assigned such a commanding site, the Commission kept in mind that it was
incumbent upon them to erect upon it a building of appropriate dignity
and dimensions. It soon became evident that, with the appropriation
already made, it would be impossible to erect a suitable building,
maintain it and make suitable exhibits in the great departments of the
Fair in which the State of New York stands pre-eminent. Steps were,
therefore, taken to procure an additional appropriation from the
Legislature of 1903, the matter being placed in the hands of the
Executive Committee.


THE ARCHITECT

At the April meeting Mr. Clarence Luce, of New York city, was appointed
the Commission's architect, and the plans for a State building presented
by him were accepted. On June thirtieth a special meeting was called for
the purpose of considering bids for the erection of the building and
hearing the report of a special committee, consisting of Messrs. Luce
and Van Brunt, who had visited St. Louis to further the interests of the
Commission in this matter.


THE CONTRACTORS

Bids were received from several firms of contractors, ranging from
$80,000 down to the contract price of the building, viz., $56,518, at
which figure Messrs. Caldwell & Drake, of Columbus, Ind., contracted to
complete the building in accordance with plans and specifications of the
architect. The construction work was immediately inaugurated and was
pushed forward so rapidly that the December meeting of the Commission,