Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-12
THE STATE CAPITOL.
How, When and by Whom Constructed
Interesting "Reminiscences.

now hneD anu ny hn0m constructed
Interesting "Reminiscences.
California boasts to-day of having one of
the finest Capitol buildings in the Union.
1t has solidity,- beauty and architectural
strength.
On the 18th of April, 1856, law was
passed by the Legislature which provided
that the State should issue its bonds for
100000 to build State Capitol or the
block bounded by I and J, Ninth and
Tenth streets, the city of Sacramento hav-
ing decided it for that purpose. The build
ing was to be completed on or before
January l, 1858. a contract was let to
Joseph Nougues for 100000. and ground
for the new building broken December /,
1856. The Act was afterwards declared I'M
constitutional, the project abandoned, the
lot redeeded 10 the city, and to-day is the
splendidly improved plaza of our capital
city.
On the 4th of April 1860, the Supervisors
decided TO the State the tract of land bound
ed by L and n, Tenth and Twelfth streets
On July II, 1860, the plans of NJ. F. Butler
were adopted, which entitled him TO 81 500
and the uperintendency of construction of
the building The State Capitol Commits
sioneIs were B. B. Redding a. Redington
and Edgar Mills. September 10, 1860, the
contract was signed by the Commissioners
and Michael Fennewell, of San Francisco,
by which the latter agreed to furnish ma
terials for and completely make and finish
necessary excavations, and the foundation
and basement walls of the building, to
nights specified in the plans, to commence
work on October l. 1860, and to finish the
same within ten months thereafter.
The work was commenced and pushed
with rapidity, and on the 18th of May,
1861, the corner stone was laid with impos-
ing Masonic ceremonies. The building
was pushed with all possible rapidly. The
biennial report of the Commissioners,
published in December, 1865, showed that
they had expended the sum of $191 ,951 10.
In February, 1865, the first carload of
granite for its construction arrived and
the experimenting architect, Mr.. Clark,
assured the Commissioners that he would
have the first story Of the building COM
pleted by the time the Legislature met.
On November 80, 1865, the painting
and decorating of the interior of the
Capitol was completed, and the legislative
chambers were announced ready for the
Senators and Assemblymen. Reuben Clark,
the supervising architect, was adiudged in
sane aud sent to the asylum at Stockton,
February 4, 1866. He had shown signs of
insanity for several months. A. A. Bennett
succeeded to the position of Superintend-
ent. The Supreme Courtroom was first &C.
cupied by the Court on the Sd of Deem
Der, 1869. The first case heard was the
habeas corpus case of Nellie Smith and
Anna Heating, concert saloon girls, before
Judge Sanderson. Upon the final compile
ton of the capitol the citizens of this city
concluded to celebrate the event with a
grand ball, which took place on the evening
of December 49, 1869 Dancing was in
dulged in, in both the Senate and Assem-
bly, chambers, and supper was served in
the halls. The groups of figures which
adorn the building were designed by P.
Mezzara. a sculptor in San Francisco They
are made of artificial stone.
The first Legislature convened in its halls
in December, 1869, but the building itself
was not completed until 1874. Hight, 240
feet length, 2S2 feet width, 1913 feet. SEN
ate chamber, 56x69 feet, As feet high. As
sembly chamber, 76x69 feet, As feet high.
There are sixty rooms in the building, and
the cost of the structure was 81, 10000