Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-03-11

cause VI HIS eXpefleICe III anu KUOWl-
edge of the subject The latter had
sketched out plan which contem-
plated utilizing substantially all of the
Oh capitol, and this sketch was sub
mitted to the governor and the com
mittee. The judges consented to act
at first solely because the movement
was started in response to their ad
dress, and the work Immediately to
be done related to their department.
Then Came the Fire.
After the fire the judges consented
to continue to act and broaden out the
details of the contemplated work to
meet the new situation, because it
seemed that it was their duty to do
so, ms cad of taking a position that
would probably require Il special SEES
sion of the legislature, or a delay OF
two years in the work of providing
capitol for the state. The commission
proceeded in the ordinary and orderly
way to final conclusion, taking the
advice Of an architect distinguished in
his profession, who was named by the
competitors Contrary to the ideas
entertained by some members of the
commission, the unanimous sentiment
Of the state as voiced in the press after
the fire was for plan that would
sometime provide substantially, at
least, new capitol. All the architects
in producing their plans worked along
that line, giving it as their opinion
that it was the only practical thing
to do
What Is the Present Situation?
1t is Il mistake to conceive that the
commission has committed the state to
an expensive capitol. The commits
sion has only awarded prizes for plans
and recommended the selection of an
architect in respect to such work as
the legislature may see tit to have
done. 1t is true that the Gilbert plan
contemplates the development of a
capitol, section by section, so that a
complete capitol structure can be
created without using but a part of
his entire plan, the rest to be devel
oped from time to time as the future
may demand.
And this may be the wisest thing
TO do. One wing of the Gilbert build
ing may be built for 100000 without
disturbing the present capital. A Sec
Ond wing may be later added for a
like amount, without interfering with
the old building. In short, it may
seem wiser to spend any money, even
a small amount, on permanent con-
struction rather than on patching up
the present edifice. 1t looks strong,
but planks and tarred paper cover
parts of it and the north wing is said
to be positively dangerous. 1t is true
that the Gilbert plan calls for build
ing estimated to cost S5,000,O00, and
would probably cost more. but this is
for the perfected structure-it could be
built in parts and perhaps the final
parts might not be needed for thirty
years. | have gone into this in some
detail for the commission has really
done good work and thought the thing
out carefully. 1t has planned for the
future The national capitol is from
time to time expanded, but on lines
cast over century ago. OF course
the commission has labOred without
compensation.
Threshing Out Railroad Question.
There has been d series of after
noon hearings on railway regulation,
though the crowds of listeners have
not been SO large as one might expect.
Mr.. Tom Gill, the Wisconsin Central
expert, is q sprightly talker, but, as a
rule, the speeches have not been as
keen and lively as sometimes. Burton
Hanson of the Milwaukee read boldly
mission is not needed but, as a rule,
the railway champions are working
for moderation. One of their sayings
is that very few Of the companies in
Wisconsin are making money, and this
is true. but the members are telling
each other that Milwaukee road stock
is quoted at 10 and Northwestern at
much more and as these two systems
have half the mileage of the state, the
lawmakers are confused. One of Mr..
Hanson's points was this: to compare
tariffs as they are on paper is without
significance because the actual amount
of goods moved is the only true test
Over 30 per cent. of the traffic in Iowa
is made up of grain, soft coal and live
stock: the same amount in Wisconsin
is composed Of lumber, grain, logs and
soft coal. Twenty-four per cent of
the Iowa tonnage is in grain and 20
per cent. Of the Wisconsin tonnage is
lumber. AS the volume increases the
rate decreases.
The four big companies in Wiscon-
sin handled 30,0O0,000 passengers in
recent year and it is claimed injured
but 11S and killed but four. There
are 10000 employees of these roads in
Wisconsin.
Seeking Justice After SO Years.
One of the familiar figures about
the legislature is S. y. Carpenter, bet
ter known as Pump Carpenter, an