The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-21
BY b. F. SPALDING

plans, either one to cost $3O8OOO and
offered services for S per cent of the
cost of building.
Caulkins &, Telford of Minneapolis,
Mimi. showed plans for building to
cost $780, 900, and offered services for
3 per cent of cost of construction;
w. L. Dow Of Sioux Falls had no
plans but offered to build like capt.
tol building at Concord. N. H.. to cost
not exceeding 100000 for 2ia per
cent of cost: L. S. Burlington of Min
neapolis showed pencil sketch of a
building similar to the capitol at st.
Paul and offered to make plans and
specifications and superintend con-
struction of the building for per
cent Of cost.
Additional Plans Submitted
At an adjourned meeting held on
the 10th day of July additional plans,
details and specifications were sub
mitted by Mcpherson, Caulkins, Cast
ner and Burlington. Burlington had
been the architect of what was then
the new capitol of Minnesota, and
his sketch showed similar Building
but more ornate in design. Much en-
phasis was placed upon the effect OF
adopting plans for building on the
same lines but more ornamental ar
chitecturally than the new capitol in
ST.. Paul. It was thought by some that
this would disarm much of the oppo-
sition. The record which 1 have
shows no estimate of the cost of the
building under Buffington's plans.
There was wide difference of opin-
ion as to which plans should be ac-
cepted. but Mr.. Hughes was very in
sistent on employing Burlington. but
a majority of the commission opposed
it. Before we were ready to vote.
Belding had gone to the boat landing
to take a steamer for Pierre on his
way home. He was strongly opposed
to the Burlington plan. and SO there
might be no uncertainty on the sub
ject a conveyance was sent to the
river to bring him back to cast his
vote, but before ballot was cast, as
often happens on such occasions,
some of the commissioners who had
been most strenuously opposed to
Buffingtons plans yielded to the per-
suasive arguments Of General Hughes.
A resolution was offered as follows:
Whereas, all of the plans and
specifications presented to the COM
mission for the capitol building are
likely to exceed the amount which can
properly be devoted to building pur-
poses, therefore be it
Set Limit at S250,OO0
Resolved: That the plans and
Specifications similar to those under
which the capitol buildings at ST.
Paul, Minnesota, were erected, be
adopted. with such notifications as
shall make the exterior much more
imposing, and reduce the cost of the
portions finished to the sum of two
hundred and fifty thousand $780,
OO0) dollars.
Resolved: That L. S. Burlington
be selected as supervising architect,
and w. L. Dow as assistant architect
and inspector, provided: That an
agreement be made between them to
the effect that their combined COM
missions and compensationS for plans
and supervision shall not exceed three
90 per cent of the cost Of the build
ings erected under their supervision"
A motion was made for its adop-
ton. An amendment was offered to
substitute Knight and Cashier for
Burlington. The amendment was
lost and the Burlington resolution
adopted.
The plans adopted were for a COM
plete building with its different parts
harmonious. It was recognized that
the 100000 would not 60 far toward
completing it so it was determined to
build the central portion which would
furnish the space then needed and
at the same time serve as the founda-
ton for mammoth tower and for
wings in different directions to be
later erected. This accounts for the
massive structure of the old portion
of the capitol. Unfortunately, no sub
sequent legislature made provision for
building additional units or wings as
contemplated by the plans. The re-
suit was that additions made from
time to time were wholly out of har-
mony with the original plans and