Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-01
COST OF STATE CAPITOL
Report of the Custodian on Expense of
Maintenance.
INVOICE OF THE STATE FURNITURE
Loose Methods of Caring for the
Property OF the Stale of Iowa.
Recommendations In the
Report of
,olCE OF THE STATE FURNITURE

DIES MONIES, July 81.-(Special)-The
first biennial report OF the custodian of
public buildings and property for the state
Of Iowa has just been issued. 1t covers the
period from January /, 1896, to December
81. 1897. In his report Custodian Metzgar
states that the total expenditures of the
office for the two years were $61, OSt.0 3. This
he states is quite an increase over the pre-
ceding two years, when the expenditure was
S54, 996. 80, but the principal part of the in
crease Is chargeable to the extra session of,
the Legislature, which made largely in
creased expenses on account Of lighting and
heating the state house, and also required
increased forces in the %ianitor and police de-
partment of the custodian's staff. When
the new law took effect giving control of
all supplies to the executive council the Gus
todian's department took an invoice of all
tools and material on hand, which amounted
to 81, S99. 2S, and which the custodian states
should in justice be deducted from the
statement Of expenses, as these tools and
materials were drawn and used during the
two years and charged as drawn, so the
amount appears twice in the showing. Pur-
suant to the new law Mr.. Metzgar has made
a list of all state property within the Gus
tody and control of the custodian of public
UullullSS anu property, WluH the Valuation
of the same, the first list of the kind ever
compiled and the c~ollating of which was
an enormous task. Mr.. Metzgar draws at
tention to an important omission in the
law. which, while requiring the custodian
to keep a list of all property of the state.
permits furniture ad supplies to be pur-
chased almost without limit and makes no
provision for such purchases being reported
to the custodian and also makes no provi-
sion for furniture or supplies worn out or
used being reported to that officer, there
fore the task of keeping an accurate list
is an exceedingly difficult one. The total
value of the furniture under the control
of the custodian on January 1 of the pres
ent year was SOL, O49.i The tools and ma
terial were valued at 50, O17.32. The most
important Improvement completed in the
state house during the two years was the
finishing of the fifth floor of the state Ii
brary, which had previously been without
shelving for books. 1t is now completed as
originally intended New carpets were
placed in the consultation and private rooms
of the supreme court. requiring 470 yards
of Brussels carpet and an expenditure of
$635.06, and the galleries and alcoves of the
library were c~arpeted at an expense of
s6OO.S4. Two Winchester rifles and revolv-
VI NN~ l'S'NN'iOh VI NAN
vault in the treasureris office and a system
of electric bell alarms placed in the treas
urer's and auditors offices connecting with
the custodian's office. The, committee rooms
were reprinted and frescoed also during
Mr.. Metzgar's administration, and the build
ing supplied in part with improved gas
burners, e%ffecting a saving of about so per
cent in gas. The total value of the furni-
: ture in the state house is $51, 049. 40, divided
as follows: One hundred and six desks, 81
351.5O: twenty-eight typewriters, $2,O25; l.
425 chairs, SIG, 342.40 seventy-three sofas
and %settees, $3,S71; eighteen adjustable seats
and office stools, $32.75 sixty-one half win
dow and door curtains. $5,O55; 221 tables,
S5,14O; thirty-two mirrors, SLY; sixteen
scales, $399.50; twenty letter presses, $lS7:
ten clocks, $43.50; thirty-four portable
lamps, $16S; twenty-four revolving book
cases, $271; eighteen dictionaries and stands.
1928; twenty-nine stands, $15G.75 10 book
and file cases, Sc, 1850; miscellaneous, S.,
800. so.