The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-03
STRANGE, ISN'T IT
Kansas Memorial Building Plans
Cause a Stir.
Almost Exactly Like Nebraska's
Which Is Under Way.
In A QUEER POSITION.
Seems That Kansas Is Initiating
Sister State.
ArchitectWellman, of Lawrence,
Points Out Similarity.
IN A QUEER POSITION.

Was the Memorial building COM
mission aware. when they approved
the plans for the new Memorial build
ing, that this proposed structure was
fashioned almost exactly along the
lines of the State Historical building
now being built in Nebraska :?
fact, nevertheless.
Does the state architect who drew
the plans for the Kansas building
know that he has duplicated the
Nebraska building?
Now work on the Nebraska build
ing has been under way for some
time, while in Kansas there has been
nothing done toward starting work on
the Memorial building in the past
seven months except to approve plans
similar to those already employed by
a sister state. The work drags.
There is neither energy nor originality
behind the course of construction.
w. T. Wellman. the Lawrence
architect, well known as one of the
authors of the plans of the mag
Hill, Lawrence. was the first to note
the similarity of the Nebraska and
Kansas buildings. He had received
Autograph and photographed re-
pTouuCllouS OF the N0DIdSkd DullulIlS,
and by comparing them with the illus
trations of the Kansas building as
taken from the architects drawing,
he was struck with their marked
similarity in every line and detail of
construction. Except for a few minor
changes in adornment the Kansas
building might be said to have been
designed from the blue prints and
plans of the Nebraska building.
81 never saw two big buildings so
much alike" declared Mr.. Wellman,
who was in Topeka on business.
Nebraska building, sent me by the
architect. George A. Berlinghof. was
inquisitive enough to compare them
with the recently published picture
Of the Kansas building. 1 was in
stantly struck with the similarity of
parison of the two convinced me that
they were enough alike to be said
that one was a duplicate or copy of
the other.
"The Nebraska building is designed
for the same purpose as the Kansas
building, which is to say, as home
for the State Historical society and its
relics and papers. However. the G. A
r. has no part in the Nebraska struc-
true as is the case in Kansas. Work
as been under way for some time on
the Nebraska building so it will be
finished first. Here are two new pub
lie buildings built by sister states for
the same purpose, and both alike in
every detail and outline. 1t will be
said, and with reason, that Kansas had
no architects with originality and
therefore had to copy the Nebraska
plan for a public building
Mr.. Wellman's contentious are borne
out by the illustrations Of the Ne
kraska and Kansas buildings printed
in this issue of the State Journal. They
ere as much alike as peas in pod.
Surely Kansas does not want q public
building in duplicate of a Nebraska
puilding-and both built for practical
ly the same purpose. Work has not
vet begun on the Kansas building (nor
are there any signs of a star). and it
is not too late to change the plans or
draw new plans for building that
will be original. The matter is re-
specially called to the attention of the
building commission. They should at
least take the matter UP with the state