The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-25
HAS FUND FOR
new Capitol
Governor Hanna Files State.
nent With House Show
ing $l,l33,e6
lBy. II. D. Paulson.l }

Il
Bismarck. n. D., Feb. 25.-North
Dakota has fund of $1,133.s67 with
which to build a new capitol, that
showing being made by Governor l.
b. Hanna IN a statement filed With
the house of representatives yester-
day in response to the request of that
body for such information. Accom-
panying his report the governor sub
mitted a plat of properties owned in
the city of Bismarck on which new
capitol could be erected.
While he makes no recommendation
as to action which he deems advisable,
the governor makes the statement
that the old section of the present
capitol building is regarded as noth-
| ing moro or less than a fire trap, and
its destruction would entail heavy
loss to the state in the way Of rec
ords. etc.
Law Library Endangered.
He points particularly to the law
library Of the supreme court. which
he states has cost between $4,000
and 100000, the great weight of
which places a heavy tax upon the
structure. being located OH the third
floor. In the event of fire he says 1t
would be impossible to save any part
of the library.
If a new building is contemplated.
the governor says it will require
Of. the capitol lands still owned, and
to assemble the material necessary to
build it.
Some Funds are Switched.
At the time that North Dakota was
admitted as a state. Il grant of $1,000
acres was allowed for capitol building.
OF this amount of lands there was
sold. prior to July I, 1912, 51,504
acres. for which the state received
$62G,597.49. A part of the money has
been for purposes not contemplated
under tho act giving the land to the
state. the items referred to being the
trolly line fro mthe city to the capi-
tol building. totalrfng $4,000: for
we'll and tower $500 was expended;
for furniture. s1.70O has been used
and for sewer and water. STATS has
been spent. making a total of $43.675.
From the lands sold there is out
standing In the way Of deferred pay
ments. s403.301.41: there is in the
income from the capitol lands and in
vestments, $l44.55S.29: there ia in the
permanent fund. derived from the
sale of capitol lands. which has not
been invested, $5s.077.9O. This totals,
In investments and cash. $632,S67.6O.
The sum expended for purposes
other than the building of a capitol.
totaling $43.675. must be returned by
the state. through appropriation. to
the proper fund, making a total Of
S676,542.6O.
There remains unsold lands of 30,.
4aS.34 acres. These lands seem to be
pretty we'll located and should bring
between $l2 and SEQ an acre, with
probably an average of about SIS an
acre. at which price the total value
would be $457.425. making the total
fund available for the new capitol, ST..
l3S,967.
Will Rush Commission Bill.
During the last two sessions of the
assembly the question of constructing
a new capitol building has been con-
sidered. This year Representative
Williams Of Burleigh has a bill before
the house seeking the establishment
of q capitol commission, but action on
1t had been deferred awaiting the re-
port OF the governor as to the status
OF the building fund.
Now that this statement has been
published. 1t is anticipated that the
movement to bring about the creation
of capitol commission will be reviv.
ed,