St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-16
THEY WANT 1T SMALLER.
The Board of Trade Wants the
Court HOusePlans Reduced.

The board of trade Yesterday morn
ing adopted the report of the committee
appointed some time ago to investigate
the court house difficulty. and there
was not a dissenting voice raised in OBJ
lection, although several thought at
first that it would be advisable to build
a part of the building first in prefer
ence to making it smaller, as the report
recommends. The report, which was
read by the chairman of the committee,
ex-Gov. John S. Piilsbury. is as fol-
lows:
The committee on public affairs, to whom
was referred the resolution relative to the
court house and city hall building, would
most respectfully report that after having
made an inspection of the court house and
city hall premises they are fully confirmed in
their former impressions that the size of the
structure is beyond the requirements of the
public necessities They are glad, however.
to say that the work and quality of ma
terialS are of the most substantial character
as far as the construction has progressed.
AS it has been stenuously advocated by
members of the commission that the size OF
the structure was only sufficient for the ac
commodation of the city and county, and
that the court house and city hall at st. Paul
was much too small to meet their require
ments, members of your committee made
personal visit to st. Paul, and through the
courtesy of the county auditor, who was
secretary of their building committee. were
shown through all the departments of their
building. From him we learned that they
were much pleased with the appointments Of
their building, size of rooms, ETC.. and that
the building was of sufficient size to meet all
their requirements.
We also learned that their building en-
braced 4, O0U, 900 cubic feet of space, and is
constructed of Kasota stone 1t is certainly
a most imposing and ornamental building.
1t is finished and furnished throughout OF
the best materials. The mayors office and
council chamber are especially most ele-
gantly equipped with everything needed for
comfort The cost of the improvement on
the ground was $S57.l96, the lot having
been donated at an early day by one OF their
generous citizens, the furniture and fixtures
costing about $147, 1866, and the whole
building. fully equipped in every respect,
costing about 81, Ola, 592.
Your committee became fully convinced
that if the court house and city hall of St.
Paul, embracing about 1000, 900 ubic feet
of space, was sufficient in size to accommo
date their wants, that our present building
under construction, embracing as it does
about 100000 cubic feet of space, was
greatly in excess of the demands of the city
and county. We are firmly of the opinion
that the size and cost should be reduced to
one and one-halt the size of that at st. Paul.
After having advised with competent and
experienced builders we are satisfied f the
feasibility of reducing the present struct ure
to the above size, in which case the mater
lals in construction can be utilized i'll a sim
liar building to contain about 6,U00,O0
cubic feet of space. and that such sized
structure could be erected at cost not to eX-
coed 100000 We also learned that plans
and specifications had been submitted for a
building to embrace about 5000, 600 cubic
feet at an estimated cost of 81 $50, 600. and
that these plans were drawn in the same gen.
eral style of architecture as those for the
present building.
Desiring to learn the views of the commits
sion and to lay our views before them, we
asked the privilege to meet them, which
was cheerfully accorded us. After full and
free interchange of views regarding size and
cost Of building, etc., our committee sub
mitted two propostions First, to reduce
the size of the present structure to embrace
ABOUT 100000 cubic feet of space, utilizing
the material in the present foundation, and
to erect such building at cost not to eX-
coed S2,00O,O00 Second, that the work be
suspended at once and no further con tracts
let, and that the work be protected and pre-
served intact.
While the commissioners discussed the
proposition with candor and frankness. we
regret to say that several members were
strongly OF the opinion that the present size
of the building was not too large for the ac-
commodation OF the public. Other members,
however, were inclined to think, perhaps,
that the building was rather larger than re-
Quired, but saw serious OBJECTIONS to making
such radical changes. They informed us
that the amount of money expended tor a
site was $4,000, and that the work under
contract would amount to about $500, 900.
From statement from the city comptroller,
hereto attached, we are informed that the 3
per cent limit of Indebtedness will be reached
in 1891, and that there will be no means for
raising money for the completion of said
building except by special tax.
Being DESTROYS of learning the powers of
authority conferred by law on the commission
for the expenditure of money authorized for
this purpose. we employed able attorneys for
advice. whose opinions are hereto attached,
and are to the effect that any taxpayer eau
enjoin the commissioners from proceeding
otherwise than for the completion of the
building for the sum authorized by law,
namely, $1,500,000.
The estimated expense for the erection of
buildings of the character of the court house
varies from 80 to So cents per cubic foot, but
I placing the cost of this building even at the
price of % cents per foot you have an ag
gregate of over $3,O0O.O00 at 80 cents a
foot, So, 10000 and at So cents per fool.
the most probable cost, you have the sum of
$4,500,0O0. With smaller sized building,
removed from the street a certain distance on
all sides, there would be left quite a good
sized lawn. which could be embellished by
the planting of shrubbery, flowers, etc.. pre-
senting far more beautiful and tasteful ap-
pearance than the present plan of building
with the walls nearly on a line with the
street.
1t is apparent to all that the intention of