Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-15
ILLINOIS To HAVE
GIANT MONUMENT
Building at Springfield Will Re-
lieve Congestion in the
Statehouse.
TO LAY PLANS TUESDAY
Historical Records arS Many other
Relics Are to be housed in
the Structure.

Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 15.-Illinois-
through an act of the next legislature
is to erect a great centennial memoir
ial building in Springfield. if plans to
be formulated on Tuesday are fol
lowed. Dedication of the structure, 1t
is desired by supporters of the move
ment, will be a central idea in the
program for the celebration of the
states one hundredth anniversary in
1918.
The building is to house the state
library, the state historical library,
the natural history museum, the state
Historical society, the state memorial
hall with it's battle flags and relics of
the wars, and the public archives of
the state. The contemplated cost is
figured around the million dollar mark.
The education building commission
consists of Gov. Dunno, Secretary of
State Woods, State Auditor Brady,
State Supt of Schools Blair, DR.. Otto
l.. Schmidt, president of the state his
torical society: DR.. Evarts b. Greene
of the University of Illinois. president
of the board o trustees of the state
historical library, and James Fl.
Crowder, Illinois department COM
mander of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, and was created by the legis-
lature of 1911 and was recreated by
the legislature of last winter.
Statehouse Too Crowded.
The overcrowded condition in the
is said to be interfering
with the efficiency of many depart
ments.
At the solicitation of the education
building commission, Waldo G. Leland |
of Washington, an expert archivist, !
spent several weeks in Springfield :
with officials and visiting {
various state departments, and upon /
the information and ideas obtained he !
submitted a tentative report for use |
of the state architect in preparing pre-
liminary sketches for the proposed .
building. While the whole matter re-
mains to be passed upon, tentative
plans provide in a general way for a
hree story building covering an ex-
ensive ground area. It is believed
he state already owns sufficient
ground in Springfield to furnish a suit
ible site for the structure.
Construction probably will be in the
shape Of capital letter f, the long
inc of the letter forming the front of
he building, with three wings extend
ng back, one from each end and one
rom the middle, so as to admit of
latural light in all departments.
Battle Flags in Rotunds.
1t is .roposed to devote the central
art of the building to an imposing
ptrance and TO a rotunda extending
through the entire height of the build
ng, with galleries around it at each of
he upper floors and terminating in a
attened dome. Around this rotunda,
a glass protected inches. could be 4
laced the battle flags which now fill 2
lemorial hall in the capitol building {
In the galleries around the rotunda, r
4 the center wing, 1t is proposed to a
eyote the first floor to the depart y
tent of public instruction. The sec r
nd and third floors of this wing prob a
bly, would be devoted to an assembly h
all for the use of the state historical
1ciety, the academy of science, the
rand Army of the Republic, and other
q,
one OF the lateral wings of the build +
lg probably would be devoted to the n
ate historical library, with Offices :,
nd quarters for its associate institu-
ions, the state historical society. .
ate historical museum, cts. The other II
teral wing would Re occupied largely
entirely by the natural history mus
am.