The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-03
Minnesota $ capifots.


This is world of change" No truer
words than these were ever written. The
Individual has found them to be true in
bis own experience; they are verified IN
the works of nature, and the nation itself
finds the law effective in its existence.
Minnesota has found it true in regard
to the domicie of her legislative de-
partment, for there has been great
deal of change connected With the capitol
buildings Of the state. There have been
three buildings which have housed the
legislature in the little over half century
Stree the territory was organized, and in
few months%tlle fourth building will he
occupied. That makes an average 0ccu-
pany of a, little more than dozen years
scarcely longer than the average house
holder remains in one domiciIe. But
when the state approves and takes pos
session of the new capitol building a few
months hence, it viii begin an occu-
pancy that will continue for centuries
yet to come.
The first sessions of the territorial leg
islature were held in little old frame
hotel that stood at Bench and Mime
sofa streets, on the site now occupied bv
the Mannheimer building. This hotel
which was called the Central house, long
ago paid tribute to the law of change
and was RACED to make place for a more
substantial building Here in the early
fifties the territorial offices were located
and the legislature held sessions. The ex-
ecutive Offices were never located in this
building, Gov. Ramsey always keeping
them in his residence. The time the leg
islature used to meet in the Central
house was in the days when the members
used to walk, 400 or 800 miles on snow
shoes to be present at the lifting or
spears and the rafting of the armors.
1t was in the days when the indians
Were more plentiful than the whites, and
when it was considered more wise TO
spend money to build forts and palisades
as protection against the reds than to
build capitol buildings for them to burn
down and destroy.
But the law of change was at work
and the commonwealth grew and devel-
oped until the old Central house could
no longer accommodate the numerous
members of the legislature. 1t was found
necessary to erect capitol building, and
the matter was taken under considera-
ton. Then came up a pretty fight. The
organic act that provided for the organi-
cation of the territory carried with 1t the
sum of $4,000 for building permanent
capitol building. Before this money
could be expended it was necessary to
find @ permanent location for the build
ing There were three places that were
DluUeIS 1OI luS SS6tI VI SONG-lIlliCI IAiCJ
were st. Paul, st. Anthony and Stillwa-
ter. The matter came llp at one session
of the legislature, but no conclusion was
reached, and il went over to the next
session, when a compromise was effected.
st. Paul got the capitol, St. Anthony the
university and Saltwater the peniten-
tiary.
AS soon as this happy termination Of
the difficulties was accomplished, the
work of building the capitol was under
taken. A commission was appointed, con-
sisting of Messrs. D. F. Bpawley, Louis
Robert J. McKusick and E. A. G. Hatch.
WT held meeting in st. Paul and adj
Journed without accomplishing anything.
AT a second meeting, however, they found
site that was satisfactory, and at once
closed with the offer The tender was
made by Charles Bazille, father of E. w.
Battle, present judge of the probate
court in st, Paul, who offered to give
block Of land to the territory for capt.
tol purposes. The offer was accepted,
and the capitol was located what
has since been known as Capitol square.
The site for the new capitol having been
selected, the next thing was the letting
of the contract for the building. This
was awarded to Joseph Daniels, for $685.
900, although the building eventually cost
over $400 It was to be buff after plans
drawn by n. c. Prentiss. Work. was be-
gun on July 81. 1851, utmet with many
hindrances. After it had been under way
for a few weeks it was found necessary
to stop and construct a drain. This so
hindered the work that it was not re-
commenced that fall. and many were the
complaints that the people made over the
delay. In the spring another start was
made and continued slowly throughout
the summer months. 1t was not until
July 81. 1858, that the governor, W. A.
German, moved into the new building,