St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-14
THE SHAKY CAPITOL.
Our Solid Reporter Throws His
Weight on the Main Floor.
And Investigates the Evidences OF
Weakness All About.
Commission of Experts to Examine the
Building To-Day.


ceiling of the second story of the east wing
heayenward to the extent of getting it into the
position originally marked out for it on paper,
leaving huge gaps in the caucus room side
walls from which the fire proof material
had fallen or been removed to enable the patch
work to be prosecuted. The vestibule to the
west of the caucus room was full OF props to
support the west wall Of the room, while the
holes In the ceiling here and there were suggest
i've Of the appearance of some of the inwards
OF the stone dwellings on Bolivar Heights above
Harpers Ferry, after their bombardment during
the late unpleasantness.
The GLOBE representative, on entering from
the Wabashaw street front, betook himself on the
tiled floor of the first story, which, by the way,
has as many colors in it as Joseph's coat, al
though when originally laid seeming to have but
three, and which bulges up and down as though
having been disturbed by subteranean heat, to
the inlaid. ornamental flooring Immediately un-
uer the dome. The reason oil
this movement on the part of the
scribe was not official, this tessalated rotuLda
serving him the same purpose as platform
scale to test his ayoirdupois. Standing in the
center by springing gently from heel to toe he
was able to shake the whole business, though
founded on the solid rock, and therefore accord
ing to the shake could tell whether he was up to
the standard regulation weight.
Ascending to the second story on stone stairs
almost every one of which rocked in bed under
the newspaporia tread. the front of the justices
rooms were reached, where two big timbers
footed with jackscrews stood sentinels, they
evidently having lifted up the sagged beam OF
the ceiling at that point from which it can never
he cof a 10 with drot oh Mill,
Both stairways to the third story were found
to be barricaded with office tables and Siames
twin chairs to prevent the public from going
higher, because of danger, although q morning
Minneapolis paper in its over-exertion to defend
a Minneapolis architect, says that all there was
up there was ''crack canard.'' In the
corridors of both the east and south wings
no sane citizen would, yesterday, such
were the wall openings and bulges,
the ragged holes in the ceiling, and the propped
up appearance Of things generally, be inclined
to make visit even Of curiosity beyond the
verge of strict necessity.
1t was announced below that the whole sunkeu
truss work and timbers were raised to their nor
NAL position yet in the same hole in the
floor in the northwest end of the caucus room 8
gang of four workmen were puttering away at 8
network of timbers with the same industry as
displayed therein the day previous, and who evi
IDENTIFY were worried ut the presence of single
spectator.
Going over to the gallery of the hall of repre-
sentatives where workmen have been engaged il
strengthening the two heavy wooden roof trusses
for fully two weeks, by cutting away the wooder
bulge in the city from both of them, still further
weakening the truss by removing wood work
from the centers to make them appear rhori
zontal, it was found that the job was nearly
completed, the side of the projecting trusse.
looking like fractured limbs encased in plaster
Of paris casts
But it was only by an excursion up into the
attic of the east wing that thorough idea could
be obtained of the weakness of the topping out
of the state capitol and the botch work attempts
which have been made to rescue it from caving il
entirely. A glance at the rafters of the ROO
and the joists supported by the trusses and il
their turn supporting on metal hooks the fire
proof ceiling, showed that both of these
are of insufficient strength to support the
load they carry alone, to say nothing of the
shrinking and sinking trusses. Them too, this
timber is of both course and fine grain, and
bears on the face Of it ''second quality lumber .
Then also the hen coop patchwork of mailing
Stats from ceiling supporting josts to the trusses
roof of a public structure which every two
years is crowded with the assembled Legislative
wisdom of the state, and every winter is loaded
down with tons of snow and ice.
Whatever may have been stated in other jour
nails seeking to whitewash the architectural skill
of the designer and superintendent of this struc
tire, by stating that the re. of the state house
sis safe has been born between the teeth Of
the architect himself. and repeated parrot like by
hon wi MI cd nj Ia nth
ernor Hubbard has not passed any such
opinions upon the structure since
It's Sunday sinking developments or since the at
tempt to fasten imperfecton below to imperfec
ton higher up, during which time the same
ominous cracking has been going night anc
day. Contrary to this, the governor has deter
mined, and that very wisely, to have the opinion
of prominent experts and builders as to the
safety non-safety of the roof of the capito
and to determine whether the imperfect work
will have to be substituted with iron
trusses for the safety of the inmates and the pub
lie, as well as to save what Of the costly new
structure which can be saved by taking it il
prompt hand before general collapse, or by
temporary patchwork and Disagreement il may
finally resemble the main shaft OF an anthracite
coal mine.
Yesterday afternoon Governor Hubbard asked
Architects Bassford and Radcliffe TO join with
Contractor Thomas Grace to give the state cap
itol thorough examination, but the two ar
chitects declined, as they both sent in plans fo
this structure which were set aside for some
reasons which the people of Minnesota have
never been able to satisfactorily find ont
for those OF Burlington. The governor Their
made up new slate. consisting of Contractor
Thomas Grace, Col c. G. Smith, chief engineer
of the st. Paul & Manitoba railroad and VIM III
Cassner, an architectural expert formerly of tbs
firm of Knight & Cassner, who have accepted
II u
NJ 10 o'clock this morning. Thomas Grace is
one Of the oldest builders and contractors In st
Paul and gentleman Of reputable skill and ez
perience in his profession; Col. Smith has also
great experience In the matter of railway bridge.
and truss work on the same, and MIR. Cassner il
thoroughly posted as an architect in all matter.
connected with truss-work and building con
strnction.
The instructions given these gentlemen are to
report to the governor the actual strength Of the
trusses in the structure, their capabiity of bear
ing the weight now placed upon them, and t.
give in good round figures the result of their in
vestigations. They will also repor
the strength of iron trusses an(
how much weight they are capable of sustainin!
on the active condition of the building at thi
time The governor will not care TO be toll
whether these trusses will sag or shrink, or re
ceiye any guesses but is determined by this in
vestigation between the decision of Burlington en-
the one hand that they are ''sold as rocks" an
Gates johnson on the other that they render tn
building unsafe for occupancy.
NE. GATES A. JOHNSON.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. Gates A. johnson
building inspector Of st. Paul, was called upo
for the purpose Of obtaining his ideas in regsr
to injuries to the building, and to learn wha
suggestions he would make in regard to whs
should be done TO restore it. 1t was found tina
he was very unwilling to say much abont 1t
lie regarded the injury to the building as bein!
very much more serious than hfr. Burlington
the architect. thought it to be, and az there wa
difference OF opinion between them, and 70
some other considerations, he desired not to b
interviewed. lie stated. however, that he ha
communicated, IN writing, to the governor
his views and han nothing I