The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-02
URGES ERECTION OF
EXECUTIVE MANSION
Van SAINT viii Recommend
That State Build 1t Near
New Capitol.

Gov. Van SAINT, in his valedictory
message to the legislature, will recon-
mend that the state erect a governors
mansion near, the new capitol and IN
harmony with it INTELLECTUALLY. This
he announced to the state capitol COM
mission yesterday at the regular
monthly meeting of that body.
Contrary to custom the governor
spent nearly the entire day with the
board. Although he Is ex-offcio a
member he has no vote in the COM
mission and hitherto he has not regu-
larly attended the meetings or remain
ed long when he did drop in. The at
tendance otherwise was rather slim
yesterday, as Commissioners DeLaittre
and Lamberton are both in the South,
Mr.. Lamberton being seriously Ill.
Those present were Commissioners
Seabury, DuToit, Graves and Weaver,
who barely made a quorum.
When Gov. Van SAINT made known
his idea as to the propriety Of the
state providing home for its chief
executive, Mr.. Seabury suggested that
the John L. Merriam home on Capitol
hill could probably be bought at a
reasonable price. This did not meet
Gov. Van SAINTS views and he ex-
pressed himself in favor of new
building altogether.
Use Old Capitol Building.
The governor also suggested to the
commission a plan to utilize the old
capitol building as a sort Of annex to
the new one when that is completed,
and thus provide offices and accom-
modations for departments that would
otherwise be left out in the cold.
This proposition was called forth by
the demand on the part Of the state
dairy and food department that room
be provided in the capitol for its
chemical laboratory. The dairy COM
mission has claimed this as a right
under a law which requires the de-
partment to maintain a laboratory in
the capitol"
Already it has been found that the
new building is not going to afford
all the room that will be needed to
meet the ideas and demands of the
many departments of the state gov
eminent. In the architects appor-
tionment of space some departments
that consider themselves entitled to
offices in the state building have not
been included at all and others have
been given only portion of the ac-
commodation that they desire.
No Room for State Art Society.
The State Art society, for example,
will have no rooms of it's own, and
If accommodated, will be obliged to
camp" temporarily in quarters ulti-
mately intended to be portion of the
state law library, or in one of the COM
mittee rooms between legislative ses-
No provision has been made in the
new building for the laboratory of the
state dairy and food commission. and
the commission has made its demand
as stated. The capitol commission
suggested the removal Of the laboratory
| to the state experiment station but in
reply to that proposition the dairy and
| food department points to the law
mentioned. When the matter was taxi
en- UP for discussion yesterday, Gov.
/ Van SAINT said:
/ "Why not keep the laboratory where
| it is now in the basement Of the old
| capitol? If you take the dome off that
| building the rest Of it will be good for
| fifty years to come, and will provide
| comfortable quarters for number OF
| the departments that could not be ac-
! commodated in the new building with
| out crowding II"
| The governor also advocated a rep
resentation of the American flag on
| the dome of the new capitol in colored
| lights, arc said that it would be good
| idea to have the building thus illuml-
mated at times when the legislature is
| in session.
Archbishop Suggests Painting.
Cass Gilbert, architect of the new
| building, read a communication from
Archbishop Ireland, suggesting that
| the discovery of the Falls of st. An
| thony by Father Hennepin be selected
as the subject of one of the paintings
| to be placed upon the walls.
| Some mention was made Of the de-
| strliction of the Iowa and Wisconsin
state. caDitolS recently by fire, and this
| brought out the fact that the Mlnne-
sofa building is insured now for $780,
| 900, which in the present condition OF
| the building is deemed by the commits
| sioners to be sufficient indemnity for
| any destruction that might be posi-
| BILE.
| Mr.. Gilbert, in his regular report of
| progress, stated to the board that But
| Ter Bros, the general contractors on
| the work, expect to have their stone
| and marble contracts completed by
July, and that the interior woodwork
| will be finished by that time.
Good Progress Made.
| Mr. Gilbert expressed himself as
much gratified with the progress tnat
| is being made in the work generally
| throughout the building.
| He said that the work in Mankato
| stone on the stairways is practically
| completed and ready for the timbrel
| vaulting and marble trimmings. Four
| of the eight granite columns for the
rotunda on the floor where the house
| and senate are located have arrived,
and two of them have been put in
! place. Most of the window and door
| frames have been placed and the doors
| hung. The Hauterville marble trim
mings for the doorways on the lob
| bies and corridors issuing from the
| dome corridor have been placed. Con-
siderable of the work in placing the
marble in the toilet rooms and the
| plumbing fixtures has been done.
The commissioners, accompanied by
| the governor, spent large part of the
| afternoon at the new building, viewing
the work and discussing prospective
| work.
Contractors estimates amounting to
| $4,000 were approved in the afternoon.
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