sideration was given to this suggestion. The present condition, therefore, is that the new 

 Capitol is not upon the axis of any important street, and the ground surrounding it is of 

 a very unsymmetrical outline, particularly on the main front. In other respects, however, 

 the location of the new building is admirable. It is conveniently and centrally placed and 

 is at a considerable elevation, the land at this point being about 180 feet above the level 

 of the river and nearly ioo feet above the general level of the business district, while it is 

 approximately on a level with St. Anthony Hill (the principal residence district) above 

 referred to. The building, therefore, is conspicuous from a distance but not visible from 

 the main streets of the city. The development of the site brings with it the probability of 

 the construction of high buildings in the neighborhood, which would seriously detract from 

 the importance of the structure and obscure it from view. 



The problem, therefore, appears to be : 



ist. To enlarge and to make symmetrical the immediate surroundings of the building. 



2d. To open up the vista from the business district. 



3d. To provide a line of approach from Summit Avenue to St. Anthony Hill. 



4th. To develop a broad avenue at right angles to the principal facade extending directly 

 south to a point known as Seven Corners, where a number of streets intersect. 



The property adjacent to the Capitol site has but few buildings of value, but on the 

 triangular block southwest of the site is located a large public school which, while of inferior 

 construction and very bad design, is still considered to be a valuable asset of the city. The 

 principal street-car lines between St. Paul and Minneapolis pass along Wabasha Street to 

 the southwest of the building. It is necessary, therefore, first to get the consent of the 

 city authorities to remove the school building and to change the street-car tracks, so as to 

 permit the rounding out of the Capitol site in this direction. A movement has already 

 been made to this end. The president of the street-railway company has given his personal 

 assurance that he will aid in the project and move the car-tracks whenever the city is willing 

 to change the line of Wabasha Street. 



Park Avenue, next west of the Capitol, has been widened and straightened, and the 

 city authorities have now recommended the purchase of the block west of Park Avenue, so 

 that it is not improbable that the land immediately west and south of the building will be 

 required for public purposes in the near future. 



The second in order of development is the opening of the vista from the direction of 

 the business district, and to this end it is proposed to purchase the three narrow blocks 

 that lie between Wabasha and Cedar Streets, from East Tenth Street to Central Avenue. 

 (See plat No. 1. That portion of this plat that is colored shows the property now included 

 in the Capitol site.) This would also include the straightening of Cedar Street and the 

 purchase or restriction of the land east of Cedar Street, so as to make a public garden and 

 to provide sites for future public buildings for state and municipal purposes, thus pre- 

 venting the erection of any high buildings near the Capitol toward the southeast, i. e., the 

 direction in which the principal business district lies. 



The old State Capitol is located between East Tenth Street and Exchange, Wabasha 

 and Cedar Streets, and the old building will probably be retained for public purposes. 

 When this part of the project is completed, a vista of something over 2,000 feet from the old 

 Capitol to the new will be obtained, and the space between the buildings on either side of 

 the public garden would approximate 400 feet. 



The next step in this improvement should be the construction of an avenue from the 



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