Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-06-17
DECORATIVE ECONOMY
Decorations Designed For State
Capitol May Appear at st.
Louis Exposition
eALMER's IDEA OF HIS PLAN
Altho Objections May Be Made Outside
the capito! Commission Which Favor
This Scheme, it Is Believed All Diff
ficulties Can Be overcome-Would
Be Great Saving of Expense to State.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, June 1.-THE decorative
features of the Iowa exhibit at the s..
Louis exposition may be something in
which the people of the state will take
unusual pride, if the plans of the Iowa
chase exposition and the state capitol
commission are carried out. A sugges-
ton as to the propriety of making use
of the mural and other decorations
prepared for the state capitol in dec
Grating the Iowa building at st. Louis.
was made in this correspondence sew
eral weeks ago. The suggestion has
been well received, and today the state
capitol commission received letter
from Leroy A. Palmer, the member of
the Iowa commission in charge of the
art features of the exposition, in which
he states clearly how this double utili-
Zation of the decorations may be made.
Mr.. Palmer in his letter stated:
"As member of the Iowa commits
sion of the Louisiana Purchase exposi-
ton and charged with the duty of taxi
ing the initiative in the mural and other
decorations of the interior of the Iowa
1 building to be erected at st. Louis,
beg at this time to submit to your COM
omission the following suggestions as to
a possible joint or cooperative action
of the two commissions in the following
particulars.
The Louisiana Purchase exposi-
ton commission of Iowa believes that
the building of the state now in pro-
cess OF erection at ST. Louis, will when
completed, be a beautiful structure ex-
hibitng many striking architectural
and artistic effects on it's exterior fin
sish. and to carry out the general effect
/ in a most striking way and to fulfill
the. wishes and expectations of the
! so3i,.1 .1ission, 1t will require that its in
terror decorations be in strict Keeping,
/ from an artistic standpoint, with the
best of any of the states.
Learning that your commission in
I tended soon to procure for the capitol
of Des Moines appropriate historical.
symbolic and allegorical mural paint
iinss proposed under your directions by
the best artists of our country, the
| thought occurred to me that before
such paintings are finally installed or
! placed in position in the capitol it
| might not be out of harmony with your
general plans to have such paintings
temporarily placed in the Iowa building
at ST. Louis during the fall of this year
, and remain there until after the ter
mination Of the great exposition in the
year 1904.
! IF the paintings selected by you
| are to be upon canvas, and in modern
mural decoration among the best ar
lists, canvas is deemed far safer sur
| face than wall surface, no reason oc-
ours to me now why some of these may
not readily and safely be exhibited at
ST Louis as a part of the interior dec
Grafton Of the Iowa building. They
would be seen here by a vast number
Of Iowa people and would materially
increase the interest which our peo
iple would show toward the work of
| your and our commission. A limited
| appropriation Of money will preclude
our commission from obtaining the
highest works of mural art for our
building, but with your earnest CO.
operation along the line suggested great
DSduty anu eASSticISe
be added to the Iowa building, which
would otherwise with us be nearly i'm
| possible.
"Of course mural or other pictorial
decoration. larger than the wall surface
or panels available in our building are
not included in the foregoing sugges
| tions.
IF your commission can see its way
;o;,, ~,
to enhance the beauty and artistic ex-
cellence and charm of the walls and in
terror surfaces of the Iowa worlds fair
building, I can by the latter part of
September perhaps furnish you with
ample details of the space dimensions
of the interior surfaces and panels of
the building, so that you may know
by that time whether our spaces and
panels may be adapted, both as to
dimensions and lighting to the subjects
which you may commission your an
fists to execute under your orders
Trusting that these suggestions may
be taken up by you and given your
earnest consideration, l beg to sug-
gest an early reply in order that l may
! lay the whole matter before our COM
mission for prompt. efficient and CO.
operative action. l am with very great
respect, Sincerely yours.
LEROY A. PALMER.
"Chairman committee on decorations,
Louisiana Purchase exposition COM !
mittee."
The capitol commission is in session.
but at present busy with other matters: |
yet it is known that they are favorable |
to this plan if there is no serious OBJ
lection made anywhere. The matter
had been informally talked over by
members of the commissions The only |
objection that could be urged would be
the irregularity Of the proceeding and
the danger of loss by fire or other dam
age. But it is believed all this can |
be overcome. 1t will be recalled that |
the capitol commission was directed to
expend certain sums in procuring the |
decorations for the great interior hall
Of the state capitol. The opportunity |
for something fine is very great. There
will be several very large panels into |
I>a ol fho