Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-02-27

that the variation from the program
should not be more than 10 per cent.
He said the Gilbert plans called for
a $5,00O000 structure, but that these
plans could not be executed for less
than $6,592,00O.
Justice Marshall interrupted to say
that Mr.. Austin's ngures were incor-
rect.
Mr.. Austin went at the expert report
of w. S. Games of st. LOUIS showing
many apparently serious discrepan-
cies in the report not to be substanti-
ated by the Gilbert plans. For ex-
ample, the Koch plans were marked
SO per cent. on fidelity to program as
to number of stories,' when the pro-
gram called for five stories and the
Koch plans provided five stories. The
speaker read a strong adverse crfti-
cism of the new Minnesota capitol,
the work of Cass Gilbert It said
that the great building was beautiful
and a success in the matter of art
and large expense, but wretched
failure in point of utility.
H. Koch, one of the three competing
architects, charged that Mr.. Games
had deceived the commission, setting
forth the fact that Mr.. Gilbert had ut
terly disregarded the terms of the pro-
gram and had planned departments
sometimes three times as large as
called for by the program, notwith-
standing the limitation that no in
crease of more than 10 per cent. on the
program dimensions should be made.
The program called for plain draw
ings without accessories or embellish-
ments to make the plans more Ibearti-
full or attractive but Mr.. GiTbert's
plans were highly colored, were ex-
ceedingly elaborate, in direct viola
ton of the program and rules laid
down by the commission. Mr.. Koch
pointed out in detail the extensive dis
crepancies of the Gilbert plans from
the dimension stipulated in the pro-
gram.
Justice Marshall interrupted when
Mr.. Koch stated the fact that the Gil
bert plan called for larger building
than the capitol at Washington. Mr..
Koch based his figures ON a letter
from the superintendent of the CAPT
tol and Justice Marshall based his on
officially published documents. Each
held to his own figures.
Architect Ferry of the firm of Ferry
& Clas of Milwaukee presented the pro-
test and arguments of that firm, MAX
ing substantially the same representa-
tions as Messrs. Austin and Koch.
Justice Winslow, in answer to ques-
tons, explained that none of the
plans answered the requirements of
the program with reference to the
number of stories. None of the
plans submitted, he said, proposed
four stories-the Gilbert plans three,
the Ferry & Clas plans three and an
attic and the Koch plans three and
what might be termed AIN attic. In
reference to the statement that the
Gilbert plan called for building larg-
er than the capitol at Washington,
Justice Marshall explained that the
Wisconsin capitol is proposed to ac-
commodate all the departments OF the
state government while in the capitol
at Washington only the senate and
house of representatives, with the SUI
preme court for a while longer, but
that all over the city of Washington
are scattered great buildings for the
various departments of the govern
ment.
The matter of adverse newspaper
criticism of the Minnesota capitol
| was effectively treated by Governor
La Toilette, by the simple reading of
| letters from Governor Johnson, Senat-
or Nelson, the state auditor, the chief
| fire warden, superintendent of banks,
secretary of state and various other
| officers of Minnesota, all speaking ex
| ceedingly highly of Mr.. Gilbert and OF
| his achievements in the Minnesota
state capitol. Justice Marshall said
that the commission had not by any
means arrived at it's decision wholly
on the Judgment of Mr.. Eames,, but
| had carefully examined both Mr.
Games report ana himself and also
udu UuS CCOCTIlTOILy vi IlIllSIOuS OClIcI
competent architects. He also spoke
kindly of a number Of serious depart
Ires from the program made by the
plans of the unsuccessful competing
architects. He spoke of the urlimit
ed industry with which the commits
sioners had devoted themselves to the
problem with which the Legislature
and the governor had :burdened them
Respecting the general criticism OF
departure from the program, Justice
Marshall said that if the program was
taken as law not one of the three
plans submitted could be considered
Senator McGillivray created BIT
of a furore by exhibiting severa
yards of figures and getting close to g
personal argument with Justice Mar
shall as to the size of the building
cost to build and merit of the pro
posed structure. Senator McGillivray