Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-05
RESULTS OF IHE FIRE
State Capitol Building will Be
Prepared For Legislature
at Once
WORK OF CLEANING UP BEGUN
State ssecsiive Council Meets Prompt.
" Deeidirs Upon Some of tho Nee
essay nss-Ruin In the North
End is Indescribable. But Present
Estimate of Loss is Probably High.

/ End Is indescribable, But Present
Estimate of Loss Is Probably High.
I Special to Times Republican
Des Moines, Jan. 5.-what will the
general assembly do when 1t meets
next week? How long will the repairs
take? What is the loss? How did
lit start? What was there to burn
and cause such great fire? Why
didn't the state carry insurance?
| These are samples OF the questions
that are being fired at the governor
! and other state officials today by all
| who can gain access to them. The state
officials have been busy. They worked
late last night Strengthening up their
offices and getting things back so that
/ they can go to work. The fire left no
corner of the great state house un-
disturbed. Everywhere there is con-
fusion and disarrangenents OF things.
Altho by o'clock the work of putting
| things back In place had commenced
there was much yet TO do this morning
when the clerks came to their work.
In the central and south part of the
| building there was nothing to do but
/ get the carpets back and the tables
and desks again in place. In the mort,
wing there was much yet to do In the
way OF getting the books and papers
out OF danger and lifting the carpets
| so there could be complete renovation.
The state executive council met
promptly and decided upon some OF the
necessary things. The first was thai.
| the burned rubbish should go out IF
the hall of the house OF representatives.
| The burned portions will be removed
as rapidly as possible SO that an In
\ spectlon can be made and an estimate
| be formed of the loss. In the first place
! the loss appears greater than II will
| be found at the end OF the investiga
ton. Much of that which was burned
was cheap stuff The walls and frame
work are all there. The ceiling was
.srctty In the house lut not costly. Ths
chandeliers were great ungainly things
which cost great deal at one time
but will hardly be replaced as the,.
were. But the ruin in the north end.
| in the hall OF the house and north of
lit and in the upper rooms above the
house, is simply indescribable. Nothing
could be seen OF this yesterday during
the fire. 1t was full o'clock before
even an informal inspection could be
made. Now the whole thing can b.
seen and II looks terrible.
I'VE will go to work at once" said
Gov. Cummins, and prepare the puilde
4 4 r, ,,,t,i -.
| of the question to have the housA
chamber used. We VII put chairs in
the supreme cour, room for the fifty
senators and they can meet there
while the house members go to the
senate chamber. The legislature car
very soon determine what it wants -
do. Provision might be made for SOM
repairs to be made at once and the
legislature adjourn for a month or
two; but the members may not deem
this necessary. am sure do not know
what will be the right course to pursue
We shall make provision for them TEN
porarily and get estimates of the co.;
of repairs and submit the same to the
Legislature just as soon as possible
But 1t is terrible calamity an awfu.
thing to contemplate. and II is some
thing that we all felt to be an impos
sibility. But 1t has demonstrated tina
our state capitol is by no means fire
proof building. There Is more wood u
it than we had supposed. The con
struction Is not as 1t would be mai
IL built now"
At 5 O'Clock last evening the write
went with Governor Cummins. Stat
Architect L,ebhe and others into tn
ruined portion and saw where the Ar,
started 1t was in the small room use
by the clerk OF the house. with doors
Leading into two corridors and into tn
Speakers room. A hole had been Gu
In the wall for the electric wires.
stse1 box eighteen inches wide an
thirty inches high was sitting on tn
floor ready to he fitted into the ho,e
This box contains the electric switch
boards A small ladder was leanin
against the wall at this place. wher
ths workman had left 1t. There.
pointed out Mr.. Liebbe, "is where tn
fire started. 1t was In that hole and j
followed up rapidly as thru an ope,
Hue Ore workman who was pres
ent declared that the draft was out Q
that fue and not into and upward
The evidence showed theicontrary. TIL
ioor close to the open hole was nc
scorched. just above vas where tn
fire ragged hottest. One story wen
around to the effect that a workma
lad left a candle in the hole. Anotll
vas that two men worked in the roo,
ara one of them VEN. 10 get fires
,andle. and when he returned the oths
~. .,,,I