The Fight to Build Washington's Capitol—and the Man Who Wanted It in Puyallup

CAPITOL FUNDS. Grant Will Furnish a Large Surplus. WILL INCUR NO DEBT. Details Clearly Set Forth—Material and Labor All Found.

In relation to the completion of the capitol building, the source of the funds for the purpose and the selection were explained to a reporter in an interview by Lee F. Underwood, a member of the capitol commission. He said the grant of land for public buildings was 300,000 acres, and of this 251,872 acres have been selected and the selections approved by the general land office. That leaves 48,128 acres yet to be selected. In August, 1889, Congress enacted [a law] authorizing the state [to select land] surveyed and giving the [state] privilege for sixty days [after] the filing of the plat to make selections. Under this provision it is expected [the land] yet to be selected will be [sold], but if it should average [the same] value the grant will be [sufficient]. The objections urged to the continuance of the work [are] that the [opponents] are trying to run the state into debt by building before the land is [sold]. The supreme court has held that warrants against the state [are valid] and are to be redeemed out of the sale of these lands, [without] any new debt.

The estimated cost of the work already under construction, the foundation, was [about $100,000], but the contract was not for [the entire building]. We expect to construct the [building] much cheaper than the estimate. The legal limit of cost is [$500,000]. The estimated cost is about [$400,000]. We expect to let the contracts [in such a manner] as will make the total less than $500,000, so that [there will be] a surplus of over $100,000, [if the] whole grant were sold at the moderate appraisement. The bulk of the land selected (about eighteen-eighteenths) is west of the mountains and is covered with timber, and no doubt [will] be sold at the appraised value. The land will probably sell for more than the appraisement, as the value of timber land is continually growing.

Some of the objections to going on with the work has been that the state [would not be] able to sell its warrants, but the [commissioners] at Olympia have made arrangements with parties in the East to take the entire issue at par, bearing 5 per cent interest. There will be no risk of not being able to sell the warrants after the [contract] is let, for the contractors will not sign the contract until they are sure the warrants can be sold. The idea is that it is to the advantage of the state to [build] now, when material and labor [are cheap], and this amount of outside capital can be disbursed in the state just when it is most needed. All the brick, stone, etc., about 80 per cent of the [material], will be produced in the state.

The basis of the opposition to the work is the fact that Ezra Meeker wants the capital located at Puyallup, and he opposes it so that if he can get the work driven [away] the question will be resubmitted to the people. Mr. Meeker objected to letting the contract on the ground that the location might be [changed]. When he failed in this, he urged the objection that it would be running the state in debt and that there was no assurance that the land grant would be sufficient to complete the building.