Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-08-21

Buiidtng to cost $25O.OOO when Conn
pleted-Award of the Contract
Fargo Argus. 18th.
Bismarck, the capital of Dakota, Is SO
far from the centers of civilization, and
the machinery of the associated press
beng so weak that it can only gather
news as the stone collects moss, the
world has been compelled to wait three
days in order to ascertain the proceed.
ings of the capital commission at Bis.
marck last Tuesday. Even specials
failed to get through and messages of IN.
struction were "mislaid" somewhere.
An Argus scribe yesterday sought Cap.
tain Spaulding, one of the commission.
ere, and after considerable pumping as.
certained the following.
Our meeting did not amount to much;
in fact no entries were made except the
fact that the board met and adjourned
until ten o'clock on Thursday of this
week. A good many things were talked
over, but the bids for construction were
not opened. You ask the cause of this
delay. l don't care to say specially, ex.
cept that the plans adopted for Dakota's Il
capital were the same as those of the
present Minnesota structure, except that
the scale was to be made smaller, the
outside more imposing and the inside
less gaudy; the completed structure not
to exceed S250,000. The object of these
changes was to make better looking
building and one suited to the needs Of
the territory and future state. Mime.
sofas structure was commenced on the
cheap plan, as $4,000 building, the
outside beng very plain, and afterwards
more money secured, and the interior ex.
travagantly furnished. Thus the exter.
ior and interior do not harmohize. We
wished to avoid this discord, and Presi
dent Hughes and Architect Buffingto
were appointed to make the changes.
About the time of the adjournment
Captain Hughes had to go to Yanktor
to attend the argument in the quo war
ranto proceedings, and on his way dowr
neglected to stop and see Mr.. Burlington
He was absent some two weeks and then
called on the architect, who had been
waiting for him meanwhile to suggest
the change desired. These were then
made and the plans and specifications
prepared, but in consequence of the de-
lay they failed to reach Bismarck until
Saturday and the meeting was held or
Tuesday. The commission adjourned
until tomorrow SO that the remainder o.
the bids could be completed. The chair
man was authorized to telegraph al
papers advertising for bids and reques,
continuation Of the notice and also s
mention of the postponement, but al
yet have seen no notice of the post
ponement. 60 out tonight to Bis
marck to attend the meeting.
| The reporter asked if the extra land
had yet been plated and if any had beer
sold.
Mr.. Spalding replied that diagram
had been drawn off, but a few altera
tions would probably have to be made
and then the stakes would be driven
But it must be advertised at least thirt,
days before they could be sold. It vii
be some little time before it could b.
placed on the market.
THE CONTRACT LET.
st. Paul Pioneer Press, 18th: Th
capital commissioners met to-day an,
opened the bids for the construction O
the territorial capital. The following
bids were received:
Charles w. Thompson of Bismarck, O,
main building, $4,000; e. S. Logan
Chicago, $4,000; G. S. Weaver. Bis
marck. Sl07, 400; Agnew & Cox. Chicago
building, with wings, S227,20O mali
building Sl02,2l0; Thomas johnson
whole building, S246.246: main building
Sl25.494. Hennessey Bros, Chicago
whole building. s2Sl, ,l95; main building
Sl2S.25O.
Mr.. Thompson's bid for the construc
tion of the main building was accepte,
and work will be begun at once, SO th
building eau be ready tor use the pre-
sent winter. The electric light will b.
used during the construction aud so
men will be employed night and day.