The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-28
CAPITOL IS BURNED
WISCONSIN, srATEHoUsE IS DE-
 ETR0YED.
Only 5000 Insurance on 91 900, COG Structure Agitation for Re- 1nova1 of Capital May Now
 Be Renewed.

Madison, Wis, Feba T.-The capitol building was practically destroyed by fire today with loss estimated at $500, o,0O0. The States carries only partial insurance. being in the process of changing from insurance companies to system of state insurance.
 The Are involves the budding of new capitol A special session of the Legls- lature and the probable renewal of the agitation in favor of the renewal of the capitol from Afadlgou ko MiIn auSee.
 1436 han1ea Wliifh were 0an8ed by aes fae&sYn eiecsrIn mtfink at 6;ls .. m. had completely fuInea ths east and wegt wings, eontainin8 the sena&e and asseln- ply chambers and Che pepartrnents of the Tax esaBinilssi1ner, the Adtikant General. Raiiroad comr1issioner, State School Sup erintenaent, Superintendent of the Public Property. Board of Agriculture. State Normal School. Commissioner of Fisheries. Fish and Game Warden, State Board of Pharmacy. State Land Ohice,. Dairy and Food Commissioner. State Treasurer and Commissioner of Labor. and were about to attack the depart ments of the Governor. Secretary of State, State Board of Control and the insurance Commissioner.
 The local fire department had ten streams of water playing on the flames, with but title effect and the Milwaukee department was on It's way to Madison to render assistance.
 Governor Schofield maintained insur- ance on the building throughout his term totalling s600. 900. but the last Legislature instituted an insurance fund and directed the States officers to allow the insurance policies to lapse. In June last there lapsed S510.000 and in December the sum of sso,00o. There is in the insurance fund at the present time about e6,O0O to meet the loss conservative estimated place at $s00,000
 At o'clock the flames were bursting from the extreme windows of the north and south wings. the east and west wings having by this time been destroyed. The building will he total loss.
 The last departments to burn were those of the Secretary of State and Governor on the south, the Attorney General anG Insurance Commissioners on the main floor and the Supreme Court law library and State Library Commission on the sec- ond floor.
 Practically all the valuable State rec ords are believed to be safe. Most of them remain in masonry and steel vaults In the ruins and their safety depends on the extent of the fireproof character of the vaults. The State Treasury had only about $500 in cash on hand
 The origin of the fire Is now believed to have been lighted gas jet in a toilet room on the second floor The flame was close to and ignited varnished ceiling.
 At s:30 o'clock the fire had practically destroyed every portion of the CapitoI building with the exception of the north end, which 1t was thought would be saved. The contents of the immense law library were carried out with a large quantity ol other books and papers. and were not ma terially damaged. Included in the burned. portion was the Grand Army hall and all its priceless records.
 During the fire Fire Chief Bernard was overcome by smoke and fell from a lad der. receiving serious injuries.
 A source of satisfaction Is that the State Historical society's great library. housed for halt century in the Capitol, was safe In it's own great library building.
 Appropriations from time to time foI new additions made the cost of the State Capitol to date s9O0.00O. The building was situated in the center of Capitol Park which is sl4 feet square. containing about IA T-2 acres on an elevation commanding view of the surrounding lakes.