Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-17

tory OF Minnesota. in laying the top stone
of the new capitol bailding. Goverlof
Hubbard did not fe e! like letting an event
OF this cbaracter pass without some deT
onstration, I'D to that end he invited a
number OF the leading citizens CT the state.
together with the state and city Officers, to
be present The Emmett Light artille.J
was also ordered to be present to fire sa
lutte OF twenty one guns in honor Of the
national colors, which were to be raised
over the top OF the building Immediately
efter the top stone of the edi6ce was I'4u.
The hour fixed for the ceremony ives
p. IT,, and at that hour large concou;se
of citizens had gathered on the sidewa.k
surrounding Capitol square. The Em,net
Light artillery, under command Of Csp:.
MacCarthy, took potion on the Wabe-
shaw street side CT the building.
As the ceremony was to take place abr 70
the clouds. so to speas, and the space w.s
somewhat c.rcu1r SC cibe5, none but II ose
who had been specially invited were a.
lowed to climb tle golden stsirs" over
135 feet up in the ar. The means of
reaching the dizzy height were of a 1e-y
temporary character, consisting OF ladders.
and stairs hastily constructed. 1t YVES
long, tedious, an toilsome journey, and
many of the invited guests stopped at the
foot Of the first ladder, among whom was
Mayor Rice, whose avoirdupois was too
much for the frail ladder. Ex-Governor
Piilsbury weakened when he reached the
top of the main building. Ex-Governor
Sibley, however, was not dismayed, but
valiently followed in the footsteps of his
young successor and was among the first
to reach the top. Nearly all the state Off
Gals as we'll as those OF the city were on
hand.
Shortly after p. m. Governor Hub
bard called the assemblage to order and
spoke as follows:
GOV. HUBsARD's ADDRESS.
GENVLEMEN:-The erection of its CAPT.
toll building is an event of much interest in
the history of the state. 1t is one that
concerns in some degree every citizen of
the commonwealth hence I have deemed
it appropriate that at this stage in the
erection of this structure, modest cere-
mony of this character should take place.
You are invited here to-day to witness the
laying of the last stone upon this tower,
which substantially completes the masonry
of the building. This is not so pretentious
an ediice as most states Of TIE population,
wealth and resources of ours have provided
for, but considering the exigencies of the
situation, and the imperative necessity of
making some speedy provision for the &C
commodation of our state departments, l
think we will have structure of which we
need not be ashamed. The old territorial
capitol completed in 1853, and standing
upon the site of this structure, was
destroyed by fire on the night
of March 1, 1881, while
the legislature was in session. 1t was be-
lieved Immediately after the fire, that tbs
foundation and a portion of the walls of
the old building could be utilized, and a
moderate appropriation was at once made
with view of restoring the building some
what after the original plan. 1t was found
upon more thorough examination that
this could not be safely done. An entirely
new structure was therefore determined on
by my predecessor, Gov. Pillsbury, and the
plans of this building adopted by him,
the artistic beauties and harmonious pro-
portions of which are the creation of tie
fertile genius of Architect L. S. Burlington.
The foundation was laid in the spring and
summer of 1881. The later months of that
year were so unfavorable for the prosecu-
ton of building operations, that the rails
ing of the superstructure was deferred
until this year. the first brick was laid
on the 4th of last April, hence the work
from the first brick lain on the foundation
to this browning stone that we lay to-day,
has been done in little more
than six months time. When you are in
formed that this structure contains
100000 brick and 10000 square feet of
cut stone, you can realize what has been
accomplished within that time. Much
credit is due the contractor j. S. Burris and
his energetic foreman in charge, VIM. Stiles,
for the vigor with which the work has been
pushed. When completed according to the
plans this tower will be surmounted by a
dome of beautiful design, but for the pres
ent it will be covered bya temporary roof.
The ground plan of the building meas
ures 154 by 1872 feet. The main walls are
sixty feet from the foundation, and the
tower is sixty-five feet above the roof.
From the foundation stone of the tower to
the top Of the dome when completed, will
be about 200 feet. The structure will cost
when completed in all respects, not far
AAoAA pS'c,OoO' ~ 10 A1y PIOoOuU CAtoC1d-
ton that ssch portion of the building as
may be required for the accommodation of
the legisla ure, will be ready for their use at
the time appoin ed for their meeting next
January. Unless the work is delayed or in
terrupted by something not now anticipa-
ted, 1 feel confident this will be accom-
plished. Other portions of the building
may not be ready for occupation until a
later date. I will now proceed to lay the
last stone upon this tower.
The CAPsTONE LAID.
At the conclusion of his remarks the
governor stepped to the south west corner
of the tower and proceeded with trowel
and mortar to place the stone in place,
being the last stone or brick to be used in
the new edifce. The proceeding which
occupied only few moments was watched
with interest by the sixty or seventy
persons on the elevated platform, and the
ceremony could be plainly seen by the
hundreds that lined the sidewalks nearly
one hundred and fifty feet below.
When everything was in place
even to scraping off the