St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-16

give it: they wanted to hear from the
architects and from the commissioners.
A discussion as to what accurate infor-
nation could be obtained followed. the
result being that nothing but estimates
were available. Mr. Lynn wanted the
appropriation statute read, and it was
done. MIR. Lynn then said:
This appropriation clearly limits the ex-
penditure to Sl.500,nc'. Why. then. has
the commission exceeded its authority? 1t is
said the commission has not exceeded its
authority, because il has not spent that
money. but the building certainly cannot be
finished for that,
Then Mr.. Lynn wanted to know
about the architects competition, and
Commissioner De Laittre explained
there were twenty-siX plans in the COM
potion. Each architect came before the
commission and explained in detail the
plan and cost. 1t finally mario wed
down and Long & KEGS secured the con-
tract. Their building was enla rged
from the original, as it was thought not
to be large enough. Architect Boyn-
ton, OF Chicago, was called in as dis
Interested person and he examined the
i've plans that had been accepted, not
knowing the makers of the plans. He
selected three out of five as the best
and from these three were selected
Long IL KEGS.
Didn't you call in other experts9" asked
Matt Gallagher.
Yes, Ole other"
what was the total estimate then?" asked
Senator elect Mcmillan.
about SO 10000. There Is a plan be-
hind Mr.. March that the architect said could
be built for 81 ,60U,O0J; il couldn't be built
for Sl.uO0.JO' The enlargement of the
Long d KEGS plan was in the court so as to
give light 10 all rooms"
Several people began to talk at once,
and the CO mmiSSlOn vas criticised for
not having been more careful. President
Cloush admitted the Justice of the
criticism with a there'S-no-uSe-in-cr cry
ing-over-spilt-milk air. Mr.. Mcmillan
was of the opinion that the building
would not be satisfactory to the people
of Minneapolis if it was completed ac-
cording to the rivIsed plaus. "You
have choS N the most expensive ma
terial for the outside" he said, land
then you propose to save by making a
cheap interior. That will not be as any
man would build house for himself.''
do l understand you to say that you
would make the building cost more?'
asked John De Laittre in surprise.
Mr.. Mcmillan again said that he would
admit that cheap interior would not
be satisfactory to the people.
This was Mr.. De Laittre's position
exactly. He said: IL want to go on
record as saying that don't believe the
building will be completed at cost of
only S2,500.000. | don't think that when
we get to finishing the building the peo-
pie Will be satisfied to see anything but
tirsl-clasS job.
Desultory questioning and answering
followed, in the course of which it be-
came evident that the Hennepin dele
cation wanted more accurate inform a.
ton. SO K. NJ. johnson moved that tin e
commission will pay the expenses OF a
commission of three members of arch
fleets, engineers and builders, to be Sc
lected by the Hennepin county delega-
ton, to examine the plans aud specitica-
tons for the court house and city hall
building, for the purpose of makinga de-
tailed statement of the ultimate cost of
such building, provided that such board
OF experts shall be composed of nom
residents of this state.
Architect Long was then piled with
questions. He believed that s1,OO0,0
more would be a most extravaganza esti-
mate of what it would cost to make the
inside compare with the outside. Crit
iciSmS OH the estimates of the architects
fell thick and fast. Finally Mr.. Long
said:
''Gentlemeu. we have made this esti-
mate honestly. We believe it is correct.
and we have so much faith in it that we
are willing to assume the contract to
complete the building for that sum, and
step out as architects"
This seemed TO put uuietus on talk
of extravaganza, and from this time out
the disposition to be at loggerheads took
turn of more business character, and
a better understanding of the situation
on The part OF the delegation. Mr.. Nc
MILAN thought there was danger in
calling for even more money i'll the flu
ture than the present estimate calls for,
but MIR. DE Lalttre said one great diff
Guilty would be the lack of money: the
Hennepin delegation attended to that,
and Commissioner johnson thought a
bill could be worded limiting the
amount, SO that the commissioners
would not dare exceed it.
Some one said the people wanted a
Sl,50D,000 building, but Commissioner
ComstOck denied that the people de-
sired anything but granite building,
which induced j. @. Oswald to let fly
thus:
II presume members of the delegation are
impressed as l was after nv return from
Europe got the information from the Trib-
une that the court house was being reck-
lessly built. investigated the matter care
fully and satisfied myself that this is not
Doodle commission. Who is the Tribune?
Has the Tribune any better means of know
mission? There is only one man on the
Tribune and don't believe he knows what
the people want. l found we could get
gIe mite at home, have it cut at home, and
that it would finally cost scarcely anv more
than Bedford stone. and instead of paving
100000 to the railroads in freight, we
could pay that at home aud at the same time
avoid soft stone building. don't like 10
say that the Tribune is being looked after by
the soft stone men, but good many think
go. People who have come in from the street
and Investigated through the proper sources
have almost invariably changed to granite.
am here for granite as long as l am with
this commission"
Further discussion showed the visit
Ors that the commission had no thought
Of exceeding the tive-mil limit of in
debtedness, and that it would need no
money for two years. Commissioner
Erickson compared Minneapolis with
st. Paul, and declared that Just one
floor would be left in the new court
house Tor the growth of the city, and no
more. John De Laittre offered a state
ment. Said he:
The public has criticised Mr.. Erickson be-
cause he draws a salary of Sl,Slu. want
10 say that Mr.. Erickson is the most valuable
member on this board. He has done more |
good work, and knows more about building,
than sny of US. l found that out when he
worked with me for twenty days in this mat
ter. He has weighed every pound of iron |
that has gone into the building and the pub
lie can rest assured that he mas saved the
county his salary in preventing false weight
beams going in.
Mr.. Erickson 6lushed, and then Com |
missioner COmSt0ck made rap at Dor
illus Morrison. He said Morrison signed
petition to the board asking for gran
lite, and now he was out with all injunc-
ton against the board. The Interrupt
ton past. MIR. De Laittre continued:
Il came to this city when Commissioner
Johnson was q baby, and have worked to
build ii up. have paid heavy taxes ali that
time. and have seen many hundred thousand
dollars wasted from building too small
We are not building for 1891 or Is 5, but
for p, 81. and loo years hence. We are
went we found the public buildings too
small, and everybody said, Don't build too
small" l believe our plan as TO size is SEN
eiDle. and no one can talk me ont of IL >,