Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-03-01
OUR STATES
SAD CALAMITY
Destruction of State Capitol at
Madison at 4:3O O'clock
Saturday.
LOSS ABOUT THREE
HUNDRED THOUSAND
Details of Disaster Summed
up by Governor r. NJ.
La Toilette.

| La IU11CtSCs
| The Wisconsin state capitol build
ing was practically destroyed by fire
Saturday with a loss estimated at
$500, 900.
The state carries only partial insur-
ance, being in the process of changing
from insurance in companies to a
system of state insurance.
The fire involves the building of
new capitol, a special session Of the
| legislature and the probable renewal
of the agitation in favor of the re-
moval of the capitol, from Madison.
Fire Caused by Wiring.
The flames which were caused by
defective electric wiring at 4:3O a. m.
completely ruined the east and west
wings, containing The senate and as
sembly chambers and the departments
Of the tax commission.
The adjutant general, railroad COM
missioner, state school superintendent,
superintendent of public property,
board of agriculture, state normal
school, commissioner of fisheries, fish
and game wardenS, state board of
pharmacy, state land office, dairy and
food commission, state treasurer and
commissioner of labor and were about
to attack the departments of the
governor, secretary Of state, state
board of control and the insurance
commissioner.
5 The locaLfre departments had ter.
streams Of water playing on the
flames, with but little effect, and the
Milwaukee department was on it's way
to Madison to render assistance.
! Only Partial Insurance.
i Governor Schotield maintained in
surance On the building throughout
his term totaling 100000 but the
last legislature instituted an in
Surance fund and directed that the
state officers allow the insurance pol
icies to lapse.
In June last there lapSed $50 900
and in December the sum of $4,000.
There is in the insurance fund at
the present time about So, 900 to meet
the loss which conservative estimates
place at $500, 900.
AS O'Clock flames were BURST
ing from the extreme windows
Of the north and south wings,
the east and west wings
having by this time been destroyed.
The building will be total loss.
The last departments to burn
were those of the secretary Of the
state and governor on the south, the
attorney general and insurance COM
missionerS on the main floor and the
supreme court law library and state
library commission on second floor.
State Records Safe.
Practically all the valuable state
records are believed to be safe. Most
of them remain in masonry and steel
vaults in the ruins and their safety
depends on extent of the fireproof
character of the vaults.
The state treasury had only about
Sc, 900 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
) fame ignited garnish ceiling.
!: At $3.50 a. m. the fire had practically
! devasted every portion of the capitol
building with the exception of the
, north end which it was thought
; would probably be saved, but will be
, in such dilapidated condition that
this portion, together with the stand
ing walls, will have to be torn down.
Gov. La Toilette Sums up Details.
81. The entire building below the
first story, that is, the basement and
foundation of the building, with tie
. exception of two small pieces Of cell
! ing, is undamaged.
"2. The outer walls of the first
!. story are not damaged to the extent
of seriously affecting or impairing
: their strength.
uS SOOObO-SJOiJ wall VI ULC
south wing are not damaged. The
woodwork and portions of the floor
are destroyed.
5 81. The walls above the second
, story Of the south wing and the walls
above the first story of the east and
west wings are damaged to the ex
. tent that their further use would be
inadvisable.
, IS. The center dome and its found
alton are undamaged Structuraily,
that is, except as to paint, glass and
woodwork, Of which there was very
little of the latter.
"9. The entire north wing Is not
; Continued on page two.)