The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-22
I'm CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION is I'M
PRESSED UPON THE STATE
LAWMAKERS.
IN THE BIENNIAL REPORT
MISSTONERS WHICH WAS
ISSUED RECENTLY.
In the Opinion of Commit ssiOn, While
the State Occupies the Pres
ent Quarters.

Inc second biennial report of the
board of state capitol commissioners
mas been received from the hands Of the
printer, and contains a quantity Of
interesting matter relative to the states
new executive mansion. The history Of
operations in connection with the con-
strUction Of the capitol is given III
detail by the chairman of the board
Chann1ng Seabury, and between the
covers Of the report are many comparl-
sons showing the dimensions, cost of
building, etc, and some correspond
ence between the board and it's various
servants.
According to the figures of the archi-
tect, Cass Gilbert, the new building
Will contain something over 5000, 900
cubic feet, as against 1861 ,026 in the
present structure. With the present
cost of labor and material, the board
believes the new capitol can be built
at a cost of Pei cents per cubic foot,
or a total of $1,472, 664, providing only
the work can be prosecuted in a bust
nessllke manner, and not be subjected
to long waits common in public works
of this character, while waiting for
funds. The members of the board set
forth that, having satisfied themselves
that- by means of careful preliminary
estimates by architect and contractor.
they can construct the building with
out exceeding the appropriation. thew
nave proceeded with the work. Then
follows resume Of the work done to
date. The appended table Of quantities
Will serve, in measure, to show what
has been done along this line:
46,f60 cubic yards of earth excavation IL
49, cubic yards of excavation in trenches nj
$50 cubic feet Of concrete f0otinps 81 OH cuhic
feet of Winona stone In main foundation wa Is.
Of, 029 cubic feet Of local lmesone in area walls
o29 cubic tee Of lJcI limestone IL area walls
ana step foundations, 6,996 cubic feet of Kettle
river sandstone in piers and vaults II 681 Gu
bic feet of Kettle river sandstone in dome
foundation, 1883 cubic feet of granite in pier
caps and bearing blocks, 7,740 linear feet of
seepage tile under walls, 20, 656 square feet
OF damp PROBING over concrete, %, 500 square
feet or asphalt on walls, 74,70S pounds iron col
umns, column footings and bearings plates
297 600 pounds steel beams with separators and
connections.
The board has established a perma-
nent office at SIP Endicott building,
there being no available room in the
present capitol
The members have encountered a
SILmDHng DOCK, Which they feel the
need Of calling to the attention Of the
governor and present legislature, and
that is a statutory provision in the
laws of 1895, which sets forth that no
contract for any public work in this
state shall be valid or binding unless
the contractor has given a bond Gin
amount not less than the contract
price,
This, the commissioners say, will
work a hardship on capable and honor
able contractors, who may ind the
amount beyond their capacity, and viii
favor the larger and Weather class
in the matter Of public work 1t is
pointed out that one contract, amount
ing to 100000, has already been lei,
and that the next one to be let (fOr
the substructure) will probably exceed
S6OO.000 They add in this connections:
We recommend that the law be amended by
some limitations, and suggest that a sliding
scale be fxed-say requiring bond for full
amount on contract rot exceeding SO, 000 with
reasonable reduction in proportions on larger
contracts, and a maximum limit Of 800 600.
No greater risk than this last-named sum is
likely ever to occur at any given stage Of the
execution Of a contract, and all parties would
be amply protected. while. at the same time
the requirements would not be excessive.
The following statement shows the present
condition Of the finances of the board:
Receipts