The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-14

signs in both competitions were passed
upon by an expert selected by said
BOARD, Which said expert had no knoWl-
edge OF the names of the owners or
authors of said plans and designs.
vi. That said second competition
resulted in the selection of the plan
and design under which the present
building is being constructed, and in
the selection Of the Hon. Cass Gilbert
as architect, who was the owner and
author of said design.
Cost Less Than Customary.
''VII. Your committee carefully in
Vestgated the contracts of the board
or capitol commissioners with the ar
chltect and its dealings hereunder,
and find the same to be within the le-
gal authority of the board, and find
that the compensation stated therein
Is less, rather than exceeding the GUS
tomary amounts paid for skilled work
OF this class.
VIII. Your committee further finds
as fact that owing to the limitations
contained in the general laws of 1893
that the board of capitol commission
ers were prohibited from advertising or
making contract for the completion
of the whole structure.
TX. That in accordance Herewith
the following contracts have been let:
First, the excavation and foundation;
second, for structural steel floor beams
for basement story; third, for the
superstructure of dome; fourth, for
the dome, and the subsequent ones for
other portions Of the work which are
now under way and which provide for
the completion of the building; steps,
'aera' walls and general workmanship,
together with boiler, engine and pow
er house for heating, lighting and ven-
tilating the building.
*. The said several contracts have
all been examined by your committee,
together with the advertisements for
bids, plans and specifications, the pro-
posals, contracts and bids for compile
ton Of the same.
XXI. Said capitol commissioners
have proceeded in accordance with the
law in advertising for proposals, in the
opening Of said bids in public, and the
filing Of duplicates Of said bids with
the state auditor.
Prices Rose Steadily.
XII. We find as a fact that most Of
the said contracts were not let for the
amounts indicated in the original esti-
mates for the work to be done by rea-
son of the marked advance in the cost
of labor and building material, which,
In many instances, were found to be as
high as 100 per cent increase.
XIII. That all of said contracts so
in accordance with the then prevailing
market and were let by competition
upon the most favorable terms to the
state at the time.
xiv. That while the board has had
to deal with an advancing market it
has had to anticipate the growing
needs of the state and we find that the
building was accordingly enlanged to
meet these conditions, which said en-
largements consisted in part of the
purchase of site and construction of
separate power house located at a
considerable distance from the capitol
building at the increased cost of nearly
100000, and that the building itself
was increased fifty-one feet in length.
enlanging the width and length of the
house Of representatives. wing of the
building, and the construction of the
inclosed areas between the main ter
race and the building to provide well
lighted storage space entirely around
the building. The increased length Of
the building above mentioned made it
necessary to increase its height by
three feet and to proportionately en-
large both the diameter and height of
the dome in order to obtain suitable
proportions, and that the sub base
ment was increased from six to eight
feet in depth.
Accounts Correct and Accurate.
AN. PaymentS-Ihe payments and
disbursements of moneys appropriated
have been made only on accounts which
have been approved by vote of the
board Of capitol commissioners.
XVI. That vouchers drawn were
verified and approved by Endorsement
by five members of said board and by
the governor before presentation to the
state auditor.
xvii. That the said auditor has
n r4y oil xr1r. c11tc he
ury for the payment of said vouchers,
and all disbursements on account of the
new capitol have been made by the
state treasurer on such warrants.
XVIII. These accounts were found
correct and kept in business like man
ner. The amount expended and balance
on hand being as shown in the last
annual report of the board of state
capitol commissioners.
XIX. Your committee further finds
Cn~tinnsd ON Si~+h Pana.