report of the state capitol reconstruction...
TRANSCRIPT
pitc::>l Reconstruction
the Governor ~:P1,e Oregon Legislative
Assembly
January, I937
,
Report of the State Capitol Reconstruction Commission to the Oregon Legislative Assembly, January, 1937
April 25, 1935
October 23, 1935
November 8, 1935
November 9, 1935
November 25, 1935
December 4, 1935
December 12, 1935
January 2. 1936
~arch 5, 1936
May 22, 1936
May 26,1936
September 2, 1936
September 15, 1936
October 23, 1936
November 20, 1936
December 4, 1936
CALENDAR
Oregon Capitol destroyed by fire.
Special Session of the Legislature called by the Governor.
Bill creating' capitol commission and providing for capitol reconstruction passed Senate.
Bm creating capitol commission and providing for capitol reconstruction passed House, and became law.
Governor, President of Senat.e, and Speaker of the House completed their apPointments of commissioners.
First meeting of the commission, election of J. A. McLean as chairman and Dr. H. H. Olinger as vice-chairman.
Second meeting, appointment of Aiton John Bassett as secre" tary; state Planning Board's work on capitol project explained by Jamieson Parker: PWA relations with commission explained by C. C. Hockley.
Carl F. Gould employed as architectural adviser.
Program of architectural competition published.
Period for entry in competition closed.
Winning design for capitol annout;lced.
Contract for excavation let.
Plans and specifications completed.
Contract for excavation completed.
Contract let for entire building.
Work on building started.
Letter of Transmittal
Portland, Oregon, January 1, 1937.
To the Governor and the Legislative Assembly of the State of
Oregon:
We have the honor to submit herewith the report of the
Oregon State Capitol Reconstruction Commission for the
period December 4, 1935, to December 31, 1936.
Respectfully submitted,
OREGON STATE CAPITOL
RECONSTRUCTION COMMISSION,
J. A. McLEAN, Chai",nan,
H. H. OLINGER, Vice-chairman,
T. H. BANFIELD,
ERNEST C. DALTON,
J. H. LAKE,
GEORGE R. LEWIS,
G . A. MARSHALL,
ROBERT W. SAWYER,
MRS. GORDON VOORHIES.
ALTON JOHN BASSETT, Secreta,·y.
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The State Capitol Reconstruction Commission, charged with the duty of building a new state capitol building to replace the capitol destroyed by fire on April 25, 1935, was created by act of the Oregon legislative assembly, meeting in special session, on November 9, 1935. Under the act, Chapter 74, Special Session 1935, provision was made for a com-
" mission of nine members, three to be appointed by the governor, three by the president of the senate and three by the speaker of the house. Appointments were thereafter made as follows: 'By Governor Charles H. Martin : Dr. Ernest C. Dalton, of St. Helens, and G. A. Marshall of Bakel', appointed on November 23, and Mrs. Gordon Voorhies of Medford, appointed on November 30; by Harry L. Corbett, president of the senate: Dr. H. H. Olinger of Salem, T. H. Banfield of Portland, and Robert W. Sawyer of Bend, appointed on November 23; and by Howard Latourette, speaker of the house, J. A. McLean of Eugene and J. H. Lake of Portland, appointed on November 23, and George R. Lewis of Pendleton, appointed on November 25, 1935.
Following. these appointments, on the call of Howard Latourette, speaker of the house and acting governor, the members of the commission met in Salem on December 4, 1935. After taking oaths of office the commission organized by electing J. A. McLean of Eugene, as chairman, and Dr. H. H. Olinger of Salem, as vice-chairman. At this meeting, also, arrangements were made with Attorney General I. H. Van Winkle to secure the services of Ralph E. Moody, assistant attorney general, as legal adviser to the commission.
Alton John Bassett, of Portland, was elected secretary of the commission at its second meeting on December 12, 1935. The secretary is under bond.
At an early meeting of the Commission it was voted to select an architect for the capitol building by means of a nation-wide competition and the Oregon chapter, American Institute of Architects, was invited to suggest names of architects qualified to act as technical adviser in the preparation of the program of competition. From the list of names submitted in response to this invitation, none being residents of Oregon in accordance with the Institute's practice, the Commission selected Car; F. Gould, F. A. I. A., distinguished architect of Seattle, as its adviser and under his direction proceeded in the preparation of the program.
In carrying forward his work Mr. Gould was materially aided by studies made by the State Planning Board in the preparation of its final report on the State Capitol Building Program made to the governor on October 21, 1935. All material gathered by the Planning Board covering office needs and space requirements for a capitol building was tUl'lled over to the Commission and is now held by it as a part of its records.
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From January 2, 1936, the date of Mr. Gould's election as technical adviser, until March 5, 1936, when the program of competition was completed, almost weekly meetings of the Commission were held with him to determine details of the competition. With the program completed May 22, 1936, was set as the final date on which entries in the competition would be received.
It was provided in the program that selection of the winning design and of the five next most meritorious designs would be made by a secret jury consisting of two architects, neither of whom should be a resident of Oregon, two members of the Commission and one outstanding layman from Oregon. After the judging was finished the personnel of the jury was announced as follows: Walter H. Thomas of Philadelphia, David C. Allison of Los Angeles, architects; T. Harry Banfield and Mrs. Gordon Voorhies, members of the Commission; and E. B. MacNaughton of Portland.
One hundred and twenty.six designs were submitted in the competi. tion from architects in eighteen states of the Union and the District of Columbia. To insure anonymity in the competition it was required that wrappings of packages containing designs bear no distinguishing marks and that the name of the author be enclosed in a blank envelope. When the packages were opened in the presence of Associate Justice J. O. Bailey, of the Oregon Supreme Court, these envelopes were entrusted to his care and when the winning design had been selected the envelope containing the name of the author was opened in his presence and the name announced.
Judging of the designs was done by the jury in Salem on May 25 and 26. The selection of the winner and of the five ranking designs was made on the afternoon of the second day and that evening the names were announced as follows:
WINNER
Trowbridge & Livingston, Francis KeaBy, Associate, 101 Park Avenue, New York City.
HONORABLE MENTION
William Peyton Day, 1502 Financial Center Building, San Francisco. Wesley S. Bessell, 16 East 52d Street, New York. Walter T. Karcher and Livingston Smith, 1520 Locust Street, Philadelphia. John A. Thompson and Charles A. Holmes, 101 Park Avenue, New York. DeYoung & Moscowitz and Carl W. Rosenburg, 205 E. 42d Street, New
York.
The terms of the competition provided that the winning architect should contract with the Commission to prepare plans for the building,
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should select an Oregon architect as associate (if the winner were not an Oregonian) and should complete the plans by September 15, 1936.
Early in June FranCis Keally, associate, and Geo. W. Jacoby and Wm. A. Sanders, representing Trowbridge & Livingston, visited Oregon as a preliminary to beginning work. When here they selected, with the approval of the Commission, the Portland firm of Whitehouse & Church as Oregon associate. They, also, with Whitehouse & Church interviewed all state officers to be housed in the new capitol to ascertain their space needs and the office arrangement desired by them. Final plans on · which bids were called provided for space and an arrangement thereof reported to the Commission as satisfactory by every officer concerned.
While detailed plans were in preparation arrangements were made for the excavation for the building. A call for bids for the excavation was issued on August 12, bids were opened on September 2 and were found to be as follows:
Barham Bros" Salem ..................... ......... ............. .. ................. ...... ... .... $15,600 United Contracting Co., Portland ... . ..... .... :1.5,272 Pa.rker Schram Co., Portland .... .... ... .......... ... .... . ..... .... ........ . . ...... ..... . 14,740 R. L. Houck, Salem .... .. .... ... .... .. ... .. .... ... .. ......... ............. ......... ... .. 8,410
The award was made to R. L. Houck of Salem, the low bidder. He proceeded with the job at once and completed it on October 23. In this excavation work all the top soil was put aside for Use in landscaping aftel' the capitol is finished and all shrubs and plants growing on the site saved for later use.
Detailed plans for the building were completed on September 15 as required. Thereafter bids for the construction of the building were called to be opened on November 20. At the opening, bids were received as follows:
Consolidated Engineering Co., Tacoma Washington ..... ... ... .... . $2,215,977 Johnson, Drake & Piper, Minneapolis, Minn. .... .......... ............ .... 2,329,000 Ross B. Hammond, Inc,. Portland, Oregon . .............. 2,140,648 Guy Atkinson, Portland, Oregon .................. ... .. ........... .. .............. .. 2,216,915 Hoffman Construction Company, Portland, Oregon ......... ... ...... 2,161,300 N, p, Severin Company, Chicago, I1linols .......... .... .............. ..... .. 2,279,000 George A, Fuller & Company, New York, N, Y. .............. .......... 2,240,000
By the deduction of certain alternate items, the low bid of Ross B. Hammond, Inc., Portland, was cut to $2,006,137, and the contract for the building, to be constructed of marble, was awarded to that firm and the contract signed on November 21, 1936. Since that time certain alternates have ·been replaced so that the contract price now stands at approximately $2,100,000. Further increases within the funds available may be made from time to time as necessary or desirable changes are ordered by the Commission.
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Contracts have been made for the decoration of the building with statuary and mural paintings at a total cost of $176,000. The decomtions are to include the following;
Statuary, statue of a pioneer surmounting the building; in front of the building, two great block sculptures, one representing Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea, and the other The Covered Wagon. On the back of the first block will be a map showing the Lewis and Clark routes and on the back of the other a map of the Old Oregon Trail. A carving of the great seal of the state will be over the front entrance and there will be other carvings over the end doors. The bronze doors at the main entrance will have relief deCOl'ations.
There will be decorative painting in the rotunda and over the stairs, and murals in the rotunda, on the stair walls, over the entrances to the two chambers, back of the rostrums in each chamber, and over the fireplace iIi the governor's reception room. Subjects selected fo,' the murals in the l'otunda. are:
A. Captain. Robert Gray and the ship Columbia sailing into the Columbia river. B. Lewis and Clarl[ at CellIo falls on their trip down the Columbia. C. Dr. John McLoughlin and the Hudson's Bay post at Fort Vancouver. D. The great wagon train migration of 1843.
On stair walls; Representations of Oregon's industry and resources. Over the chamber entrances; House-(1) The first Oregon Capitol;
Senate- (2) the second Oregon Capitol. Back of the rostrums; House-(1) The Champoeg meeting; Senate
(2) signing the bill admitting Oregon to the Union. In the governor's office, above the fh'eplace; Map of Oregon. Subcontractors interested in the contract of Ross B. Hammond, Inc., are
the following; Lord and Loryea, Plumbing
& Heating Co ..... .................... Portland .......................... ...... Heating Rnd ventilating and plumbing; sprlnlder system
NePage-McKenny Co . ........ ....... Portland .... ....... ..................... Electrical work Fred Shearer & Sons ...... ............ Portland ................................ Metal furring and lathing,
plastering Soul-e Sleel Co . ............................. Portland ....... ........ ........... ...... Metal windows Mosler Safe Co ............................ Portland ................. ............... Vault doors and linings capitol Mail Chute Co ................ C/IJ Cress & Co., Port1and ... Mall chute and letter box Lutz Marble Co., Inc ................... Pbrtland ......... ........ ..... .... ...... Interior marble William Frese .................... .......... Portland .................... ...... ...... 'l\errazzo Oregon Art Tile Co ........... ...... .... Portland ................................ THe work Acoustical Flooring and Salcs .. Portland ............... ................. Linoleum floors Meier & Frank Co . ........ .............. Portland ................................ Carpets Ray F. Becker ............. ...... .. .... .... Portland ................................ Sheet metal work and
roofing Lamson Tube Co ... ...................... Syracuse, N. Y . .............. ...... Pneumatic tube system W. P. Fuller Co . ...................... ..... Portland ................................ Glass and glazing English.Baker Co . ............. ....... .. Portland ... ............................. Lighting and fixtures Williamsen & Bteid ..................... Portland ............... ................. Painting Wylie & Smith ............................. Portland .......... ... ................... Cork floors Acous tical Flooring and Sales .. Portland ...... ..................... ..... Rubber floors Otis Elevator Co . ............... .......... Portland .... ............. ............... E levator Acoustical Flooring and Sales .. Portland .................. ........... ... Acoustical worl{ (ollier
than plaster)
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The following are the dimensions of the building: Length ........................................... ........... ............ ___ ..... __ ........... ...... . Width ..................................... .............................. ........... ................. . Height main . building ............... ............................... ..................... . Height top of circular tower ..................... ............... _ .................. . Height top of statue .................... ................................................. . Usable square foot area .... ........................... ................... .... , .... .
Space in the building is provided for the following: Legis]ative-House of Representatives.
Senate 35 Committee rooms 21 Legislative work rooms
Executive Department-Governor State Treasurer Secretary of state Motor Vehicle Operators Divlsion Election Department Board of Control Budget Department Cafeteria Press room Building Superintendent and storage Post Office Land Board Property Custodian
394 feet 164 feet
53 feet · 128 feet 168 feet
131,750 feet
Work was begun under the contract on December 4, 1936, iust one year from the date of the organization of the Commission. The contract calls for the completion of the building within 550 calendar days from the time work is started, plus extensions of time for changes ordered by the Commission.
With the exception of the ceilings of the House and the Senate chambers, which ate of strl.jctural steel construction, the entire building is to be built of re-enforced concrete. Many of the committee rooms and offices are to be finished in Oregon woods.
The act creating the Commission contemplated the erection of a capitol building to cost $2,500,000. This sum was to be provided by a state appropriation of $458,334 in each of the years 1936, 1937, and 1938, or a total of $1,375,000, plus a Federal Public Works Administration grant of $1,125,000. Pl'eliminary al'1'angements for the PWA grant were made by the Board of Control prior to the creation of the Commission. On April 29, 1936, the Commission entered into a final contract with the Fedel'al Government for the grant in the sum stated, being 45 pel' cent of the cost of the building, and in consideration therefor bound itself to comply with all regulations of the Public Works Administration relating .to the expenditure of the state and the federal fund. Under this contract all expenditures of the Commission and all contracts entered into have
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come under the scrutiny of the Oregon PW A office. This office also is checking all plans as submitted by the architects and is represented on the work in Salem by R. H. Corey and T. W. Baker, engineer inspectors. The relations between the Commission and the PWA authorities are on • satisfactory and cordial basis.
The accounts of the Commission were audited by representatives of the Secretary of State in July and December, 1936, and found to be correct. Arrangements for a semi ... annual audit have been made by the Commission. Expenditures to December 1, 1936, were:
From state 1936 appropriation .............. .... _ .................. _ .. . _ ..... __ ..... $ 61,876.49 From federal grant ...... ... ...... _ ..... _..................... ................ .... .......... 50,626.23
Tota] .................... .... __ .. .... ........... __ ..... .. ............. .................... ... $112,502.72
One of the early problems presented to the Commission was the question of where on the site described in the legislative act the capitol should be located. As citizens of Oregon the members of the Commission had been familiar with the events and discussion preceding the enactment of the capitol construction act. They knew that sooner or later other buildings would be constructed to meet the space demands of the state's business, and as citizens they felt that such buildings should be so placed as to create, with the new capitol, a state government cente!" convenient, dignified and beautifuL In common with others, also, they realized that the state-owned site described in the act was adequate neither in size nor shape for a proper and worthy group plan. Finally they recognized their obligation, under the act creating the Commission, to place the capitol building on that site and their inability, with the funds made available to them, to supplement the site by the purchase of other nearby property.
Under these circumstances the Commission had the choice of proceeding as for a single building, placing it entirely on the state site without regard to any future group development possibilities and thereby narrowly fulfilling the terms of its undertaking; or of locating the capitol in such place as to make possible its use as the central feature of a group to be developed later, though such a plan involved the acquisition by the state of some additional land in a location thus seemingly dictated by the Commission. The Commission has fo!lowed the latter course but in doing so points out that once it had decided to plan for a group development based on capitol construction on the old site conditions, rather than the Commission, dictated all that flows out of the decision as to prospective land purchase. To the east, development is bound by the present state office building and the supreme court building, to the south by Willamette University and to the west by the limits of Willsorl pari" There remained only the chance for extension into now privately owned lands across Court street to the north and the Commission finally determined on a location for the capitol that contemplates the purchase
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of such lands if other state building-s are to be provided for and erected as part of a group plan. It was aided materially in providing for this development by the gift from the Salem City Council and heirs of Dr. W. H. Willson of the easterly portion of Willson park adjoining the stateowned site.
The new capitol building and the other public buildings in the vicinitl'.. if the group plan goes forward, will create a beautiful public center in the city of Salem. These buildings will be the resort of many visitors to the city and they will house, during the day, large numbers of state employes. Such conditions always lead to the development of business opportunities in the vicinity and it is to be expected that private business will wish to take advantage of such opportunities here. On the other hand, the state should wish to control development in the vicinity of this government headquarters so that the beauty and the dignity of the setting may be preserved and no values created that the public will have to pay in case further enlargement of the public grounds is desired. There is no reason why private interest should be advantaged by these developments. There is every reason why the state, in the interest of all the people and of the taxpayers whose contributions make these developments possible, should control them. The Commission, therefore, recommends the enactment by the legislature, if it is possible, and, if not, by the city of Salem, of regulations severely restricting building development anll property use within at least 1,500 feet in a northerly direction from Court street, and at least 500 feet to the east and the west of Summer street.
The destruction of the old capitol building did not, fortunately, involve the Joss of the heating plant that served both it and the other state buildings to the west. A survey of the plant secured by this Commission in 1936 indicated its adequacy to furnish heat for the new building. If more buildings are to be erected, however, additional heating facilities will be necessary and the Commission accordingly recommends that the subject be examined by the legislature, and, in any building prog-ram to be undertaken, that necessary funds be provided for a new plant or an enlargement of the old.
The Commission takes this opportunity to express its appreciation for the friendly cooperation and assistance in its labors it has received from Governor Charles H. Martin, Treasurer Rufus Holman, Secretary of State Earl Snell, and members of their staffs, Oregon Federal Publtc Works Director C. C. Hockley and his assistants, Justice J. O. Bailey, the State Planning- Board, the Salem City Council, Charles E. Sprague, chairman of the Salem Chamber of Commerce Capitol Committee, the Salem Chamber of Commerce; the following heirs of Dr. W. H. Willson: Francis John Girard, Harriett Smith Wythe, Margaret W. Wythe, K Grace Wythe, ]<;lenore 1'. Lawrence, Charles H. Lawrence, Louisa Belle Wythe, Georgia G. Montgomery, W. A. Montgomery, Kate J. London, Edwin B. London, JessieI'
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G. Hartman, Laura Francis Gill, Dorothy Gill Montgomery, Susie Moreland Gill, Margaret W. Dillingham, and all others whose help has been given through the Commission to the state.
Respectfully submitted,
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J. A. MCLEAN, Chai1'man,
T. H. BANFIELD,
EnNEsT C. DALTON,
J. H. LAKE,
GEORGE R. LEWIS,
G. A. MARSHALL,
H. H. OLINGER, '
ROBERT W. SAWYER,
MRS. GORDON VOORHIES.