Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1905-09-29

ular criticism and often to the
most sensational charges Of pub
llc Il. eruption, the charges being
varied in intensity only by the
desperate necessities Of factional
politics. s7s7''
The commission will endeavor
to do their duty under the law,
fully realizing the responsibilities.
They are willing to be judged by
their deeds, but are not to Be dis
Y tulIr a by yagrant or selfish COM
<. complaints, made even before the
work Is begun. b
fair minded public will readily
realize the unusual character of
the task that the law imposes no.
onthe commissioners. They must
complete the building within the
limits Of d specific sum. There
must be no deficiency when the
work is finished. The federal GOV GOV
eminent has provided literally for
the public build ings ut the capitol.
The taxpayers of the state must
notfbe called upon to. make resti-
tuition for official deliq uencies, and
the mmissioners will strive to
avoid every excuse for final pub
lic disapproval. At the same time
they are mindful of the fact thatit
would be too much for human In
genuity to contrive against the
studied efforts of sensat iionalists
and others who are morbidlv In
clined TO find some food to feed
upon. 3 M
Therefore It was that the COM
#Emrl:lssioners, with all the legal re-
strict ions and other moral consid-
erations In mind. determind that
the safest method was as the law
permits, TO have the. total cost al
the work part cularly expressed ia
the several bids and the subse5
quent contract; that all parties EN-
gagigag dM the work or any part of
It should be jointly liable under j
common bond for the cernpl etior,
Eof the bull ling, So that there could
be no Subsequent shifting of re.
sponsibility from contractor ia
architect or from architect to con.
tractor. as is to often the case,
with the inevitable deficiency to
be met BY the taxpayers. II must
not be forgotten that the first duty
|of the ommissioners is to the
state; at the same time they hope
to have the respect and oo-opera.
ton OF the architects and builders.
Ut the commissioners shall sue
coed in this high purpose, if they
shall in the end turn over to the
state 9 modern and enduring build
ing with the means provided by
congress; liz in the process the
now idle lands given BY the gen
eral government may be utilized
by settlers and their enhan ced
value added to the tax rolls of the
state, and all this can be accom-
plished as it must be accomplish
ed without cost to the state or any
OF its citizens then there viii re-
main no reasonable doubt that the
object OF congress and of the leg
islatiye body that passed the law,
under Which the commission is
acting has been faithfully carried
out.
The commission, having no
greater means DC ascsrt aining the
amount Of funds that may be real.
ized from the end oWment lands for
capitol purposes, than the legisla-
tnre, having accepted the legisla-a
tive declaration as expressed III
section IA Of the act, restricting.
the amount that may be anticipat,
ed 10 5000, 600, and bidders for the
whole work are expected to con-
slider this sum as the maxiilmum: d
the beard under the terms of said
section being empowered to issue
interest bearing land grant certi-
dcates of indie edness which may NAV
be sold or offered to the contractor
at the time Of letting the contract
Dr at any time thereafter at par
And the commission, under auth
ority of the act, will, iii tie con.
siderations Of proposals., be guided
by Che x pert opinion and shel
work Wil be prosecuted under theI
supervision OF some architect 81
builder Of recognized skill and
ability
Although the law provides that
.ontracts for construction, etc.
nay be lot after public notice ofl
fifteen days, the commission fixedl
he tll1a at forty days, and iii 81.
ler tlll tllere i3aag ls the n plestl
tQnity for bid ers the com
q laIslpn has 81 tended the time sapEI
3 )eeeIabsf l2;sa