APPENDIX 



MEMORANDUM RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OF APPROACHES 

 TO THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL, ST. PAUL 



The topography of the City of St. Paul offers exceptional natural advantages for an 

 interesting and picturesque, if not imposing development of a city plan. Located as the 

 city is upon a site surrounded by hills which rise, in some instances, to over zoo feet above 

 the level of the Mississippi River, the original location of the city was determined by the 

 convenience of landing merchandise incident to the river traffic, and hence its first growth 

 followed the line of the river and extended back from the river along the lines easiest of 

 communication, without reference to any well-defined plan. As the city grew, additions 

 were added at the convenience of real estate operators and without very much relation to 

 what had already been laid out. 



Later a more systematic method of platting additions to the city was adopted, resulting 

 in a more or less regular plan of streets which, as a general thing, had absolutely no rela- 

 tion to the topography, and cuts through hills and across valleys regardless of the natural 

 conditions. 



A few important points were fortunately reserved or reclaimed from the general medley 

 of streets, largely by the action of public-spirited persons acting in their individual capacity. 



Fortunately, however, one important residence street, known as Summit Avenue, follows 

 the crest of the hill upon which the best residence district is located, and this avenue 

 affords building sites of unusual beauty. 



The construction of the new State Capitol has awakened interest on the part of the 

 community, and the Civic League and other bodies have for several years past been urging 

 upon public authorities an improvement of that part of the city which is nearest the new 

 Capitol. The interest, therefore, centers principally around this structure, which is now 

 approaching completion. 



The new Capitol is located on a site of irregular shape, illustrated by diagram No. i. 

 Its main axis extends east and west parallel with University Avenue. Its main front, being 

 toward the south, is at an angle of approximately 45" with Wabasha street, which is one of 

 the principal streets of the city. The main line of travel between St. Paul and Minneapo- 

 lis is by way of Wabasha Street to University Avenue, passing the front of the CapitoL at 

 an angle, and thence west on University Avenue to Minneapolis. 



If the Capitol building had been placed one block farther west and half a block farther 

 north, i. e., its east and west axis upon the center of University Avenue and its north and 

 south axis on the center of Park Avenue, the dome would then have been found to be 

 almost exactly upon the center axis of Wabasha Street. This was suggested by the architect 

 immediately after his appointment, but, as the property had nearly all been purchased and 

 conditions existed which made it inexpedient to urge a change at that time, no serious con. 



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