The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-31


low the commission a limited time
IN which to adopt budgets "B" and
&C" at the present low prices used
as the basis of the bids submitted
and this would insure prompt start
on the construction of the building,
and not undertaking contracts be-
yond the funds available.
This plan also would provide i'm
mediate employment for many of the
unemployed laboring men of the state
OF North Dakota" the report says.
This plan was finally adopted.
The successful low bidders agreed to
the plan and contracts were drawn
with them, under which they pro-
coed with the building in three Sec
lions and giving the commission an
option of 60 days on budget b and
80 days on budget &C.. The COM
mission has exercised the option on
budget b and has instructed the
contractor to proceed with its COM
pletion.
Negotiations now are under way
to obtain from all of the contractors
and sub-contractors an extension of
the option on budget C. until
March /, 1893.
Would Be Sufficient
'This would afford sufficient time
for the legislature to meet and pro-
vide the balance of the 100000 as
originally intended in the capitol
commission act, and necessary funds
for the completion of the legislative
portion of the building without call
ing for new bids and on present low
prices" the report states.
In the meantime" it continues,
"the work included under budgets
"A and b would provide complete
workable permanent administrative
unit in which all of the departments
would be located in their permanent
place in the building.
Later computations justified the
board in issuing and selling 100000
OF anticipation certificates, thereby
increasing to total of 100000 the
amount available under budget b."
AS a relief measure, construction
OF the new capitol constitutes eff
cient relief for unemployment and
as such justified itself, the report
says. Approximately 60 per cent of
the cost of the building is derived
from the land grants and from in
surance on the old building and from
other sources not involved in taxa
ton; these funds, approximating ST.
100000, in the aggregate, are trust
FUNDS which can be devoted to no
other purpose and mo time could be
chosen when their disbursement
would be of greater benefit than the
present." according to the report.
We are passing through an unpre-
cedented financial depression accen-
tuated IN our state by an almost COM
plete destruction of crop values, COUP
led with severe and persistent crop
failures" the report continues. "The
construction of public buildings at
such time is widely justified and the
justification is the more complete
where the major portion of the funds
devoted to such construction are of
trust character already accumulate
ed and not to be devoted or expended
Tor any other purpose as is here the
case.
With this thought in mind the
board has given much consideration
70 measures having for their purpose
the protection of North Dakota labor"
Point To Contract
Attention is called to the general
contract giving preference to residents
OF the state wherever practical in all
work.
The commission pointed out it had
no authority to impose minimum
wage schedule, but believes that the
incorporation of such a schedule in
the proposal and contract acts as a
guard for laboring men almost, if
not quite, as efficiently as though the
board had power under the law to fix
a minimum wage schedule
TO carry out the policy OF the state
In giving preference to North Dakota
material as provided by the capitol
commission act, the general contract
requires contractors to submit all
bids received for any portion of the
work, as well as all bids for materials.
for the approval of the board. No
contract can be entered into without
such approval and similar provisions
are found in the mechanical con-
tracts.
I'm practice" the board requires
that where conditions so justify. "the
report adds" North Dakota contrac-
tors or material men shall have the
opportunity to take over the low bid
plus the statutory preference"
Attention is called by the commits
sion that the capitol construction law
ma lac M y,roS,icjov, Gov. f,,~,~;rLS~~ ~
building or for landscaping the
grounds. It Is pointed out that Of
the $4,000 received by the state from
insurance, $430,000 was placed in the
capitol building fund and 100000 in
the fire replacement fund to be dis
trtbuted by the emergency commits
sion on application received from the
various state departments. The
emergency commission has allotted
$157, 212.20 Of this fund, leaving bal
ance Of $148, 787.80.
$307,125 Discussed
A statement Of disbursements from
the capitol building fund as Of Dec. /,
1882. shows a total Of $307.125.55 dis
bursed. This includes administration
expenses, expense Of the commission,
including salaries Of the secretary.
clerks, stenographers, travel expense,
office supplies, etc., $22.412.40; archi-
tectural expense, paid to architects
$86O04.14; contracts, paid to general
contractor, $192,809.0l; removal Of
debris $500.
In addition the amounts retained
from contract payments pending COM
|pletion Of the capitol building, as per
contract agreements Dec. /, 1882 are
$21 1921 from Lundoff- Bicknell, gem
eral contractor, 10 per cent: and $14,-
$40 from DeRemer, Kurke, Holabird
and Root, architects, Is per cent.