Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-02-28

WISCONSIN STATE
CAPITOL BURNED
Loss 100000; Practically
No Insurance.
STATE RECORDS BELIEVED SAVED
Fire Started BY Lighted Gas Jet-A
Capitol May Be Built at Milwaukee.
but an Extra Session Of the LeglsIa.

Capitol May Be Built at Milwaukee,
but an Extra Session OF the Lealsla.
turs Will Have To Be Called.
Madison, Feb. 27.-The capitol bald.
ing was practically destroyed by IRE
today with loss estimated at $500. GEO.
Governor Sohofeld maintained inSur.
ance on the building throughout his
term totalling 100000, but the lasI
Legislature instituted an insurance
fund and directed the states officers
to allow the insurance policies to lapse.
In June last there lapsed $4,000
and In December the of SOC, 900. There
is in the insurance fund at the present
time about $4,000 to meet the loss, con
servatively estimated at, 100000.
The fire involves the building Of @
new capitol, special session OF the
legislature and the probable renewal
OF the agitation in favor of the re.
moval of the capitol from Madison to
Milwaukee.
The flames, which were caused by
defective electric wiring, at 0:15 a. m,
had completely ruined the east and
west wings containing the senate
and assembly chambers, and the de-
Partments of the tax commission, the
adJutant general, railroad commission
er, state school superintendent. super.
intendent of public property, board of
agriculture, state normal school, com.
missioner OF fisheries, fish and game
warden, state board of pharmacy, state
land office, dairy and food commission.
state treasurer and commissioner of
labor, and were about to attack the
departments Of the governor, secretary
OF state, state board of control and
the Insurance commissioner. The To-
cal fire department had ten streams
OF water playing on the flames with
but little effect and the Milwaukee de-
partment was on its way to Madison
to render assistance.
AT o'clock the flames were burst
Ing from the extreme windows of the
north and south wings, the east and
west wings having by this time been
destroyed. The building will BIZ a
total loss
The last departments to burn were
those OF the secretary of state and
governors on the south, the attorney
general and insurance commissioners
on the main floor and the supreme
court, law library and state library
on the second floor.
Practically all the valuable state rec
0rdc ara haItnuad e. ~ 100
Most OF them remain In masonry and
steel vaults in the ruins and their
safety depends on the extent OF the
nre-prof character of the vaults. The
state treasury had only about 1000
N cash on hand.
The origin of the fire is now believ.
ed to have been lighted gas Jet in a
,ollet room on the second floor. The
lame was close to and ignited a var.
lished ceiling.
AT $3.50 o'clock the fire had prac.
ically destroyed every portion of the
'apieol building with the exception OF
ne north end, which it was thought,
would be saved.
Inc contents of the immense law
lDrary were carried out with a large
uantity OF other books and papers
nd was NOT materially damaged. In.
luded In the burned PARTON was the
Irand Army hall and all It's priceless
ecnrda
During the fire Fire Chief Charles
'ernard was overcome by smoke and
ell from ladder, receiving serfous
1Juries source OF satisfaction IL
hat the state historical society's great
brary, housed for half a century in
ne capitol, was safe in it's own great
brary building. Appropriations from
me to time for new additions made
ne cost of the state capitol to date
900 900.
Inc building was situated in the
enter OF Capitol park, which is 914
9et square, containing about 14A
cres, on an elevation commanding
lew of the surrounding lakes.