The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-19
THE MONTANA BUILDING.
An Interesting Letter Regarding the Mon
tana Building.

An Interesting Letter Regarding h Mon.
tan Building.
A few days since ] had occasion TO call At
the woman's department. Of the Worlds
fAtf aRd thsss learned thnt work hAd bssn
begun on the Montana state building, writes
7. \. Bagshaws TO. the Bossman Chronicle.
Feeling . strong desire to know II the stato
for which ! have 10 warm an affection va
to have : building worthy Of II, ! immedi.
assly stated on 4 tour Of investigation. I
Ind no troubls finding the building % the
ate asleoted IL a most favorable one. II u
at the extreme north end OF tina ground re-
served IN Jackson park for state uildtn9s.
not Tar from = main entrAncs. and abont
its e~vcr.varying surface will prove q
nevsr-fAiling souros Of enjoyment TO the
visitor. On the west 10 the Utah building.
and on the sast 10 the site reserved TOT
Idaho; however, there 10 a. Jet no sign OF
building. Very near and = little TO tho
;Ssss =: y sns /, nu'!a ! E. aa sss s0 x:h o.:
distance directly south ID the grand \
trancs of the Gallery Of Fine Arts" not
far away il . charming little lake, where
during the fair will DO seen every concelv.
abls kind Of pleasure craft, = al things
considered the Montana building 10 most
advantageousiy located.
My first feeling on seeing the building
was that of disappointment and disnp.
proyaI, II seemed so small. Well, 1t isn't
large when compared to the Illinois build
ing. II covers an area of only 64x144 feet.
but what IL lacks IN size u amply atoned
TOR in artistic arrangement. and before !
had flushed looking through, d~isappoint-
ment yielded to pleasure . disapproval 10
perfect satisfaction. This building has
been pronounced BY architects ono Of the
most beautiful and the OF truest to tue
style of architecture IN ths grounds. The
s ss.t;ou, !. k' ass'sss9s:. q 6vs ss's IL p Is'es
arched entrance and just In front OF the
dome ID a magnificent stag over ten feet IN
height, and measuring ten feet from
tip to tip Of the horns. Un either side
ID a pediment 14x3 feet. the design OF which
IL composed Of fruit, flowers and ornamen-
tai scroll nix inches in relief. Ihe panel
PLAQUES on either side Of the main entrance
vestibule are to be in gold. On one will be
the motto, ''Oro J plata" on the other tha
state coat of arms. The main vestlbule -
paneled in staff, finished in hard wood,
with marble floors and wainscotinR. From
this vsstibuls are entrances: INTO the par
lors. reception rooms. and into q rotunda
which 10 qnite unique in finish, and will be
very interesting to Montanians; the sixteen
hard wood panels represent the sixteen
counties in the state. On each panel vii!
be a design in relief Of some historical
event OF particular interest to the county
represented. From the rotunda are en-
frances into parlots and reception rooms,
also an entrance into the rear part OF
the building. On the first floor
in the rear arc I've offices, exhibit and ban.
quoting hall. baggage rooms, kitchen, pan
try and two lnvatories, while the second
story contains the gallery. surmounted by a
dome of glass and iron. Nothing that can
add to comfort has been forgotten md
every Nontanian will feel a jest pride in
the states headquarters. The chief mater
ial used in the construction is staff; it ia
composed chiefly of Rygsum, alumnis, ely
oerlne and dextrine. It has the appearance
Of marble. 10 impervions to water and
whitens with age. Although invented but a
few years ago, being first used In the con-
struction Of the Paris exposition building
of 1873, ii has taken a permanent place
AMONG building materials. Eight weeks ago
work was begun. and the building will be
finished by the first Of September. Fol
data l am indebted to MI. Galbraith. who,
l regret to say, 10 longing TO return to hil
western home. I thought Chicago SUI
tioisntly windy to satisfy even q Livings,
tonian.
Woman is taking . most active part in
the fair work. The Arkansas building wa
not only designed by = woman but the con.
struction will be superintended by her. ]
advise all young men and women who
contemplate visiting the fair to spend
az much time a. possible in the study OF
architecture and sculpture that they may
be able to thoroughly enjoy and fully ap-
probate the beauty and grandeur of the
buildings.