The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-04-10
Work on Capitol
Building May Not
Start This Yea

DuIlUlllS N1dy 4NOC
Start This Year
Continued from page one)
and called attention to q Mormon
temple, located on the prairies Of
Canada, which struck him as unus-
ually appropriate to the location. He
suggested that the North Dakota men
visit the place and view the building.
but since they probably will not have
the time to do so, he promised to get
a picture Of the structure for them.
One of the facts borne home to the
capitol commissioners Is that they
may reasonably expect to get an out
standing building for $2,000,0 600, the
amount appropriated. Many fine cap
itols have been built in the North
west for less money and. with the cost
of building at low levels, they feel
that the funds. available will enable
them to construct an outstanding
capitol.
When the North Dakota commits
sion will meet again Is uncertain be-
cause of the fact that Chairman
George A. Bangs finds it difficult to
leave his home at Grand Forks TOT
additional conferences in the near
future. It is considered possible.
however, that another meeting Will
be held within a week or two and q
decision as to the plan to be used IN
selecting an architect may be made
at that time.
st. Paul Job Outlined
A statement on the manner IN
which the st. Paul commission went
about the business Of contracting the
city hall -courthouse there, prepared
for The Tribune by the st. Paul Dis
patch, will be interesting to North
DakotanS.
The statement follows:
when a proposal for a $4,000,OOO
city hall and court house was IN
cluded in st. Paul's Sis, SIT 600 bond
issue program of 1928 it presented a
complex problem because OF the over
tapping of two municipal govern
ments.
THE city of st. Paul voted $2,000,-
600 worth of bonds and the state leg
islature authorized Ramsey county TO
issue 1000, 900 worth of bonds.
THE machinery for building the
new structure was provided IN the
county bill. This measure arranged
for an advisory commission OF 8 per-
sons, to be named by the judges OF
the district court, to have charge OF
the planning and erection OF the
structure.
while under the law the powers
of this commission were limited be-
cause the powers of the city council
and county board to spend money
could not be delegated, the commits
sion in fact is most powerful because
of it's personnel. All of its acts thus
far have received the immediate ap-
prevail of both the city and county
governments.
Its membership. In addition TO
four members of the city and county
government, includes Ralph Budd,
president of the Great Northern Rail
way: G. w. Bum. vice president OF
the Northern Pacific Railway: w. H
Oppenheimer, head of n of the
city's foremost legal firms: Homer
Clark, president of the West Publish
ing Co.: and F. q. Murray. White
Bear Lake banker. G. p. Herbert
executive secretary OF the Municipal
Research Bureau, is secretary OF the
commission and devotes more than
half of his time to its work.
Had Problem Of Site
Upon organization, the commits
sion faced q problem of site. It de-
termined that the cost of temporarily
housing city and county offices would
be too great If the new building was
erected on the site Of the present
structure. Bids were taken for the
old site and an offer of 100000 was
received. The commission accepted
the offer which provided for $500
being placed in escrow until the
property is delivered, which will be
about January l., 1888. The sales
contract provides for total payment
upon delivery and also for develop
nlent of the site by the purchaser
with at least S. 1000, 900 worth Of i'm
provements within two years after 1t
is turned over by the city.
1.-The money received for the site
Is to 60 for the retirement Of city and
county bonds.
1.-The commission. selected a new
site fronting on the Third street mall.
II was acquired by condemnation for
approximately $435 ,000.
Members of the commission, about
half of them at their own expense,
then visited a score of new public
building projects throughout the
country. They learned OF the work
OF different architects and Of newer
ideas in building.
Returning to st. Paul, they inyit-
ed a half dozen Of Americas greatest
architects to confer with them re-
garding possible employment to de-
sign the building.
Came AT Own Expense
These men including Paul Cret Of
Philadelphia, Saranan of Detroit and
Cas- Gilbert Of New York. came to
st. Paul at their own expense.
1.-The commission finally selected
the architectural firm of Holabird
and Root Of Chicago, to act as asso-
ciates with Ellerbe and Co.,. Of st.
Paul. The, architectural contract
provides that as much as possible Of
The actual work on the plans must be
done In st. Paul, ana leaves the two
firms to work out the manner Ia
which their fee OF s per cent shall!
BE- split.
1.-THE plans>for the structure. are
nearing completion and bids will be
asked May !. The building Is q
stories o. 245 feet high. It covers an
entire BLOCK except for the existing
county TAIL site but only q tower
about las feet square reaches above
three stories. All Of the city and
county government activities, In.