The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1929-08-08
CONTROVERSY OVER SITE OF STATE
OFFICE BUILDING

For many wears there has been need of an Of
fee building to properly house the growing depart
ments and bureaus of the state.
The last legislature made appropriation and
provided for the appointment of commission to
purchase site and erect the building.
The Commission consisted of Gov Chrlstiansons
"Big Three" and four well known citizens of the
state residing outside of ST. Paul.
A short time ago the commission announced
that the new building would be erected site
at the of the present State capitol building.
The site selected was the cheapest and was the
most accessible, from an economical and practical
standpoint with the state capitol.
The site selected does not meet with the ap
proval of the Civic organizations of the Sanity City
and vigorous attempt is being made to build up
backre of opposition throughout the State against
the site selected.
The Herald EDITOR is quite familiar with the
Typography about the capitol and readily un-
derstand how it would be almost impossible and ex-
ceedingly expesive for the state to build tunnel
from building located on the site desired by the
Civic organizations of st. Paul to the Capitol
The Herald editor isn't often in accord with the
big Three" but cannot become excited because
the Commission has selected practical site for the
location of building designed for office purposes
The Commission insist that the site selected will
permit the erection of suitable office building with
in the cost of the appropriation. They also insist
that to build the site desired by the Civic organ
izations would cost $1000000 more.
Many of the ordinary taxpayers in the rural dis
tricts of the opinion that the office building
should be erected to meet the requirements of the
state and not for the special benefit of st. Paul.
In discussing the question r. w. Hitchcock,
chairman of the building commission and the House
committee appropriations and well versed in the
needs of the state has the following statement rela-
tive to the situation:
In order to get authorization for 81 $780,
600 state office building to be erected in its
town, st. Paul assured Governor Christianson
last winter that it made difference where
the building built.
Now ST. Paul is sore, distressed and very
vexed in spirit because the building commits
sion refuses to locate the building on a par
ticular site which it specifies.
The building commission, after some six
weeks of study and investigation has decided
to erect the state office building on a
block of land immeditely adjoining the capitol
grounds to the north and in the of the
capitol. Back Yard" cries ST. Paul in
anguish.
Some folks might think that commits
sion of seven DISTINGUISHED citizens of the
state after careful investigation over a
period of six weeks would have definite and
positive knowledge to the best place for
the building
A good many people who have not made
any investigation to think, however
that they know better than the commission
where the building ought to CO.
Years ago certain Cass Gilbert arch-
tect, designed the Minnesota state capitol
building. It is very beautiful structure in
side and out, but it is not very useful one
1t was designed for beauty rather than for
use. It has noble setting Wabasha hill
A wide open slope extends in front of the
capitol. On either side of this green slope
Cass Gilbert thought that other state build
ings might be erected in the future. Some