The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-26
CONWCTS TO GET WORK,
Two Forces will Build Walls at
Billings and at Deer
Lodge.
Commissioner Bickford Speaks of
the Montana Exhibit at
the White City.
The Boxemanitcs We're Astonishcd At the
Bicvcie Trip Made by Two
Helena Riders.

By appointment Frank Conley. penitsn-
tiary cont actor. met Attorney General
Haskell at Billings Wednesday and accom-
panied by Judge Goss. Senator Goddard.
Col. Babcoek and L. II. Gaenon they pro-
oeeded to the selected site for tho eastern
state prison, says the Gazette. The
plans for the Temporary build
ines were handed to Contractor GaRnon
TO figure ON and the estimated cost for such
temporary 81 uctures ~ the state dsmands
is S2,b 800. Suggestions were Offered by Mr..
Conley as to the general plan OF The struo-
tures and Gen. Haskell made some altera.
tions, but as the matter now stands the
temporary work is ready to be begun. IL Is
believed that on or before August I the
quarters for the conviots will be In teadi-
ness for their reception and about sixty
trusty and short-term convicts Will be
brought here by the state and put to work
uuarrying tho rock. digging trenches and
building a railway on the exterior Of the
PROPOSED wall line. The wall will
be from three to six feet under ground.
according to the formation, and
three feet wide in the ground, tapering to
ah~tteen-foot wall thirty inches wide on top
and a coping stone TO finish of with three
feet wide and iron railing along the side.
The titls to the selected land is all rendy.
the arrangements are perfected for raising
the needed sum of money to complete the
Temporary quarters and within six weeks
the convicts will be at work getting ont
stone for building tho great wall of the
eastern Montana state prison. M. Haskell
thinks that stone from this prison quarry
may be taken out for use in the Miles City
reform school; that being the case the
profit will be paid into q prison fund for
care of sick or something of that nature.
Billings people are filled with satisfaction
shat the prison work 10 about to be begun
and the helping hand will not be hard to
open. Frank Conley will be in charge OF
the working gang of convicts that are COM
ing to Billings and he will bring his pack
of bloodhounds along to better protect
against escape.
II is now understood that the stone wall
around the penitentiasy at this place will
be constructed this summer. and that work
will be commenced on the same In about
two weeks, says the New Northwest. A
large number Of convicts will be employed
in the building of the wall, ald it is the in
tention TO have the werk completed before
cold weather sets in. John Matheson, who
has the contract for getting out the rock
for the wall. loaded up supplies and started
TO- his field of operation Wednesday. 1t is
estimated that 5000 perch Of stone will be
used in the construction of the wall. A
spur is now being constructed from the
Montana Union to the stone quar- y of Davi'
& Williams. about eight miles north Of Dec
Lodge. and the stone will be loaded on fla
oars and brought to the pen. Durina th'
building Of the wall the immediate vicinit!
Of the pen will present . scene of activity
only equalled BY . Missouri river lsvee dur
ing the unloading of = steamers cargo.