The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-19
THE NEW CAPITOL.
The Condition of the State-HOuse Fund,
and the Progress of the Work.

The report Of the Board of State house Com
missioners to the Governor, for the quarter end
ing with December, gives n brief review of the
work upon the State-house building since the
adjournment of the last Legislature, 'for such
information as the commissioners state, ''as
may be needed to guide further legislation. ~
The bill introduced at the last SEES
sion of the Legislature, upon the
accommodation of the commissioners
which would have added sos, $3.50. % to the con
tract price of the building, and would have en-
abled the contractors to continue their work and
complete the building within the earliest practi-
cable period, failed to pass. Work ceased, and
the commissioners we're, in consequence, COM
PEELED to declare 'ract abandoned, but,
by agreement, the W. IS resumed in Septem-
Der, 1883, by the sureties on the bond of the con
tractors.
The total cost of the work done on the build
ing to this date amounts to 81, 900, 3S49 5. The
entire cost will probably be 81, 733, 1O9. 16, and it
is'estimated that the amount which it will be
necessary to add in finishing the building
MI MI bring the total up to $l,863,ol3. 49,
tingencies. out of the So. 900, 600 appropriated,
the sum of $l36, 0S6. q, which the commissioner
say will be ample to complete the work, includ-
ing all necessary changes that may be hereafter
deemed proper.
The total receipts from taxation. up to Dec. 81,
1884, amount to 1891, 54422. With the appro-
p~riations by the Legislature, the total of the
State-house fund is 81. 492, 500. 03. There is now
to the credit of the fund $288, 234. "a, aud add to
this the tax levies during the next wear it is e-
tlmated that in February, 1886, the fund will
amount to 1922, 1856 "a, Any additional expendi-
ture required will have to be provided for by the
Legislature.
The commissioners express the belief that the
best interests of the State will be subserved by
completing the building as soon as possible. If
no unusual hindrances occur, they think that
within the years 1885 and 1886 the quarters re-
CURED for the accommodation of the Legislature
OF 1887 may be completed, and work on other
portions so far advanced as to insure the com
pletion of the entire building not later than Jan
uary, 1888
The supervising architect, Adolph Scherer, es-
Inmates that the amount which will be expended
during 1885 will be 1898, Sl3. So. The receipts
from the tax levy will cover this expenditure,
and will leave a balance of 1888, 920.68 The
amount required for 1886 is estimated at $685.
00S 50, which shows a deficiency of means for
the work during that year of $179, 0SS. II. If a 2
cent. tax is levied for 1886, it would proba-
bly, amount to about $160, 900, leaving a def
cheney Of only $40, 0S61 II. If the same per cent.
of tax is levied and collected again in 1857, there
will be $40, OIL SO for the work in that year.
The expenditures required in 1887 for complet-
ing the building amount to $207, 1872. 90, and a de
tciency of $66, $50. 81 will have to be supplied
from other sources than the special tax levy.
The incidental expenditures for the services of
the commissioners and other officers, which
amount to about $15, 500 a year, are not included
IN the foregoing estimates.
1t will be necessary for the next Legislature to
make provision for the furniture for the new
State house, and it is recommended that the
building should be lighted by electricity, instead
of gas.