The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-08-16
DELAY ON THE CAPITOL.
1t Is Explained as Caused by Difficulty
ia Obtaining Structural Steel.

ST. Paul Dispatch:
Manager Herzogg of the Minneapo-
lis branch of the American Steel com
pany, the trust which now owns the
old .Gillette-Herzogg plant, notified the
state capitol commissioners today that
after going into several states per-
sonally, he had succeeded in getting
hold of enough raw material, winch
the Minneapolis plant would manufac-
ture into the structural iron, needed
to complete the dome on the new state
house. Mr.. Herzogg declared positive
ly that he would deliver the steel by
September 10. Butler d Ryan, the
dome contractors agree TO hnlsh the
dome in forty days after September 10:
: Commissioner De Lalttre grumbled
considerably over the slow progress
made on the state house this summer,
saying that the state was paying IN
terest right along, and much time was
being lost. He found fault because
the dome had not been pushed to com
pletion, and because no interior work
had been done, the plans even not be-
ing completed.
The architect of the building in
formed Mr.. De Laittre that the unset
tied condition of the steel market and
the pending strikes were respons IDLE
for the delay on the dome. Manu-
facturers would not supply the requir-
ed steel from their stock piles except
at high cost. AS to the interior work,
the plans were not completed and con-
tracts let for the reason the legislature
did not authorize the increased cost
limit until late in April.
" N oi& ole n
proposed installation of a temporary
steam plant with which to heat por-
tions of the new building this winter.
Mr.. Gilbert said that contractors
could work on the fire probing con-
tract for several months during the
winter if the temperature was heated
by temporary plant to about 40 de-
grees. The men could work in that
temperature very comfortably, and frost
would not spoil the work.
sit would cost you $15, 600 for coal
and lot more for the temporary
plant, - declared Mr.. De Laittre.
Mr.. Gilbert was of the opinion that
the fuel and labor would cost less than
So, 900.
No action was taken, but when the
time comes, large secondhand hot air
furnaces will probably be installed.
. The plans for the proposed heating
and lighting plant, water system, etc. !,
were exhibited by the architect. The
power house will be an extensive and
expensive affair. 1t will cost large
sum Of money. The commissioners
anticipate that the bids to be opened
September "a will be very high, owing
to the increased price of all metal pro-
ducts. The power house will be two
stories, and the exterior will be finished
in buff colored brick. The smoke stack
will protrude but few feet above the
roof, as forced draft will be used,
smoke will be consumed and nothing
will escape from the stack but occa-
sional vapors, etc.
The architect exhibited to the COM
missioners several plans for marble
work in the rotunda. The rOtunda
will be an imposing spot.
= The architect in a communication to
the board, called attention to the fact
that the navy department had ordered
the destruction of frigate Minnesota.
which played such notable part in
the Civil war. 1t was suggested that
the board secure some portion of the
frigate for exhibition in the new CAPT.
tol building. The figurehead, the
pinnacle. wheel or rudder, would form
interesting relics. While on the sub
ject the architect called attention to
the fact that other states were secur-
ing from the government very rare
and beautiful cannon of antique pat
tern. Some of them are emblazoned
with the coats of arms of foreign
lands The architect thought that
these pieces of decorative art should
find place in the Minnesota capitol.
The board will communicate with the
war department.
Butler & Ryan, contractors building
the dome and other portion of the
building, asked that $40, 900 of the re-
tanned percentage be paid them. This
was taken under advisement.