Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-03-14
Will Spend $4,000
For immediate
Repairs
Leaves Question OF a
New Building to
Legislature
Madison. March 5.

Madison. March 5.
Governor la Toilette formally an
nounced to the people OF the state
last night that he would not call an
extra session OF the legislature be-
cause OF the FIRE in the capitol.
He reviews in careful detail the
extent of the damage. discusses his
powers and duties in the premises IN
der the law. approves the action al
ready taken by the capitol building
commission and declares that TO call
a special session of the legislature
would be a useless expenditure OF
thousands Of dollars.
He SAYS that the latest expert ex-
animation OF the building places the
actual property loss at S25O,OOO, that
one OF the most reputable contractors
in the state is ready now TO take a
contract for $4,000, TO build anew
that part of the building destroyed
or damaged. but that it does not APP
near wise TO let sucn a contract,
Though the governor has the au-
thorityl until the legislature has
spoken.
The governor announces that the
expenditure of $4,000 Immediately
would repair the nortl and south
wings permanently ana tx other
rarts OF the building for -1mfortable
use. After reviewing III work of
the capitol building cOmmiselOn and
discussing his powers to re- air or re-
store the building under tho. state in
surance law. he declares tha- he viii
make the immediate. expenditure of
some. $4,000. house the government
conveniently in the capitol aid await
the action Of the Legislators To de-
eide either TO restore the SapitOl or
build a new and lar@er cne. The
statement is "a follows:
origin unknown
To the People OF The -. ,e Of Wis
consin.
The public is already advised OF the
cauit0I fire disaster. NNhicl occurred
on the morning Of Februar. n, 1904.
It is my Official duty to announce Tor
mally 20 the people OF the state, the
loss which has been sustained and TO
place before them the existing condi-
lions as accurately and exactly as
POSSIBLE at the present time.
The origin OF the fire is unknown.
The damage 90 the building resulting
directly and indirectly from the fire
viii not exceed the sum OF $3.50. 900.
Dome Not Damaged.
The rotunda and dome are not ma
tsrIally damaged. The only injury TO
this portion OF the building can be
repaired by cleaning and repainting.
The interior of the east and west
extensions. iE which we're located the
senate and assembly chambers, is
burned ont. The walls are uninJured
below the second floor.
The north wing was not at all dam
aged by FIRE. The connecting portion
Of the building between the rotunda
and the north wing was not damaged
by FIRE below the second story. Above
the second story. the partitions. cell
ing. and roof were burned OUT The
walls. however. are not injured.
$50 Top Of South Wing Destroyed.
The south wing was not damaged
by IRE below the second story. In
the second story of this wing the fire
was practically confined TO one room
l.
tons were destroyed. In the fourth
story, used as an assembly hall
there was nothing cOmbustible. ex
cepting a partition. the roof door and
window finishing. These were burn
ed. The outer walls Of the south
wing. at first believed to have beer
50 damaged above the third floor as
TO require rebuilding, are not damag
ed, excepting about some OF the win
dOws upon the third and fourth
floors.
Place Of Greatest Damage.
The connecting portion of the build
.ing between the rOtunda and the
south wing was burned out above
the second story. and the Offices and
rooms upon either side OF the corri
dor on both floors destroyed. All OF
the walls below the second floor. and
the outer walls OF this connecting
portion Of the building above the sec
Ond floor are unimpaired in strength
This states the damage TO the
building resulting directly from tbs