Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-11
IN HISTORICAL RA|L
Curator Aldrich and His Curios
Dumped Into Their Handsome
New Building.
Ii Will Be Fine Home But is I'm.
finished and Devoid Of
Furniture.
An Appropriation Will Be Asked
For Equipment of This Valua-
Bile Department.

Special to Times s-Republican.
Des Moines. Jan. 1.-THE state histo-
rical department has moved into its
handsome new building. across the
street diagonally northeast from the
state house. The building is not fin
ished, and Will not be entirely ready ferl
occupancy for several weeks. but room
enough IS ready to accommodate the
department in a rough Way The I
basement, a very large room, running s
the entire length of The building, sixty /
eight feet viii be used for the newspa-
per flies. ana they viii be placed there
when Curatar -Aldrich's plan is carried /
out. So that they VIII be most flyaiia- I
bic for reference. The department. has
at least two papers from every county i
and they are bound in volumes contain- I
ing from one 10 three years. The cur
trent issues are also kept 50 they are
valuable for reference. and this Is one
iof the most attractive aud particular
features Of the department fhe gem /
erai public Will not be admitted % this
Itipii Dut stic!t i!l'ts a. ma w 'tt7.- ~
VIII be brought up to the first floor tol
tine readlns room for Use. / his IS done
because Of the vandalism displa yed ~
some of the people who visit such
places. Naluable files have, been nu-
trusted, and important articles cut out
4 ON the first floor there is a general
reading room and ladies' reception
room the curators Office and the gen
Eeral Offices Of the dsrartnent wnere
books and papers are given out and the
llarge library room The latter occupies
the east hafsof this floor is well lighted
and furnishes ample room Tor the pres
ent. Onthe second floor is he museum.
and autngrAph room. where The large
leases containing the relics and etilno-
logical and anthropologlcal materials
are stored, In this room may he found
: AN interesting ana unique collection oil
autographs and Biographical matter,
which formed the foundation Of the de-
partment. the personal and private gift
of Mr.. .Aldrich to The state. This room
!, occupies half the second floor The at
4 tic above it. which is fourteen feet high
! and is we'll lighted is wholly unfinished
: provides for finishing it. Tia north
: halfsof the second alia third fioors are
s conbinea III one, lighted by a ground
i glass sky-light the entire length and
5 for lis purpose is csrtaiuly the most
i beautiful and perfectly lighted room in
/ the state. Here VIII be hung the pic
: lures whicn Mr. 4sai.ieh has secured
5 from time. to time and which he hopes
IL secure in the future. 1t will also be
[ used for lectures and other small gath
$ erings II STATE interest,".
building came from Iowa, the most oi
: it from the Tuarfies near leGrand Y
: Marshall county The Store below ths
. water table IS harder than the soft
sandstone which forms the main pal'
: ri tho structure. The water table Is
made OUT OF, a monster boulder. Which
!. was found in Camp township in Poll
! county, and furnished tweity-foul ea'
? loads Of beautiful red granite. M9s
. Of the wainscoating is LeGrand marble
). donated by Kirby & Co. wla furnisnes
: the outside stone 1t takes beautiful
: polish aud was used extensively IN TN
censtructeu Of this. Bosom publc libra
WHICH -. e. ~ ~ -
The rooms are all light and Well VENT
lated and heated. The heatis brough
across the street from the plant whcl
heats the state house. The floors are q
g hard maple ard the stairways ar
- mostly iron on marble. The parJito
l. walls are lll Of solid brick from l5s1
70 Moinas, Lehigh and Webster CITY ln
1t existence OF the bicycle IS ackfloWl
= cs..Set. by hicycle room at the base
of mant entrance. with aninclined plan
al at the side of the stairNay on wnle
ee to run bicycles up and down.
ne
9 rba a.,no,tmant is c,,ing into IL,
building practically without furnitur
asia.. from the autograph cases and th
glass cases for the museum All Ii
n furniturA which ii has wnicn ought
ne he used in The new building does NJ
M amount in value to exceed s200 TT
ne walls of The building are entirely bar
ly there IS no decoration whatever i
ne hnak-cases ar, provided: no cases +,
%. newspaper files. or for many 9th,
e things that are needed. In fact. IL
department is simply camping out