Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-29
THE STATE CAPITOL.
How, When and by Whom Constructed
Interesting "reminiscences.


Interesting "reminiscences.
/ Yesterday at the Capital Hotel number
of gentlemen were discussing the question:
who was the architect of the State Capitol,
and as there was wide diversity of opin-
| ion the matter was referred to a represent
alive of the RECORD UNION. In looking up
the matter we find the following facts,
which will no doubt prove interesting to
many:
On the 18th of April, 1856 law was
passed by the Legislature which provided
that the State should issue its bonds for
J 100000 to build a State Capitol on the
block bounded by | and ], Ninth and
! Tenth streets, the city of Sacramento hay
! 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 4,
/ 1856. The Act was afterwards declared IN
constitutional, the project abandoned, the
| lot redeeded to the city, and to-day is the
I 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 IA, 1860, the plans of NJ. F. Butler
were adopted, which entitled him TO 81 500
the building The State Capitol Commits
sioners 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 rapidity. 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 Tor the
Senators and Assemblymen. Reuben Clark,
I the supervising architect, was adjudged 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
grand ball, which took place on the evening
of December 10, 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.