flooring near the stove and fireplace so shrunk on account of the heat, that a person could run his hands between the boards. The basement story was all open, and James Morrison's large drove of hogs had taken possession; they were awfully poor, and it would have taken two of them, standing side by side, to have made a decent shadow on a bright day. We had a great many smart members in the house, and sometimes they spoke for Buncombe. When members of this ilk would become too tedious, I would take a long pole, go at the hogs, and stir them up; when they would raise a young pandemonium for noise and confusion. The speaker's voice would become completely drowned, and he would be compelled to stop, not, however, without giving his squealing disturbers a sample of his swearing ability. "The weather was cold; the halls were cold, our ink would freeze, everything froze-so when we could stand it no longer, we passed a joint resolution to adjourn for twenty days. I was appointed by the two houses to procure carpeting for both halls during the recess; I bought all I could find in the territory, and brought it to Madison, and put it down after covering the floor with a thick coating of hay. After this, we were more comfortable."-Wisconsin Historical Collections, Vol. IV., p. 191. After the covering of the floors, as noted by Col. Childs, the session was continued January 21, 1839. This capitol was used until 1863 when it was finally removed to make room for the extension of the succeeding capitol. By act of congress of August 6, 1846, Wisconsin territory was reduced to the present state boundaries, being admitted to statehood on May 29, 1848, during the period of the second capitol. The Third Capitol The second capitol had been completed but a few years when the growing activities of the new state of Wisconsin rendered the building too small. There was much discussion as to the providing of additional space, which culminated in an act of the legislature on February 28, 1857, to enlarge and improve the building This was generally understood to be the purpose of the act as there was strong opposition to a new building. Some one, probably Governor Coles Bashford, however, fortunately had vision beyond the immediate need and the work was started. A little later there was sharp discussion when it was found that the beginning of an entirely new capitol was under way. This portion first built was the east wing with the semicircular row of columns, the similar west wing being shown in the illustration. some rather This east wing was built in 1857-59, the opposition subsided and the corresponding west wing was built in 1861-62, both being erected without destroying the second capitol which was wrecked in 1863 to make room for the north and south wings which included the octagonal corner towers. These north and south wings were built in 1863-64, the first named being practically completed by the end of 1863. The central rotunda was finished in 1868, the dome being built entirely within the year 1869. The dome was designed by Major S. V. Shipman, who was supervising architect for the Madison postoffice building. This completed the building as originally planned. It was a structure of architectural beauty and an imposing capitol for a pioneer state. The large north and south wings outside the octagonal towers were built in 1882-84 and were made necessary by the constant expansion of the state's business, the growth of the state historical library and museum and the increase in the state law library. These large wings detracted from the beauty of the building and reduced the effect of the fine dome. The exterior material was a light buff limestone quarried near Prairie du Chien. The total cost of the building and park improve ments is estimated at $900,000. Even with the removal of the historical library and museum to the new building on the university campus in 1900, the capitol was becoming more crowded year by year. The legislature of 1903 recognized the necessity for more space in the capitol, Chapter 399 of that session creating a commission "to provide proper accommodations for the state law library and the supreme judicial department of the state, and making an appropriation therefor." Before this commission had had opportunity to develop plans under Chapter 399, laws of 1903, a disastrous fire occurred in the capitol on February 27, 1904, destroying a considerable portion of the interior. As noted under the fourth capitol this led to the destruction of the third capitol which was but temporarily repaired after the fire damage and was wrecked by sections as the progress of the new structure required. The last remaining portion of the third capitol, the large north wing, was wrecked in 1913, the last trace being removed on December 4th of that year. From beginning to end this building had a total life of 56 years, while the larger portion, the wings built in 1882-84, had a life of but about 27 years. These lengths of life are short for public buildings, but this will be discussed with regard to the present capitol. The Fourth Capitol The present, or fourth, capitol had its real beginning in Chapter 399, laws of 1903, noted above. After the fire on February 27, 1904, the commission repaired the damage sufficiently to use the burned portion of the building and proceeded energetically to secure a plan for a new structure. On submission of this plan to the 1905 legislature it was rejected as being too comprehensive and of too great cost. Chapter 516, laws of 1905, definitely provided for the building of a new structure throughout. After a study by the commission, chapter 516 was further modified at a special session of the legislature in December, 1905. This act perfected the law under which the capitol was built. Five architectural firms of national standing were asked to compete for the proposed building. Plans were submitted and the award made to Geo. B. Post and Sons of New York. Certain points of interest about the building, the figures being the result of careful measurements and computations made in response to many questions are as follows: The first construction contract, excavation for the west wing, was let October 11, 1906, work being started on the following day. The building was completed in 1917, so that all portions could be occupied, though there still remains a considerable amount of work to be done for final completion. The wings were built in the order of west, east, south and north, the central dome structure being constructed during the progress of the south and north wings. The lengths from north to south and east to west are 438.8 feet each, the difference between these two lengths being less than onefourth inch, illustrating the accuracy of modern building construction. This was substantially the north-south length of the third capitol. Top of statue, the tip of head dress, is 285.9 feet above the esplanade. The similar measurement for the United States capitol above the east esplanade is 287.5 feet, although the height to the base of the statue is the same in each building. Gable end of roof outside flag poles to esplanade 84.2 feet. Breadth of wings 125 each, 21 feet greater than the length of the second capitol. The ground area of the building is 2.42 acres. The capitol park is 764.7 feet in length on each side, its area being 13.4 acres. The Blashfield painting, "The Apotheosis of Wisconsin," in the eye of the dome is 186.7 feet above the rotunda floor. Power, heat, light and service water is furnished by the capitol power plant on East Main street through a large section tunnel 2,404 feet in length. The drinking water supply comes from a well 1,500 feet in depth under the south wing, this well having been drilled many years ago on the grounds outside the third capitol. The total cost of this capitol, including the removal of the third capitol, ground work, decorations, furniture, furnishings, equipment, power plant, tunnel and $250,000 estimated July 1, 1920, as necessary for completion of equipment and other details, is $7,508,763.75. It is one of the most beautiful public buildings in the world, and it is stated by competent authority that it is the lowest unit cost building of its type ever built. While the cost was large, it was but $3.05 per capita based on the average state population during the period of construction. As the work extended over a period of approximately twelve years the per capita per year cost was 25.4 cents. The low unit cost of the building is due primarily to three reasons: 1. The character of the capitol committee. 2. The commission acted as general contractor, thus saving large amount in contractors' percentage fees. 3. The building was built during a low cost period, the like of which may not come again. If the building and all that belongs with it were to be duplicated today it would doubtless cost fifteen to twenty million dollars. Summary of Cost On account of final settlement with the architects it was necessary to make a complete audit of the books of the capitol commission. This was done early in 1920 by J. H. Gormley, representing the architects whom he had represented during construction, and J. E. Hoyt, representing the state chief engineer. The books and records |