in the air,
from which invoices were being removed to
strengthen the trusses Ca wise move in the
right drection), the roof was reached in
which hoics have developed above the scene
of the recently uncarthed curiosity shop of
Builiugtouiau architecture although there
appeared to be no marked depression there
in. Here came into the mind of the scribe
the suggestive lines;
''rhe boy stood on the burning deck"
''Ah! pilot, it's fearful night"
Here's where the hardy swallow dies"
until with thankfuluess a port-hole in the
dome was reached and temporary safety Sc
cured.
Ascending stl higher, the first story of
The dome WAS reached where but few weeks
ago. owing 10 the Culpabe carelessness of
some one, human life was sacrificed Here
il was found that an iron cage had been
constructed over the treacherous and brittle
fiat surface Of glass, inclosed in pieces.
which lighted up the top of the dome above
the second floor OF the edifce, through
which the poor lad White, fell aud crushed
out His young life on the paved floor be-
Meath The old single rail is now to be
removed and the painters were putting upon
the cage a coat of light paint in order to give
more cheerful scene 70 locality, where tc
those having cogniZance OF this accident
sad thought will always cling.