The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-19
CAPITOL COMMISSION HAVE NOT
YET INFORMALLY EXPRESSED
OPINION
AS TO BEST KIND OF STONE.
SECRETARY HANSON SAYS THE
MOST DONE WAS TO HEAR THE
MERITS
OF VARIOUS MATERIAL DISCUSSED.
Another Man Expresses the Home
That the Product of Minnesota
Will Be Used.


members Of the state capitol commits
sion have taken from the Iabors in
awarding the contract for the new
state house, Architect Cass Gilbert and
Secretary Hanson will be busily en-
gagged getting the details of the four
teen bids in such shape as will greatly
facilitate the work of the commission
when 1t meets again. probably in
week or so. There has been consider
able comment regarding the sort of
stone which is to be used in the con-
struction Of the big building, and the
statement has appeared in print that
the members Of the commission are
divided as to which stone should be
called into use This latter is entirely
incorrect.
Secretary Hanson. who has been
present at all the meetings of the COM
mission said. yesterday, that this
statement which was doubtless the re-
suit of the expressed opinion that Min
nesota stone should be used if prac-
tIcable, was not based upon any action
or discussion Of the board. The mem
bers had heard the remarks made by
representatives of the various sorts of
stone under consideration, had visited
the buildings. in the construction of
Which. these stones had been used, and
had pored carefully over the somewhat
complicated bids, but had not decided
to limit the choice of stone to any two
or three kinds as stated.
Mr.. Hanson is authority for the
statement that the commission has not
yet got matters in such shape as to
have reached even an informal opin-
ion as to the best stone for the capitol.
The commission will meet again sub
ject to the call of President Charming
Seabury.
In an interview with a Clio b e re-
porter last evening, D. r. McGinnis
had this to say in reference to the
threatened introduction of building
stone from other states for the cree
ton Of the new state capitol:
''If there was any doubt that either
the limestOnes, sandstones or GRANTEES
Of Minnesota were not equal in quail
ity to those of other states, l would
not have a word to say on this sub
ject. But when it is a fact which can
be substantiated that in durability,
beauty and workability, the three
classes of stone mentioned are not
only equal to but superior to those Of
any other state, our citizens would
have good cause for complaint If any
other stone is used.
These are facts which experts know
to be true" continued Mr.. McGinnis,
land every public-spirited man inter-
ested in the welfare of the state will
agree that Minnesotas capitol should
be erected from Minnesota's building
materials. If there is any danger,
whatever. that the contracts will be
given out to inferior qualities of stone,
such as is offered from the other
states, citizens mass meeting should
at once be called, to give their opinion
in no uncertain tone in regard to this
question. 1t would be a grand adver-
tisement for our own building ma
terials, wouldn't it, to point to our
new state capitol and say that it was
constructed from stone brought hun
dreds Of miles from other states. I
will not discuss the question that the
stones from the other states are not
fair building stones, but they do not
compare in quality in either of the
three great classes, with those in our
own state. Our Minnesota sand
stones are of especially fine quality
close grained easy to work. Of beauti-
full even color, and highly durable, and
this is true of both the grey and red
sandstone.
The Kasota limestone and that from
other parts Of the state have no su-
Perior, While as to our GRANTEES they
are equal, if not superior 20 any gran
ties yet discovered and worked. 1 be
lieve there is not 4 public spirited Cit
iZen Of the state who would like to
point to our state capitol and acknOwl-
edge that it was necessary to build it
of stone brought from another part of
the country. But I myself do not be-
lieve that our capitol commission will
take any such action"
State Geologist Winchell has writ
ten to Chairman Seabury urging the
ACCESSIBILITY Of selecting some Mime
sofa stone. Minnesota, the professor
says, has an abundance of fine build
ing stones of all the principal classes.
1t only remains for the commission to
decide what kind of q stone it desires.
Further than u decision that there
is good stone in Minnesota, Prof.
Winchell did not go in his letter TO
Mr.. Seabury, and would not, in en- in
terview yesterday afternoon.
''It would not be proper for me to
make statements about any particular
stone, as compared with. others" he
said. Il couldn't do il without making
comparisons invidiOus. For any fuTth-
er information, ] must refer you 10 my
official reports. You can examine
them and judge for yourself. At the
time 1 wrote the chapter on the build
ing stones of the state, l had ex-
haustive chemical and physical tests
made. and all the essential facts are
set forth in the tables
Upon referring to the chapter on
stones, in the final Minnesota geologt-
ca! report, it will be seen that forty
one building stones, thirty seven OF
them from the state, ere reported
Nlon fio1
stones is the presence of cement
Many sandstones are of fine quality
and appearance, but lack cohesive
qualities.