The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-01-11
A NEW CAPITOL BY ALL MEANS

North Dakota is the only state in the union that
has an architectural nightmare for capitol
This fact is becoming ntolerable Sentiment held
in bounds by the feeling that the financial condition
Of the state would not permit the erection OF new
building is not content to remain silent longer State
officials feel that something ought to be done to eface
the ugly structure the HILL civic leaders Of the city
are agtating the group meetings Of the Association
OF Commerce for building and legislators have
serious msgvings about letting drift along longer cond
ons that expose epaceabe state records to fire risks
So has come to the stage where the budget board
will declare for beginning on plans for new cap
iol, something befitting the dignity Of the state.
building not disgracng it In the eyes OF strangers
find graceful structures serving the needs of every
other state in the Union and amazed at what theJ
see here
The plan Of the board reported is to ask for levy
to be applied the capitol building fund.- which now
has slightly more than $4,000 in it nest egg. AS
John Steen state auditor It, there is possibility of
appropriang $35o0O to 100000 to the fund dur
ing the next benniu, without any increase in taxes.
At that rate, in few years fund sufficient to pay
for building could be accumuated-at least start
might be made the building before the needed total
were raised. Construction might be extended over
period years and all the departments moved in the
building progressed to completion In sections
AS is now, the old building not only is depressingly
ugly and date in its accommodations but is not
large enough for the state government causing depart
ents be scattered the city in rented
quarters These rents will increase the departments
expand and new bureaus will have to be created to
handle alone the present activities of the state not
include any ones added These rents might as wen
be turned into the payment Of capitol befittng the
needs and dignity Of the state.
Modern public architectural style could supply grace
full structure that would not cost much more than the
structure unadorned for this class Of buildings at
tain beauty from the employment of simple lines pro-
portoned to produce combination of majesty and
grace Nebraska is engaged in building such cap
ito When completed it will be one Of the most beaut-
full In the country. with the architectural individuality Of
q stately monument.
make to the legislature there will be recognized he great
danger Of destruction by fire Of state records mil
lions in securities the inadequate office facilities for
many state departments and particularly the shortage Of
vaults for the safekeepng of state records and
satisfactory way Of having state departments scattered
over the city paying large money for rent each
year"
The board therefore adds: I'VE believe the time has
come to build capitol office building in the
near future and therefore recommend legislative tax
levy spread number Of years. the amounts be
added to present capitol building fund these funds
be expanded this future legislature may di-
rect"
There the succncty stated Nobody better than
the legislators and the state officials whose aid and in
dsement will be needed to get the capitol project under
way knows that this indictment Of the old building is
anything rather conservative statement Of conditions
Their daily comngs and goings on the hill should be thu
naost effective argument for making beginning now
that when the time comes when the actual building
SHOULD be undertaken, the ground will have been cleared
Or going ahead unharnpered by lack of preparation