St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-30
wINONA STONE, ACCORDING To
COL. LAMBERTON, HAS STOOD
THE TEST.
CAPITOL COMMISSION BACK.
THEY CONTEMPLATED THE ROCK
IN IFS Widest
STATE.
TO DECIDE THE QUESTION ToDA,
Both as to Who Shall Build the
Foundation and the Stone
Used.

The capitol commission returned yesterday
morning from Winona, where, as has been
mentioned, it spent Tuesday inspecting the
limestone quarries. The stone which may be
used for the foundation Of the capitol was
placed many years ago in the foundations of
various Winona buildings. These founda-
tions were thus Of value in showing to the
commission the durability Of the stone for
the specific purpose under consideration
After looking at the old buildings the COM
mission proceeded to the suburbs, stood long
In muddy pools and the shadow of umbrellas,
and contemplated the Winona rock in it's
wild state. They observed that it was rock
OF admirable permanency. Many parts of
the opened quarry looked as If they had been
there before woman deceived man or "Old
Pease" came to Anoka- This admirable self
control on the part Of the Winona limestone
was favorably commented upon by the COM
mission. Secretary Hanson pointed out that
nothing was more desirable in a foundation
than disposition to remain in the same
spot. Completing their contemplations, the
commission returned yesterday to their head
quarters and resumed their interrupted dis
cussion Of bids in relation to the capitol
foundation. and Of the capitol foundation in
connection with bids. But the successful bid
der was not named, nor will he be, perhaps,
until after several more days of discussion.
If Hon. H. w. Lamberton should ever be
canonized 1t would certainly be as st. Peter
Of Winona. Founded upon this rock, the
church would indeed be eternal. Col Lam
berton believes that Winona stone will sup
port the new capitol. and that the majestic
outcroppings Of its everlasting foundation
will locate the former site Of a great metro
polls when Mr. Gilbert's lofty dome shall be
mingled with the dust of the fftieth century
and his name with the family records of
Morse mythology. Col Lamberton said
last night at the Merchants hotel that he
couldn't tell GI ob e reporter what con-
tractor would be the successful bidder. That
wouldn't be proper, so long as the commits
sion had not formally decided the question.
But all Of the commission, he believed were
convinced that the Winona stone was emf
nently adapted for the foundation work, and
everybody knew that the Winona bidder
named the lowest figures. Besides, this bid
der would have no trouble in getting good
bondsmen.
eve all went down to Winona yesterday
continued Col. Lamberton. land looked over
the buildings where our stone has been laid
for years and years. The foundation and
first story of the high school are built of it,
and they're as good as new after thirty years.
in about the same time and looks first rate
You see, this limestone of ours Is quite easy
to work when 1t comes out of the quarry,
but after 1t Is exposed to the weather 1t
gets as hard as flint 1t does not crumble
away, shale OFF, OF crack. Mayor Youmans
of our town. was telling me that to get rid
of big piece Of stone laying near his plan
ing mill he once offered it free to man
that he had Just contracted with for foun-
dation under the planning mill engine. The
old piece of stone had been lying in the yard
for years. 1t was big piece, worth at the
quarry about $25, but the contractor politely
declined it. He said. I've busted all my
chisels your Internal old granite Why,
I've got flag stones in the steps of my house
it was built in 1S58-that have been there
thirty-sfx years, and don't show the slight
est wear. There's plenty of our stone to
draw upon, too. AS for crushing strength,
the biggest testing machines at Madison,
Wis, or at Minneapolis can't break It,
Fer my part, was rather in favor of the
st. Paul sandstone at first. 1t was about
$4,000 cheaper than the other variety, and l
thought we'd better spend the $4,000 up stairs
where people could see it's equivalent rather
than under the ground. But our tests con-
vinced me that it would be much safer to
put in harder stone. If anything hap
pened to the foundation the commission will
be justly blamed. Now, this foundation will
be put in slowly. Should there be any delay
in appropriations. or otherwise. the founda-
tions MAJ lie exposed to the weather for
three or four years. This will be severe
test of its durability. L still think, never
theless, that the st. Paul stone ought to be
used wherever possible, and the rest of the
commission are of the same opinion. In the
area walls, for instance, this sandstone would
do first rate. These walls are eight feet
high and very extensive. 1t will require a
great quantity of stone to build them. But
If by any chance some of this stone should
give away it could be replaced, and the loss
would be trifing. If foundation wall
gives away, Minnesota might have to sympa-
thize in New York's delight over its artis-
tically cracked state house at Albany. Well
meet again tomorrow. and 1 think we'll
probably come to a formal conclusion. At
any rate, this state is going to have an hon
estly built and handsome capitol at the
lowest possible COST