The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1904-01-07

Des Moines, Jan. 5.--Within week
of the opening of the legislature, the
beautiful state capitol yesterday fur
nished material for the flames. The
chamber of the house Of representa-
tiyes, which the capitol commission
had labored so hard to put in shape
/ and render fair to look upon, is a.
mass of charred and smouldering
ruins.
The galleries, precipitated to the
| floor below, the false ceiling above
and the expensive chandeliers, are all,
/ huddled in one inextricable mass,
over which water played all last night
and which bears mute testimony to
| the evidence of the element of de-
struction, which so nearly swept
Iowas $S,OOO,OOO capitol away,
In the fire half dozen men we're
injured more or less seriously.
The loss is estimated variously
from 100000 to half million. Gov
ernor Cummins places an approxi-
mate estimate of 100000 upon the
damage done, but State Architect
Liebbe believes the higher figure is
more nearly correct.
Last night the beautiful structure
on Capitol hill presented scene Of
desolation. The outer steps were
covered with ice, while within, light
!. ed candles and lanterns, the only
means of illumination, were fitting
ftfully about Water dripped down
!. the marble walls andrushed in ter.
!, rents down the broad staircases. The
floors were covered with from one to
I two inches of water, which was being
swept out as fast as it gathered while
: the dismantled offices throughout the
! building presented a scene of desola
d tiona sort of mute mourning fol
q the calamity that had overtaken the
( state.
! The damage by fire was confinet
: mostly to the north wing, but the OF
: fees below are flooded with water
! The valuable pictures that were hang
7 ing on the walls of the room of thu
: supreme court were early removed b!
. Clerk of the Supreme Court JonI
Crockett and safely locked in the
vault. ISIS
: Legislature Will Convene.
. At o'clock last night, a hastily
r called meeting of the executive coun
n Gil was held in the dismantled Office
t of Governor Cummins and plans fol
+ taking care of the legislature were
C gone over. Nothing was definitely
3 decided upon, but Governor Cummins
$ stated that the following plan would
: probably be carried out: The house
e to meet in the senate chamber, the
r senate in the room of the supreme
t court, and the supreme court in one
= of the committee rooms of the senate
3 or will adjourn for an indefinite per
iod. ...
The executive council will arrange
|, for the preliminary session of the leg
: islature. y The different houses viii
e then make their own arrangements
9 Definite action will be taken today
The converting of the legislature
n will not be delayed. The Inaugural
I, exercises will be carried out as previ
;, ously arranged.
: Library Saved.
I When the fire threatened to spread
: from the house chamber across the
o rotunda to the senate chamber, or
= suggestion by Governor Cummins. Ii
: brarian Brigham at once took steps
to remove the most valuable books
d beyond the reach of danger. A large
= force Of volunteers began carrying
; the books from the library floor, and
q Mr.. Brigham estimates that 10000
e volumes were piled on the balcony
I over the west entrance. Boards were
y run from the windows to the CALLER
: les, and the books in the upper stacks
Il were slid down to the floor of the
= balcony.
! Mr.. Brigham said: THE actual loss
E may not exceed $1,000. for repairs
e and it may be much greater"
State Carries No Insurance.
: The state of Iowa carries no insur
! ance on any Of its buildings. This Is
e in accordance with the lifelong pol
icy of the state. endorsed by the
o state board of control, which advo
4 Gates non-insurance policy in its
: last biennial report The theory OF
i the board of control is that the state
d can better afford to carry its own in
. surance, Notwithstanding such heavy
9 losses as are involved in the damage
7 to the state capitol, than to pay heavy
9 premiums constantly. They say it is
: cheaper in the long run.
Q Building Cost 100000.
Z The ground was broken for the new
. state house in March, 1870 Govern
( or Merrill threw the first spade full
a of dirt. Colonel s. F.. Spofford's
! matched white horses drew the pillow
The state house was occupied first
{ under the administration Of Governor
! Buren, n Sherman IN the year 1884
: but was not fully occupied for three
: or four years thereafter. The build