The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-06
CAPlTOL'S LIGHTING
FIXTURES COSTLY
Commission Opens Bids, but
Defers Action as They Ex-
coed Money Available

The Minnesota state capitol commits
sion had its eyes opened to the cost
of electric fixtures when it opened bids
yesterday for furnishing electric light
ing fixtures for the new state capitol.
The figures contained in the two bids
received for equipping the new marble
capitol with lighting appurtenances
were so large that the commission put
off the final consideration of the con-
tract until today, and in the mean
while Cass Gilbert, architect of the
new capitol, and the representatives of
the firms making the tenders for the
work have had a conference in the
hope of making notifications in the
specifications and getting the work
done inside the amount available for
the purpose.
The lower bid was from the Mitchell
Vance company, of New York, and its
total was $S7,S33.7o. Allan Black &
Co, ST. Paul representatives of the
New York firm, presented the bid.
The Sterling Bronze company, OF
Philadelphia, bid $96,974.15.
The Mitchell-Vance company asked
six months in which to complete the
work, and the Sterling Bronze COM
pany guaranteed to finish the installa-
ton of the fixtures in 240 days.
The specifications call for original
set pieces, chandeliers, wall brackets,
ETC., and large ornamental groups OF
electric light bulbs in the house and
senate chambers, the governors room
and the capitol rotunda. Gov Van
SAINT met with the commission, and
when the bids were opened and it be-
came evident that the figures were out
side the amount available for the pur-
pose by the commission, the bids were
referred to Architect Gilbert, who met
last night with the contractors in an
effort to make sufficient notifications
in the plans to permit of a contract
being entered into by the commission
Other Fixtures More Expensive
While the amount asked by the con-
tractors for the work is large, the fact
that the lighting fixtures for the Phila-
delphia city hall cost over 100000 and
those for the congressional library at
Washington nearly as much, is pointed
to as evidence that the Minnesota capt.
toll lighting fixtures, while elaborate. are
not so expensive as similar plants in
other large public buildings in the
country. E. E. Corliss, of Fergus Falls,
one of the members of the commission,
said last night:
Il am somewhat disappointed in the
amount which the contractors ask for
installing the fixtures as planned by
our architect, but / am SO pleased with,
the beauty and utility of the lighting
effects as shown by the specifications
that shall hesitate before voting to
modify the plans in any essential.
maintain that striking light fixture
is just as important to the complete
ness of the new capitol as an expensive
painting, and l. hope that we can OBJ
tain what We want for a sum within
our finances"
The capitol commission considered
the bids for the lighting effects and for
register faces in executive session yes
terday afternoon, after inspecting the
samples shown by the manufacturers,
but adjourned until today to further
consider the bids. But one bid was re-
ceived for the register faces, that of
George KEGS, of st. Paul. who offered
to install the registers for $S,36S. No
action was taken on this bid, considera-
ton being deferred until tomorrow.
Will Be Ready for Legislature
Members of the capitol commission
are much pleased at the progress being
made on the new building and express
the belief that some of the state Off
GERS will be housed in the new capitol
before the opening of the new year,
and that the legislature, due to meet
next January, will hold its sessions in
the handsome senate and house cham
bers.
Advices received from the contractors
are to the effect that practically all
will complete their work on schedule
time. Some of the rooms in the new
state house are already ready for oc-
cupancy. There will be minor details
which will not be completed until some
months after the opening of the new
year, but these will not be essential to
the occupancy of the capitol. Some of
the paintings will not be finished on
time and the bronze quadriga to be
placed over the front entrance will not
be in place for possibly year or more
from the present time.
The finances of the commission are
in, splendid shape Mr.. Corliss said
last night. There are funds on hand
or in sight for the completion of the
new building, and we will not have
to go to the legislature. The new capt.
toll is one of the finest buildings in
the world and it has been built at a
cost not at all excessive, when its