New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-26
THE NEW STATE CAPITOL
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE.

MILITARY AND MASONIC PROFESSIONAL RAINY
DAY-THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS AND OTHER
sPEECHEs-sCENEs AND INCIDENTS.
ALBANY, June 24.-The birth OF the new
CaDitol OF the Empire State in it's way stormy as
the birth OF the old Capitol OF Rome That 1t will be fol
lowed also by fatal consequences is almost certain
Aged boary headed Knights Templar and venerable
Master Masons are human in spite OF the mysterious
character Of their official personalities, and many OF
them must to-day have "eaught their death O. cold
from being out for five hours In the drenchhg ram
There was no installing the character OF the weather as
80 ,, notber the CHESTS of the Delevan House made
their at an early hour and hurried out upon
Broadway TO make their prognostics. Disappont-
ent was depicted on every face, and the unpleasant
admission that
"The dawn {. overcast morning lovrs,
And heavily with clouds brings on the day
was unyillingy but universally made At7ociocA INC
first ominous drops made their mark upon the pavement
lust as the Commandery OF the kmghts lenpia "'
forming in line for appetizing march oeioIe pio"
fast; by O'Clock there was heavy and steaoy uo"n
pour OF rain At first all tried to put the best face upon
it, but as the storm increased and the barometer con
timed 10 fab the spirits Of the Knights dropped IKE the
white ostrich pumes on their cocked-hats when they
returned after their hours march in the ran IN STATE
which Mr. Bob Sawyer somewhat herocaly Described as
" uncomfortably damp-perhaps"
In the meantime the greatest confusion prevahed a'
the respective headquarters Of THE New Capitol Com
missioners and the Masonic fraternity wild PROPOSE
ton was made TO postpone the a-important ceremony
till Monday; but the idea was quickly secuted as I'M
possible. general council OF the authorities was heiu
at which determined to await the convenience Vi
the clerk Of the weather till midday, and then, IL ne
could not be prayed, coaxed, or persuaded INTO
eeniaty to 20 through with the business OF the day In
highly dgnihed state of Masonic and official remon-
STRANGE CLEAN Of passing joy shot over the crowded
corridors and barrOOms OF the hotels about ii O'CLOCK as
break In the clouds brought slight mOdlncatoh III the
fall OF rain and many wagers booked that the sun
would shine in hours time. In is minutes however,
the rain came down as heavily as ever
THE PROCESSION.
At IL, orders were issued from Martin Hail. the head
quarters OF the Mason form the ne and the Masons
and the Knights Tempar quickly took up their position
on South Pearl, Howard, Beaver, and Grandss under
the command OF Grand Master and his deputies ana
under the unpcturesque cover OF forest OF umbrellas
Then the 10th Regiment, headed by their band marched
up Safest and halted in the position assigned them on
the left O. the squadron Of cavalry The 2Sth Regiment
was placed on left Of the 10TH with Battery on the
other side The Jackson Corps which acted as escort 70
tie Governor, the State officials, and the New
Capitol Commissioners, formed on Broad
way near Safest. Soon after IL the
procession started deluge Of rain reaching the en-
trance of the Capitol Grounds at 46, the troops con-
Timing the march down WashngtOn-aye. and the
Grand Lodge of the Masons proceeding through the
evergreen arch the platform erected around the spot
where the cornerstone TO be laid An unfortunate
mistake occurred at this moment, which assisted inc
rain IN marring the military display. As the troops
marched down Washington ave- in review order, imme-
datey in front OF the Governors stand their ranks
were broken ND and in consequence OF the
want OF foresight Of the Captain Of Police, who had
allowed a number of carriages to occupy nearly the
| whole roadway at that important point. crowds OF
peope were nterspersed among the carriages and the
roops for the obstruction by thrust
| oh an m
the diseust OF the owners One Of the regmenta bands
while passing the cornerstone, which hung from the
crane ready be placed, played the wel[known air.
"Put me in my Little Bed" This may either have been
the bad taste of the bandmaster in his selection OF the
music OF q weak attempt at humor.
| THE CRYPT.
The posfton OF the cornerstone at the southeast end
OF the works. so far they have been carried uptha
t. ON the wall OF the basement crypt The basement
which very sody constructed covers just three acres
of ground and from the steep slope on which 1t has
been built It's construction has presented many engineer
the foundations filed throughout the entire three
with feet Of concrete On TINS Is ieet OF ma,
have been built No less than bricks and $4,000
yards OF solid stone masonry have been nseq ana @
though the peculiar turning OF the Arches was so
difficult S ta9t N Was nnage al r to find
| than IS 20 brekayers who were capable OF cut.
the others however and from 200 to 800
| employed on the work. The foundation OF the great
central tower consists Of 60 feet square OF concrete
deep 10 feet OF solid masonry OF the same area, ana IL
feet stone 80 feet square Some OF the dressed
weight and dmensons several single blocks OF granite
having been LAID Which TeS Ss and az
| which a visitor might lose himself
oress Hall and facing washington-ave she stonework
was boarded and converted into PLATFORM with a
small awning at heend where the chairs for the Masonic
officials were placed and umbreAashaped awning in
| the middle for the Governor ana MS stan'
| THE CEREMONIES.
After the Governor and Common Council had taken
their seats the Grand Lodge Masons of York.
preceded by a band, marched upon the platform and
were formally received by the Governor and handed to
their seats by the Grand Marshals. Mrs Hoffman and
party ladies occupied the windows OF the Congress
% tnst of tbe Ste Of the As soon as the
remainder Of the procession had 1ed into ther appointed
places silence secured, the introductory adj
dress was delivered by Chairman of the Board Of the
New Capitol Commissioners the Hon. Hamilton Harris.
MR. HARRIs's SPEECH
| Mr.. Harris said
FELLOW CITIZENS: On the first day OF May, 1885, the
people, through their representatives. decided that
new Capitol Building should be erected adequate to the
necessities and commensurate with the growth and
greatness OF the State. Commissioners were appointed
10 execute the undertaking. Plans were adopted by the
hoard with the approval Of the Land Commissioners and
the Governor corresponding with the taste or the age
and the rank and refinement OF the Commonwealth
This Capitol Hill, in this ancient city, was selected
ness and population OF the State but Also for It's com
maning emnence and its historic traditions the site for
the new edihce Here the 9th day OF December 1857
the work OF excavation commenced, and proceeded
10 the depth Of l6 feet below the surface
On the 7h day OF July 1862 the first stone in the oun
dalton was laid upon solid bed OF concrete masonry,
feet in thickness. To-day the basement story, with
foundation walls OF unsurpassed strength and s0lidy
having hight OF 20 feet above the concrete and cover
in an area OF three is completed And
about consecrate the enterprise by laying
stone with soemnes betting so august an OCCASION
One fifth OF the work has been accomplished and If the
people shall coincide in opinion with the Board OF Com
mssiOners that true economy consists In prosecuting
on the largest and most energetic SCALE the years Will
not be many before yonder old Capitol which wassrected
at the beginning of the century O4suppy the wants or