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CAPITOL BUILDING, INDIANA TERRITORY, VINCENNES. This building is still standing and is now being used as a residence It is in a fair state of anASA

CUSTODIAN'S REPORT.

OFFICE OF CUSTODIAN, STATE HOUSE,

Indianapolis, Ind., November 1, 1906.

To the Honorable J. Frank Hanly, Governor:

Sir-The act of the General Assembly of March 5, 1889, creating the office of Custodian of Public Buildings and Property, requires the Custodian to file a report on the last days of March, June and September of each year, and an annual report on the last day of December of each year, and a report for the two years preceding each session of the General Assembly.

The quarterly and annual reports have been duly submitted; and in further compliance with the law, and in obedience to your letter of instructions, I have the honor to submit herewith, for your examination and the consideration of the General Assembly, the ninth biennial report of this department, comprising an itemized account of the expenditures in detail from the different funds during the period from November 1, 1904, to November 1, 1906, and some recommendations as to the manner in which the service of this department could be made more efficient and economical to the State.

SURVEY OF CAPITOL GROUNDS.

The grounds now occupied by the State House are known as squares 48 and 53, in the city of Indianapolis, and that part of Market and Wabash streets lying between Capitol and Senate avenues (formerly Tennessee and Mississippi streets); also, that part of Huron street, or alley, lying between Ohio and Market streets, in the city of Indianapolis. These parts of streets were declared vacated by an act of Common Council and Board of Aldermen on the 22d and 23d days of April, 1878. Square 53, the site of the old State House, was reserved from sale by the State when the city was laid out. Title to the north half of square 48 was acquired by purchase from W. P. and E. P. Gallup, and by grant from the

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city of Indianapolis; the south half of the same square had also been reserved from sale by the State. The tract above described, and known as the Capitol grounds, is 930 feet in length and 420 feet in width, and contains an area of about nine (9) acres, in the center of which is located the present State House, 496 feet long and 283 feet wide.

CEMENT WALKS.

There is urgent need of repairs to the steps and concrete work of the approach to the west entrance of the building, and for this improvement I would recommend an appropriation of five hundred dollars ($500.00).

Pedestrians going east and west on Market street are confronted with either climbing the steps to the two respective entrances or going around the building, neither of which the public seems disposed to do, and many of them take the nearest way, which means that trespassing on the grass is the result, thereby making beaten paths which mars the beauty of the lawn. To prevent this condition and as a convenience to the general public, I recommend the building of good concrete walks from the four corners of the building to the streets (Capitol and Senate avenues), and for this improvement I would recommend that the sum of five hundred and fifty dollars ($550.00) be appropriated.

The sidewalk running parallel with Washington street, extending from Capitol avenue to Senate avenue, and abutting the south line of the Capitol grounds, is in bad repair and very unsightly, and can only be improved by rebuilding. I therefore recommend the appropriation of fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) for the construction of a new walk.

NORTH ENTRANCE DRIVEWAY.

There is but one wagon-way to this building, and this unimproved, over which is delivered all of the drinking water, furniture and carpets, books and stationery, express parcels, 1,200 tons of coal annually, all the Quartermaster's supplies, which includes equipment for 4,000 men, said equipment being hauled in and out once a year, and all other freight and traffic to and from the building passes over this unimproved roadway, causing a mudhole in wet weather and a condition not in harmony with the premises at

any time. This driveway should be paved, and for this improvement I recommend the same be done either with brick or granulithic concrete, and an appropriation of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,750.00) to defray the expense.

ROOF.

The roof of the building has been badly neglected in the past.. and it is almost imperative that special provision be made in order to arrest the damage that is being done to the building from rains through defects in the roof. Although strenuous efforts have been made recently toward preserving the building by making emergency repairs to the roof, the architect who superintended the construction of the building advises that the stone cornices, walls and copings should be covered with sheet copper. Knowing that both the inside and outside walls are continuously wet and being materially and permanently damaged by water and freezing, and believing the architect's suggestion the best and safest plan by which the roof may be put in good condition, I have caused to be made by said architect a conservative and reliable estimate of the cost, and I therefore recommend that the sum total of his estimate of thirty-three hundred and ninety dollars ($3,390.00) be appropriated to make said repairs.

CUSTODIAN'S SALARY.

I would recommend that the Custodian's salary be increased from fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500.00) to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per year, and that provision be made to pay said rate of salary to Custodian beginning April 15, 1907. This recommendation is made in view of the fact that the salary of the Custodian is the same now as it was when the office was created nearly eighteen years ago, since when the necessary living expenses have increased from 30 to 50 per cent. The building is now at an age when constant repairs must be made. The large number of Boards and Commissions, and various other minor departments, have been created from time to time, until the number of officials and employes is more than double, requiring the same proportion of attention and service from this department. In addition, various societies and associations are constantly asking for rooms provided with chairs, tables, etc., for their meetings, all of which has enlarged

the field of opportunity for the Custodian to earn a larger compensation. * I make the above recommendation feeling that it is in keeping with the growing importance of the office and commensurate with the service rendered and the responsibility assumed.

SALARIES OF ASSISTANTS.

I recommend that the salaries of the Custodian's assistants remain as they are, except that the office of Clerk be dispensed with after July 1, 1907, and that the service heretofore performed by the Clerk in the department be performed by the Custodian and the Assistant Custodian. In view of this proposed arrangement I would recommend that the salary of the Assistant Custodian be increased from nine hundred dollars ($900.00) to twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) per year. Thus I am enabled to make a reduction in the annual appropriation for salaries to assistants of six hundred dollars ($600.00). I therefore recommend that there be appropriated annually for salaries of assistants for the fiscal years beginning November 1, 1907, and November 1, 1908, the sum of fourteen thousand seven hundred and sixty dollars ($14,760.00), and that one hundred and seventy-five dollars ($175.00) be appropriated to pay the Assistant Custodian's increase of salary for the last seven months of the year 1907, to become available April 1, 1907.

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FLAGS AND DECORATIONS.

I would recommend that the annual appropriation of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) be renewed for flags and decorations for the building.

REPAIR AND SUPPLY FUND.

I would recommend that the annual appropriation of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) for repairs and supplies be renewed.

RE-DECORATING.

The appropriation of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) by the last General Assembly for re-decorating has been expended with the exception of fifteen dollars and forty cents ($15.40), and the work is not more than half completed. All the corridors and rooms on the first floor, all the corridors and all the rooms on the

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