Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-01-07
FIRE DAMAGES STATE CAPITOL
Lose Estlmated at from $500. 900 to
100000. House Chamber
AMaes of Wreckage


was greatly damaged by fire today.
1t is roughly estimated that the loss
is from $500, 1000 to 500, 900.
The fire was discovered about 1890
a. m. and was not extinguished until
6 p. m. in what is known as commit
tee room No. 5, which is a small room
occupied during Legislative sessions
generally by the clerk of the house
and which is on the same floor as the
house of representatives and between
the room of the speaker and the Office
of the clerk of the house. The room
was one of the many that were being
used by the small army of workmen
engaged in repairs of the building.
The floor was Uttered with paint and
refuse and the painters had done much
of their paint mixing in the room. A
painter, Samuel Addington, who had
been at work near the room, entered it
for some purpose and found that the
whole interior was burning. II had
been left shut up and it was probable
the fire had been going some hours
when it was discovered.
A street car conductor reported that
on Sunday forenoon he saw smoke is
suing from the northwest dome of the
state house, but he had not lived long
in the city and the matter did not. at
tract his attention. 1t is all mys-
terry as to how the fire started, but it
had great Roadway when the fremen
were called. .
The chamber of the house Of repre-
sentatives is charred mass OF debris
and cannot be repaired in time for the
approaching session of the Legislature.
The origin of the fire is not definitely
known and Governor Cummins will
order an immediate investigation.
The supposition is that it started
either from lighted candle carelessly
left burning or from an electric light
wire. The fire originated near shaft
in the committee room and spread up
ward and around the ceiling of the
house chamber.
The fire department was unable to
fight the flames effectively on account
of the height of the building and ele-
walton of the capitol site. The only
thing possible was to cut off the pro-
gress of the flames. The gallery of
the house chamber fell with crash,
portions of the debris slightly injuring
two firemen and endangering the lives
of many. The valuable volumes of
the state library located near the fire,
were removed and the state offices were
hastily emptied. The funds in the
state treasurer's office were loaded on
a wagon and carried to down town
bank for deposit.
Governor Cummins laid aside CUB
ernatorial dignity and, clad in rubber
boots and rough coat, engaged in the
work of fighting the fire.
Tonight the beautiful state capitol
presents a scene of desolation. The
marble staircases are covered with
ice, the floors are flowing with water
and the offices under the burned part
of the building are flooded. The Iowa
capitol was one of the most beautiful
in the United States. 1t was erected
at cost of So, 100000. The State Cap
itol commission, appointed for the
purpose, had just completed the res
toration and repair of the building at
a cost of 1925, 900, most of which had
been expended in the chamber which
ruined.
The building was supposed to have
been fire proof, but the several false
ceilings in the house furnished excel
lent material for the flames.
A large number of the legislators
are here ready for the session next
week. The general expression on the
part of these men is that there must
be no adjournment of the legislature.
The belief prevails that the house
chamber can be fitted up so that it.
would be disable in the course of two
or three weeks by placing canvas
over the ceiling and sides. The state
library might be fitted up for use OF
the house temporarily. 1t is possible
also that the senate could use the
court room and the supreme court
could hold elsewhere. But whatever
happens there will be delay of only
a short time in the legislative session.
Governor Cummins and the MEM
bers of the legislature expressed
themselves today as for immediate
repair of the building and the placing
of it in as good condition as before.
Many of the members declare that the
woodwork should all come out and
the construction be modern. Not
many of them were aware of the ex-
istence OF so much woodwork in the
capitol building and supposed it was
fireproof. Estimates of the
cost of rebuilding run from 5000, 600 to
100000. Not much of the new work
put in by the present capitol commits
sion was injured but some of the dy-
namos were lost.