Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-01-05
Bickford Explains.

Worlds Fair Commissioner Bick-
ford was interviewed by an Independ-
ent reporter recently and was found
quite indignant over the newspaper
reports concerning the Montana build
ing, the silver statue and other mat
tiers. Mr.. Bickiord said:
''Let me briefly give the history of
the silver statue. The idea was first
conceived in Colorado, but owing to
the failure of the legislature of that
state to make a sufficient provision
the plan could not be carried into ex-
ecution. The subject was first sug-
gested to me at Chicago by f. ID.
Highly, the general manager OF A. III.
Andrews & Co., and very well known
IN Chicago as thoroughly responsible
DIR. j. .. Harvey, who is likewise
known, and the eminent sculptor, Mr..
Park, became INF rasted, and as the
subject was DEVELOPED 1t seemed to me
to suggest a great scheme for adver-
tising the resources OF Montana. /
brought the subject up before the
Montana board of commissioners and
it was received by them with enthusi-
astic approval. The plans were
formed by our own board and by them
carried into effect. 1t is a Montana
statue in every respect except that the
model is not Montana woman. The
charges that 1T is private business
enterprise are wholly false. We real
lied that it was necessary to have
someone carry the plans into execu-
ton, and for this purpose We chose the
men whose names are connected with
the plans as above mentioned. There
was but one proper person to choose
the model, and that was the sculptor,
Mr.. Park. He chose Miss Rehan, and
We have entire confidence that his
judgment was right. Any criticism
on this feature OF the statue. from
Montana is quite out of place, because
no Montana women made applica-
tions to pose within the time set. Mr..
Parks object was to make the statue
as perfect from a asculptor's view as he
was able. and | have no doubt that
his brother artists will agree that he
was successful when the result of his
work is seen."
sit seems to me that all intelligent
Montanians must appreciate the value
OF this statue as an advertisement oi
the states mining resources. Ger
tainly it has already had sufficient
advertisement to attract the atten-
ton of all visitors at the fair. 1t is
now the best known feature of all ex-
hibits to be made at Chicago. The
novelty of a large sized statue of solid
silver on a gold base and superb in its
artistic merit ought to cause a good
many inquiries about the mining in.
terests OF Montana, which in turn will
into the resources of the state. The
insinuations that it will be in any way
cheap, or that it will not be well pro
tected, are preposterous. Messrs
Harvey and Highly have given a very
large bond for the care OF the statue
and its return, and this is approved
by the well-known millionaire, Lyman
j. Gage, OF Chicago"
Concerning the Montana buildin.
Mr.. Bickford said: "The contracts fol-
the building were let after advertise
ments in the newspapers OF Montans
and Chicago for five weeks. The bes
bid, in the judgment of the board, wal
accepted and have the opinion OF tn,
contractor who built the administra
tion and mining buildings at Chicago
that the Montana building was no
only built with proper regard 70
economy, but that it is one of tn
. prettiest state buildings on tn
grounds, considering the.cost. Beside
this man no other builder or architec
or Mayor Higgins, OF Missoula, ha
looked it over tor any purpose, as
am informed by P. f. Minckler, VIII,
is and has been for some time in charg
of the building. | wish to say, finally
that the Montana board courts tn
fullest investigation of all expenditure
made up to date, and will pledge m
= word to Individually return ever
dollar that in the judgment of righ
, men has been wrongfully expended"