History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURING. 25
Representatives on public buildings and ble to have the opinions of parties who
State library. And said committee were were not interested, called to their asinstructed to hold a joint session, to ex- sistance Augustus Bauer and Asher Caramine the plans, specifications and esti- ter, architects, and W. C. Deakman, masmates; and in the event of their being ter builder, all of Chicago, and had them
satisfied that the building could be corn- make an estimate in detail, according to
pleted within the limit of $3,000,000, in the same plans and specifications, and
addition to what had already been ex- their estimate was $2,737,940 86 —no
pended, they were to order the commis- greater difference in proportion than two
sioners to proceed; appropriated $650,- builders would make on almost any piece
000, to be used in carrying forward the of work.
work on the new\ State House, but pro- The joint committee did not complete
hibited the use of it until the above eon- their investigations until August 26,
ditions were complied with. 1869. They then ordered the commisUnder the law of March 11, 1869, Go- sioners to go forward with the work acvernor Palmer appointed Jacob Bunn, cording to the plans and specifications,
James 0. Robinson and James H. Beve- with certain alterations recommended by
ridge, as commissioners to continue the the superintending architects and master
work of constructing the new State builder. They publicly expressed the
House. The board organized April 12, belief that it could be finished within
1869, by electing Jacob Bunn, president, the $3,000,000, and that " when compleand James H. Beveridge, secretary. The ted it would be a beautiful, convenient
commissioners at once caused detailed and permanent structure, worthy of the
plans, specifications and estimates for State."
continuing the work on the new State
House, to be prepared by the superin- Thus the best part of another season
House, to be prepared by the superinending architects. They notified the passed away with such hindrances as
committees of the Senate and House of prevented the commissioners from prosecommitteeso a and H cuting the work as energetically as they
Representatives, and a joint session was
held in the Senate Chamber at Springfield, April 27, 1869, and a copy of the The Convention called by the people
plans and specifications was laid before of Illinois, for the purpose of framing a
them. At a meeting of the committees, new Constitution for the State, recogon the 12th of May, it was nized the facts that the Capitol had been
permanently located at Springfield by
" _solved, That the State House cormlegal authority, and that a positive law
missioners be and they hereby are au- required the
required the work of all State officers
thorized to complete the foundation of and all legislative enactments to be done
the new State House under existing con- at Springfield, as the Capital; and that
tracts, and to expend the balance of the laws had been passed by two previous
laws had been passed by two previous
appropriation first made, or as much
reopa sa or a u legislatures, making large appropriations
thereof as may be necessary for the pur- of money for building a new edifice in
pose."1 which to transact the business of the
The workwas commenced immediately, State; and that a design had been adopand the foundation completed early in ted on a scale of grandeur and magnifiAugust, as previously stated. cence in proportion to its weatlh and inThe total estimates of the superintend- fluence, deemed it wise to insert a clause
ing architects, submitted with plans and in the new Constitution to guard against
specifications, amounted to $2,650,885. abuses too often practiced in connection
The joint committee deeming it advisa- with works erected at public expense.