The representative., 1895-01-02
THE CAPITOL JOB.
1t Will Cost $1O.OOO,OOO Before 1t
Is Done.

Minneapolis Times
Ihere is every prospect that present
competition to furnish plans for the
state capitol building will never result
In the selection of an architect to
build the structure. The last meeting
OF the capitol commission was held
Dec. Is. All of the architects were
confident that this final meeting
would decide the vexed question of
VINO was the successful competitor.
Nothing came of it, however, and the
next meeting was set for Jan. 1S, or
after the Legislature meets. The OBJ
Ject in postponing the next meeting
until such late date, it is stated up-
on good authority, was to secure the
passage of a new capitol construction
act, in which different provisions
would be made for the payment of
architects fees. According to the act
passed by the last legislature certain
premiums, amounting to S., 900 or $lO,-
600. were set aside to be awarded to
four or five of the architects who stood
foremost. The successful competitor,
in addition to receiving a premium,
was to get y per cent on the cost of
construction. This is lower than the
rate usually charged to individuals,
and Immediately there was trouble
among the better class of architects.
This trouble eliminated when the
Minnesota Chapter of American
Architects practically decided to boy
cott the competition and not enter it.
NO stringent resolution were passed
to this effect, but by tacit agreement
that was the understanding, as is evil
denced by the plans On exhibition in
st. Paul. Not one of the architects
Of the state who has acquired a local
reputation Of any magnitude and who
belongs to the American Institute
submitted plans.
In view OF these facts it is now pro-
posed to award the premiums as pro-
vided by the law passed in 1892. and
declare the competition off, without
giving any of the architects the con-
tract. If this is done, new law will
be passed, providing for payment of
the regular 5 per cent commission, and
which will be satisfactory to the bet
ter class Of architects of the state, i.
e., firms like Long & KEGS, Bertrand &
Keith. Oritf & JOrelamOn, Harry Jones
and others.
Before the meeting of the 18th of
January a canvass will be made
among the sOlOns of the state. and if
the senttment'indicate that the step
can be taken with impunity and at
once, the competition will be declared
off then. Ii there is any doubt on
this point it is proposed to carry the
matter along further, extending the
time until the question comes to de-
ciSive vote in both houses, and if the
proposed new bill is not passed then
the competition will be decided on the
plans now submitted.
1t is stated that Gov. Nelson has in
timated that he favored such a
course, and it is we'll known that the
capitol commission does not favor
awarding the contract on the plans
submitted unless it is absolutely
necessary. A well known architect
of this city, who has looked over the
plans, stated yesterday that not one
of the buildings submitted in the con-
test could be erected in a suitable and
satisfactory manner for the sum ap-
prOpriated or set aside for the purpose
by the state legislature.
1.-THE buildings will run from s., ,O0O,-
600 to $4,000, ,0OO," he said, "and l
doubt if there is one in the lot that
could be built for less than 81, ,OOO, 900,
and constructed in manner that
would be at all satisfactory to the
state. Then, too, the most of them
are SO poorly arranged that it would
be impossible for the business of the
state to be transacted in them with
ease or economy of time and money.
They are actually the worst botched
up plans submitted that l ever in
Spected."
The architects from outside of the
state who entered the competition
understand that there is likely to be
hitch in the proceedings, if the resi-
dents Of the state do not, for all of
them have returned to their homes,
and most of them left with the inten-
tion of not returning until something
definite was done. That new capi-
tol bill will be introduced is a fore
gone conclusion, it is said. but that it
will be passed is another matter.