Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-29
TWO EXPENSIVE BUILDINGS.
Rivalry in Cost Between Albany and
Philadelphia.

New York's elaborate capitol in
| Albany is built on land the first pur-
chase for which was made in 1868 at an
expense OF ISL 900. Other land was ac-
quired as needed between 1868 and
1858, when the first appropriation for
construction was made, and in 1870 adj
ditional land to the value of nearly
100000 was purchased and thereafter
the work Of construction went on. Jan.
| Z, 1879, eight years after the laying of
the corner stone, the present capitol
was occupied, but work in it has been
continued since as the exigencies of the
legislature and the public offices re-
CURED.
According to Comptroller Roberts
report made to the last legislature, the
total cost of the state capitol up to Jan.
/, 1899, was $24 ,102, and of this sum
$543,179 was for the purchase of land
and the balance for construction, labor,
supplies and interior finishings and
decorations. The Albany capitol is
pointed at frequently as the most ex-
pensive building in the country. 1t has
entailed an enormous expenditure of
public money.
Buildings constructed through legis-
lation and subject to labor regulations
which are onerous to the state often
are unduly expensive, but it is not an
exceptional building in this regard.
Albany has rival in the city of Phil
adelphia, the city hall of which has
cost nearly as much as the Albany cap
itol, and from recent indications it may
cost considerably more. The official
architect recently submitted to the pub
lie buildings commission a report on
the work still to be done to finish the
building. IL is expected that $4,000 900
additional will be required to complete
the building. and that between two
and three years will elapse before this
con be done. To date the cost has been
s22,50l $50. appropriated by councils up
to Jan. /. 1899, of which S16,Si3, 1874 was
for construction.
Precipitaney is seldom characteristic
of Philadelphia or its public works and
the building of the mammoth city hall
In that town has been going on for
thirty years. During that period the
business OF the city has grown enor-
mously and the commission has had to
meet the requirements as they arose.
The population Of the city of Philadel-
phia at the time OF the beginning OF
the construction of the city hall, the
orr ual commission to supervise which
was provided for by an act OF the Har-
risburg legislature in August, 1870,
was $4,000. At which time the various
public departments which are now pro-
vided for in the city hall occupied fifty
two Offices, whereas the present num-
Der Of Offices occupied is 143, showing
the growth Of municipal business in the
meanwhile. the present population of
Philadelphia, 100000, being nearly
double what it was when the con-
struction OF the city haH was first I'M
dertaken. Last years appropriation
for the city hall was 81 900 900 and
other work upon it will require it is
estimated, s4.OOO,00O additional Jan. L,
1899. this was the comparison between
the Albany capitol and the Philadelphia
city hall in outlay: Albany capitol.
S24.244, 1O2; Philadelphia city hall,
So, sol $50.
The Albany public building. It will be
observed, is somewhat ahead in the
amount expended, but outlays upon it
have practically ceased. whereas the
Philadelphia city hall is not yet CON-
pleted and probably before the begin
ming Of next spring will exceed in cost
the sum expended by New York for its
state capitol. Unlike the Albany suuc-