The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1929-08-07
ST. PAUL'S SOLILOQUY

ST. PAUL'S SOLILOQUY
The controversy between st. Paul, as whole,
and the building commission selected to investigate
and choose site for the State building is best
explained by an outsider, it The erudite
editorial writer for the Hibbing Daily Tribune ex-
plains it thusly:
"1n order to get authorization far s1,5ooooo
state office building be erected in it's town. ST. Paul
assured Governor Christensen last winter that it
made no difference where the building was built.
Now st. Paul is sore distressed and very vexed
in spirit because the building commission refuses to
locate the building particular site which is speci-
fes.
The building commission, after six weeks of
study and investigation has decided to erect the
state office building block of land Immediately
adjoining the capitol grounds to the north and in the
rear of the capitol "Back yard" cries st. Paul in
guish.
Some folks might think that commission of
dsinterested citizens of the state, after
full investigation over period of six weeks, would
have definite and positive knowledge as to the best
place for the building.
good many people, who have not made any in
vestgation, seem to think however, that they know
better than the commission where the building ought
to CO.
Years ago a certain Cass Gilbert, architect, de-
signed the Minnesota state capitol building. 1t is
very beautiful structure, inside and out, but it is
not very useful 1t was designed for beauty
rather than for 1t has noble setting Wabasha
Hill wide open slope extends in front of the capitol
On either side of this green slope Cass Gilbert thought
that other state buildings might be erected in the
future Some years ago, indeed, a State Historical
building erected side of this plaza erected
of solid granite at great cost, good-szed building
in fact but not large in appearance when compared
with the capitol
Now that the state is to erect office building
ST. Paul wants the structure placed the opposite
side of the plaza to balance the Historical building
and 'to carry out the Cass Gilbert pan."
The plan is a noble one and certainly ought to
be carried out some day. But citizens of the state
should not too quickly jump at the conclusion that
any building which the state puts up should be placed
upon that location.
An office building upon this site in front of the
state capitol and opposite the Historical building would
be something like putting the barns and stables of
noble mansion out in front of it. An office building
is first of all utility building. It's principal pur-
pose is utility. It should be placed where it will be
most convenient for those who 1.-THE departments
of state and the people who do business with those
departments.
1t is true that an office building may be dolled
up with granite and marbles and other fol-de-ros-
many state office buildings very truth monumental
in character But such treatment of office building
involves two thngs-heavy added expense and the
sacrifice of light and convenience in the office
ments in the building.
Minnesota at present has its various departments
boards and commissions scattered all over ST. Paul
The new office building is for the purpose of gather
ing these departments together under one roof. 1t
will take big building to do that building almost
as large in cubic content the state capitol itself
We submit to candid citizens of the state that
such building down in front Of the state capitol would
be entrey out of place. that it would not carry out
the Cass Gilbert plan but destroy it. That the His
torical building it is supposed to balance would look
like pewee in comparison. That its size would be
such as almost to overshadow the capitol itself.
New York state has an office building, it is true
one one side of the state capitol about as large
Minnesota's office building must be. But the build
ing has more pillars than it has Offices and it cost
$6,O0OO00.
New York, also is building right now another
office building in its 'back yard" an office building
33 stories high which bulges up above the capito
skyline that if big wind should ever blow it down ii
would smash the capitol to smithereens
The site which ST. Paul is SO insistently demanding
has just about everything to condemn it for state
office building 1t destroys the capitol setting and
the Cass Gilbert PLAN 1t is expensive. 1t is of an
awkard shape 1t is difficult of access from the cap
itol. Street cars screech up and down Wabasha Hill
in front Of it. It is lower than the capitol multiply
ing engineering problems It has no convenient vacant
land multiplying parking problems. Et cetera, ct ce
era, ct cetrera.
We might stand the expense and put up with the