Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-01-19
ren,,m Grafton,

earn additional remuneration. are
looked upon as perile. He was tho
only available man with sufficient
knowledge. it is claimed, to have pro-
perly handled such an undertaking.
The work did not interfere with the
duties of his own office, as he acted
in the capacity of general supervisor.
1t was matter requiring a know
ledge of that work, not time. He
did the experimenting but the actual
work was carried out under the pef
sonal direction of assistants.
The many excellent features of the
new building are pointed out as
commission in selecting Mr. Lea to
superintend the project. His dis
covery of the false start made in
foundation work and his designing
of the reinforced concrete footings,
is named as one thing in which hs
saved the state thousands of dollars
The Ventilation and vacuum steam
circulation systems in the state house
are OF mis- design.
The last report of the engin aer's
department shows a number of pro
jectsin the western part of the state
all of which are being carried out
i~ accordance with the advice OF the
department. -Hydrogra phic surveys
of the rivers and streams of the state
are being made as rapidly as pos
sible and will shortly be completed
The Sioux Falls drainage ditch ana
the plans for certain bridges i'll Sui
ly county are pointed out as recent
work done under the supervision OF
the engineer and the department. has
on hand at the present time over d
hundred other drainage propositions.
Mr.. Lea is also credited with interest
ing eastern capital in the big con
templated projects on Rapid and
Boxelder creeks in the Black Hills
o. H. Gordon of the census bureau
in Washington, who was in Pierre
a short time ago, after Irrigation
figures. said the South Dakota Office
of the engineer was one of the aaest
in the United States.
The report of the state capitol
commission on October 81. 1903. has
the following:
The commission reports with
satisfaction that it made arrange
ments with Mr.. Samuel H. Lea. state
engineer OF irrigation, to act as
superintendent of construction and
supervising engineer in behalf OF the,
state during the construction OF the
capitol building. a position of great
responsible and requiring special
fitness. training and skill, as well asa
firmness. courage and unquestione&
int gritty.
The report goes on to state why
Mr. Lea was employed and how the
state not only secured man emf
nently fitted for the position. hut ar
about one-half the expense any other
applicant for the position would hava
been to the state.
In addition to supervising the con-
struction of the new capitol building
at Pierre. the state engineer per-
formed the following work in con-
nection therewith:
Laying out sewer system for the
capitol building. making Specitca-
lions for the same and supervising
the construction thereof
Making Typographical survey ADD
map of capitol grounds.
Drawing up specifications and
supervising the construction OF an
artesian we'll on copitol grounds.
The above designated work was
done without any extra compensation
therefor and without expense to the
state. The artesian well is one OF
the best constructed wells in the
state; it has an inner casing OF cast
iron. through which the water passes
to the surface. This well furn shes.
a flow of water amounting to over
1000 gallons per minute. A large
quantity of gas is also furnished