Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-02-22
THE UNITED STATES ASSAY
OFFICE.
Cost of Observation-Disclosures of the
Various Contracts--Its Opera
tion and Management.

This building, on the corner of Broadway
and Warren street, SO ornamental to the Gen.
trail portion of town in which it is located,
and SO useful to the miners and mill men all
over the Territory, was commenced about
June 1st, 1875, under Mr. NJ. A. Meyendortf,
as superintendent of construction. The first
contract awarded was to Hugh Kirkendal]
for excavation, which, together with other
work of grading to different parties, amount
ed to about $500.
Tasker for stone and brick masonry, at $12,-
$50.
About the same time the contract for cut
stone was awarded to George McBurney at
$11,85O.
The carpenter and joiner work went to
Shaffer & Yergy at $4,000.
Plastering and plaster paris finish to James
Mason at $1,O25.
Brick paving Of basement to James Mason
at 1915.
Cut stone hearths and setting and tagging
for melting room to George McBurney at
$1,000
Roofing and iron work to Kinna & Jack
at $1,000.
Painting to Frederick Lawrence King at
44c. per yard, which, together with glazing,
etc., about $500.
Nantes, sidewalks and other extras, TO
Shaffer & Yergy, about $4O0.
The iron rods, beams, ETC., were shipped
from the East, and cost about $500.
The window glass, double thick American,
was shipped from New Albany, Indiana, and
cost about $500.
The hardware from Newman s. Capron,
New York city, with freight, about $3.50.
The machinery, including crucibles, fur
naces, scales, ETC., $1,000.
The lot of ground, $50 by 100 feet, was
purchased by the United States of G. L.
Vawter at $1,000.
The cost of photograph perspectives, draft
ing, plans, etc., at Washington in the Office
OF the Supervising Architect, about $4,000.
Plumbing, water pipes, etc., to Helena
Water Company, about $10O.
Here is building that is both creditable to
the Government and to the several contrac-
tors and citizens who have worked upon it's
construction. And in addition to the first
class character of the work done and mater
ials furnished, it is also worthy of note that
the contractors and workmen were all Mon
tanians, who have earned high regulations in
in their respective branches. The materials,
all except the few mentioned as coming from
the East, are all of Montana production.
otandlng upon solid rock and constructed ac-
cording to the most approved style of archi-
lecture adopted by the Treasury Department,
the United States Assay Office at Helena may
oe'y Tue mutations Of thousand years, and
IN after times, as if in mockery of the perish
able hands that fashioned it, may then be
found as an adjunct to the colossal structure
which will be added to it anu found necessary
to melt and coin the products of Montana's
mines in their distant future
The rubble stone were princinallv from tho
quarry on Clore street, Helena. The cut
stone work is of grey granite, and was |
brought in the rough from the McBurnev
quarrles on Ten Mile, and cut on the ground |
near the building, in Helena, by George Nc
Durney' Joseph A. Deaner, and others. The
I, s'an''e is durable and of consistency harder
h'n, au 'ne Quincy granite used in the public
~ eunolngs at Washington, and forms the USE
g.. aS well as the ornamental material of the
A''-0e' corners around the building and the