Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-03-03
loss MAY REACH 100000
ALL BUT SMALL AMOUNT OF
INSURANCE PERMITTED
TO LAPSE.
TAlK or CAPITOL REMOVAL
MOVEMENT STARTED IN MIL
wAUkEE FOR REMOVAL TO
THAT CITY.

Madison, Wis, March 1. - Wiscon-
sins picturesque capitol, the pride of
the state for decades, is in ruins.
All that remains intact from the
devastating flames, which started
early Saturday morning, is the ex-
IRENE north extension, the contents
Of which are practically ruined by
water.
Jagged walls, from which every
thing of infiammable matter has been
eaten by the flames, are all that mark
what was the center of Wisconsin's
executive life. The loss will be about
81, 200, 900. exclusive OF the relics.
There was little or no insurance,
the state having changed from insur-
ice in companies to a system OF
state insurance.
Gov. La Toilette issued the following
statement:
II have summoned the state officers
to consider the disaster that has be-
fallen us and make some provision for
carrying on the states business. From
general appearance, l should say tina
the north and south extensions Of the
building, which were built in the
early sos, are not damaged much, and
can be repaired easily.
THE wings from the main portion
Of the building are much damaged, but
only part of one Of the walls probably
will have to be rebuilt. Practically
nothing remains of the north portion
of the building except the outer walls.
the walls supporting the dome and
the tile floor in the first story. 1t is
not improbable that these walls will
have to he taken down and replaced.
by new ones :
1.-The reason why the old portion OF
the building burned so much more
rapidly than the newer part was be-
cause 1t was relatively less %freproof,
or perhaps il would be better to say
that it was of more in1ammable ma.
terial than the portions.
81 am unable to venture an estimate
of the total loss on the building or the
contents. | have been informed that
the loss on records and documents in
the different departments Is much
smaller than at first supposed.
Nearly every department has a
good vault. and nearly all the valua-
BILE records and documents were
stored in those vaults. L am Uniformed
that these vaults are in good condi-
ton, and probably their contents are
not damaged much"
Mayor Rose of Milwaukee has of
fered the use of the Milwaukee citv
hall for temporary quarters of the
state government.
Later Gov. La Toilette issued a sup
Elementary statement in which he
fixes the loss on the capitol building
fire at 100000. based on reports or
several experts.
Other estimates on the loss range
from 100000 to $1,000. 900.
One of the most serious losses by
the fire was the destruction of the
Grand Army room, together with all
Of the records of the department of
Wisconsin and of Lucius Fairchild
post of this city; "Old Abe" the ia
nous war eagle. and all the records,
mementoes and relics of the Civil and
Spanish wars. Not a shred was saved
from the room except the battle flags
Milwaukee. Feb. 20. A movement
has been started for the removal OF
the state capital to Milwaukee from
Madison. There are no constitutional
provisions preventing the location of
the capital here. and the change can
be made by legislative enactment.
Article IA. section 40. Of the consti-
tuition provides that the seat of gov
eminent shall be at Madison untiD
otherwise provided by law"
Article 16, section 10, relating to
the university, provides that provis-
ion shall be made by law for a state
university at o near the seat of gov
| eminent"
Good lawyers say this provision
would be amply complied with by the
location of the capital here. Milwau-
kee being in suficiently close prox-
unity to Madison to comply with the