Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1905-09-21
STATES THEIR POSITION
The Capitol Commission Outlined Its
Purpose and Policy at Meet
ing of Board.
The Building to be Constructed With
in the Limits of Revenues
Provided by Legislature.
No Debt to be Piled Upon Taxpayers.
Time for Bidders Extended
to December II.

lO UCCCII1DCr X.
Before adjourning the Board of
Capitol Commissioners on the 10Th
gave out officially the following state
ment outlining the policy and purpose
of the commission:
It is reasonable to assume that the
legislature that enacted the capitol
commission law fully realized, not only
its responsibility to the people and the
state, but as we'll and at the same
time the inadequacy of the present
capitol building and the lack of facili-
ties for protecting the rapidly ac-
cumulating state records and the
state securities. No doubt it took
into account the fact that North OAK
ota has passed beyond the period of
temporary structure, and that the
people collectively have as much pride
in suitable state:house as the indivi-
dual citizen has in the modern resi-
dence that superseded thesod house in
which he first lived.
In 1883 an act was passed by the
territorial legislature of Dakota pro-
viding for the removal of the capital
from Yankton to some other point, the
act requiring, as a condition of the
new location, the contribution Of
800, 900 in cash and at least 32O acres
of land for capitol purposes. Under
these terms Bismarck was the success
full competitor, her citizens voluntarily
subscribing the 100000 and furnish
ing the land required.
In 1889 congress, forseeing that the
state had great possibilities and that
it would soon reach positien of sur
passing Importance among other COM
monwealths, granted $1,000 acres Of
public land for erecting public build
ings at Bismarck, the seat Of govern
ment Of this state. Less than one
fourth of the government grant has
been disposed of. A conservative
estimate places the value of the re.
mainder of the grant at 100000. The
declared purposes of the legislature is
that the cost of the new building shall
come within the sum that shall be
realized from the sale of the lands
The commission created under the law
is therefore restricted absolutely to
the moneys which can be derived from
the sale of lands.
Now it is not beyond the bounds of
truth to say that very few, If any, Of
the capitol buildings of the several
states of this Union have been COM
pleted within contract prices. This is
true as to almost all state public
buildings, and many private buildings
as we'll. We Of North Dakota have
some awkward reminders OF this in
disputable fact.
1t Is no reflection upon architects
and contractors anywhere to say that
they seldom succeed in finishing their
work below the face of the original
contract. If the contractor is respon-
sible, the excess, If any, comes out Of
his profits; II he is not, it must be
borne by the owner of the building,
and not infrequently by those who
furnished the materials for it. In
the case Of public buildings the burden
too often falls upon the taxpayers.
This gives rises to popular criticism
and often to the most sensational
charges of public corruption, the
charges being varied in intensity only
by the desperate necessities Of faction
al politics.
The commission will endeavor to do
their duty under the law, fully realiz-
ing the responsibilities. They are
willing to be Judged by their deeds,
but are not to be DISTURBED by vag-
rant Or selfish complaints, made even
before the work is begun.
A fair-minded public will readily
realize the unusual character Of the
task that the law imposes upon the
commissioners. They must complete
the building within the limits Of q
specific sum. There must be no de-
flciency when the work is finished.
The federal government has provided
literally for public buildings at the