The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-02-04
THE BUILDING OF THE STATE HOUSE.
What Augusta Did to Help the Cause
Along.
a Peverse Town Meeting and n
Bond that was Forgiven.
Every Stone and Nail Paid for by the
State Of Maine.

7ANAt wv Altef tne state had de-
elded to make Augusta the permanent seat
OF government, the selection Of the site and
the erection OF the State House were the
next questions to be settled. OF the steps In
the settlement Of these questions the old
journals and other State records give their
brief accounts. North's History Of Augusta
gives incidentally In connection with the
annals Of the city. some OF the most inter-
esting features OF the proceedings. From
the various sources the interesting story NAV
be cleaned
On the fifth Of July, 1927, Governor Lin
coin and his Council met at Augusta. and.
accompanied by committee OF Augusta
citizens-Daniel Cony, Joshua Gage and
james Bridge-and the selectmen OF Augusta
and several gentlemen from various parts Of
the State, proceeded to select the site for the
Capitol The selection was made that day.
and ON the next day the deed, which has al
ready been printed. was drawn up and sign
ed. In the Autumn. Colonel Edward VIII
liams was appointed to superlntend the ex-
penditure Of small appropriation made for
setting out trees on the lot and for prepar-
ing for the foundations Of the building.
On the assembling OF the legislature In
tion to the necessity for providing for public
buildings. The Legislature, acting on the
suggestion, passed resolves providing for
the appointment Of Commissioner OF Public
Buildings and appropriating certain town.
ships Of land for the Capitol. The Com
missioner thus provided for was to obtain
plans and estimates Of the proposed building.
and go on and complete the work Of building
1t, subject TO the oversight of the Cover
nor and Council.
For this important duty Governor Lincoln
appointed Ex-Governor William King OF
Bath, and the latter made immediate prepa
rations to complete the buildings In time for
the assembling Of the Legislature In 1882.
He prepared the site In the Autumn OF 1923,
and on the January following submitted 20
the Governor and Council plan for the State
House. The plan had been prepared by NJ.
Bulhnch, OF Boston, and was In Its chief fea-
lures similar to the Boston State House IL
pro rCposed building OF hammered granite, Of
which the estimate cost was $4,000. The
plan was approved and General King prose
euted the work during the following season.
The townships OF land had been appropriated
by the Legislature and the sale Of them
1
basement of the building had been laid and
the first story Of the outer walls OF the wings
erected.
In the spring Of 1890 there was a political
oyer-turn IN Maine and new State admins
tration came In. This brought with It new
Commissioner of Public Buildings. William
Clark. of Hallowell. He carried on the
work during the following season. finishing
the exterior walls, the arcade, the colonnade,
the pediment and base Of the dome and slat-
| ed the roof and raised and covered tempora-
| rily the dome. But in doing this the Com
| missioner ran the expense OF the work so
far done up to $50, ,9O956. He also estimated
that further sum Of s4i.OO0 would be re-
qulred to finish the building and prepare and
fence the grounds.
| These expenditures were 10 excess Of the
estimate and General King.as might be ex-
pected. was not slow TO point 1t out, and a
Commissioner Clark. In the winter OF 1881
| there was a call upon the Legislature for an
additional appropriation, and the Committee
on Public Buildings reported resolve ap-
| prODrlating $50, ,43429. After long discus
sion this passed the Senate, but In the House
| 1t was put upon the table, and then Mr.. De-
| lesdernier, Of Calais, introduced an order
which was probably the first step towards
4
der called for a committee to examine into the
| expediency of repeating the 'act fixing the
/ place Of the permanent seat 0fG0yernment,"
| and TO receive such information as may be
| communicated TO them In relation to the ex-
| pediency OF erecting suitable buildings for
| the State In Portland. Even al that date the
| dissatisfaction with Augusta as a seat OF
government seems to have been very great,
| for after "a sharp debate" the House refused
| to indefinitely postpone the oIdsr by vote
| OF 20 TO g.. The order then passed.
| This seems TO have thrown open the whOle
| question OF the location OF tho scat OF govern
i ment anew and when the committee again
| reported they had several propositions be-
/ fore them: First, one from Luther Jewett
/ who proposed to retain the Legislature In
Portland for twelve years by enlarging and
altering the buildings then occupied; second,
/ from Daniel Williams. who proposed that
/ Augusta should furnish convenient buildings
free Of expense TO the State and have them
| In readiness for the next session OF the Leg
| islature; third. another from Mr.. Williams
| TO prepare and fence the grounds about the
| public buildings on condition that the Legls-
lature should appropriate $4,000 TO finish
them; fourth, a third proposition from Mr..
| Williams to complete the public buildings
for $4,000; NTH, proposition by Nathan
How and Henry Dyer, Of Portland, 10 build
public buildings In Portland for the building
aud material at Augusta and $4,000. The
committee were Of the 0plnion that each
gentleman would give undOubted security
for the performance OF the contract.
On March II, 1881 the Senate resolution
making the appropriation was called up
from the table. Mr.. Smith, Of Portland,
urged postponement on the ground that
Portland might make more favorable offer
which he declared Portland would do by the
sum Of $4,000 But Mr.: Smiths proposition
was not acceded TO. The majority OF the
Legislature evidently thought that too much
work had been done at Augusta 10 retrace
any steps. But they showed by the resolve
which they did finally pass on March, 18th,
| their disapproval Of the way the work had
been carried on. That resolve so far as 1t re-
lates to this subject was as follows:
Resolved, That there be, and hereby Is appro-
priated the sum Of $4,000 for the purpose Of
completing the Public Buildings, at Augusta. and
levslling and preparing me ground, and fencing
Provided. That sunielent bond in the penal
sum OF $4,000, shal be given TO the State Treas
urer by inhabitants Of the town Of Augusta, TO the
acceptance OF the Governor and Council, con-
ditiUned that the ObhgOrS In said bond shall pay
| any and all sum or sums OF money. which shall be
| necessary, beyond said sum OF $50 600, perfectly
and entirely 10 complete and ish said bui dings,
outside and inside In season for tie next Legiss.
ture To meet therein, and IN style and manner 10
be approved by the Governor and Councili Vhe
hand) and that said oblig0rs shall, within such
time as the Governor and Council shall specify,
cause the grounds connected with said public
| buildings 10 be levelled and prepared; cause sueh
stone steps 10 be made and cause such grounds TO
he inrlosed with such iron fences as the Governor
and Council may direct, free OF all expense 70 the
state and that said grounds shall be leyeled, pre-
/
hnished, and the stone steps aud fences made,
| placed and finished, In the manner contemplated
In the estimate for pregarlng said grounds, re-
| ported on the hfth day OF February last, by the
Joint select committee on public buildings, and TO
| the acceptance Of the Governor and Council; and
| conditioned also that said ObligOrs shall not ask
| for, or receive any remuneration or compensation
| from the State, for any sum sums Oh money
which may be paid by them. or for any materials
| or labor which may be required and furnished by
them to fulfil and perform the conditions aforesaid;
and that any application by said Obligors for any
such remuneration or compensation. or the receipt
thereof by them, shall be taken and deemed a
breach Of the condition OF said bond, and that, in
a suit of said bond for breach OF the condition
thereof, said ObligOrs shall pay the whole penal
sum Of said bond, deducting therefrom ory the
amount, which they shall prove 20 have been
expended, Ia the performance OF said conditions,
, beyond said sum Of S25,uOO
The citizens of Augusta thought these con-
ditiOns were very hard. and In their town
meeting held Immediately, they grumbled
considerably. But the prospect OF losing the
Capitol was too imminent 10 admit OF serious
protest; and they agreed TO the conditions,
Daniel COny and upwards OF sixty OF the
wealthiest citizens furnishing the bond
Reuel Williams was now appointed Com
missioner Of Public Buildings and by him
the State House was completed When all
completed the total cost Of the building in
cluding furniture and grading Of the grounds