St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-12
THE CAPITOL SHAMS.
Further Evidence of Neglect of the
Architect Superintendent.

There was great CONSERVATION at the state
capitol yesterday over the development
which had taken place in that structure oves
Sunday, while the occupants of the several
offices in the south and east wings were ex-
ceedingly nervous as to their safety, and
Judge Berry ordered Col. Taylor to close the
state library, that being more Immediately
threatened if the roof should come tumbling
in, which was by no means among the i'm
possibilities from the shape of things in and
about that portion of the building.
From the shrinkage of the heavy doors of
the edifice at the four entrances. and the
swelling and shrinking of inner doors show
ing up months ago, the falling of wood work
concentrations in the vestibues, and huge
cracks in the heavy inner walls in almost
every room OF the structure above and be-
low, for several months past there has been a
gradual settling of the trusses of the roof in
the wings above mentioned, until in the
hall of representatives and In front of the
ICONS of the justices of the supreme court.
several weeks ago, carpenters were sum-
moned in and have since been at work en-
deavoring to patch up these deformities by
worse than useless methods, taking into
consideration the safety of the structure and
those who may have business therein.
During Sunday the heavy truss in front of
the vestibule Of the caucus room in the third
story of the east wing sank down several
inches, hurting mass of fire. proof material
and plastering upon the floors, while huge
cracks in the wall of that room and the halls
above and below gave the appearance that
the wing had been shaken up by first-class
cyclone. Mr.. Bowers, an employe of Arch
itect Burlington, was summoned with work
men 10 the spot yesterday morning and was
engaged all day in putting in new iron sup
ports from timber to timber and in attempt
ing to restore the trusses to their place. while
the public were fenced out from looking at
the ruins.
1t would seem that the foundation of the
capitol building and brick walls, including
the masonry and foundation of the tower or
dome are good, strong and substantial, they
having been erected under the supervision
OF Isaac W. Miner, but that the wooden
truss work of the wings are entirely made
quate to support the heavy weight of the
slate roof and the fire proof material which
they are calico upon to hold up. The theory
OF the breaking of the walls, the bullying
bellying down of the trusses and timbers
so that the wooden braces which strengthen
them, by the shrinkage of the green timber
OF which they were built, have lost their
hold, pulling all the burden on the iron rods
which are inadequate to sustain the enor-
nous load. This fact is proved by the at
tempts in the hall of representatives to turn
the nuts on these rods, as such is the
weight upon them that they cannot be STIR
red a hair.
The workmen under Architect Burlington
tried hard to make the state house occupants
feel that they were secure yesterday, and
that they could handle the tumble, but on
being close pressed confessed that there was
was something wrong which they could not
explain, and therefore their assurances of
safety fell fiat to the ground Gates John
son, the building inspector of the city, visited
the building and said to the occupants that
were the capitol place of amusement
or public building of the city
that he should order it closed up to every
one and procure skilled architects and me-
chanics to give 1t an examination for the
cause of the trouble or danger threatening
defects in the structure. Late in the after
noon Gov. Hubbard was summoned by Gen.
Jennison from Red Wing to view the dam
ages and the attempts to repair the same.
The current idea is that these wooden trusses,
WEIGH should have been originally of iron,
aud which are so weakened by shrlnkage and
are wholly sustained by the iron rods, will
nave to be replaced with iron or the building
will never prove secure.
There is strong feeling that the governor
should procure some building experts to ex-
anime the structure from top to bottom to
ind out what can be done to make it secure,
lest what can be now saved of it, be imper-
lied by delay as well as the lives and limbs
Of its occupants now, and in preparation for
next January when the legislature assem-
Dies.