The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-20
BELL AND kent WIN IT
THE BUSINESS MEN VOTE
Unanimously. the Board Accepts the
Plans for III New Court HOUSE
Submitted by the Helena Men.
Opinion Of Citizens.

At about Z o'clock yesterday after
noon h board Of county commission
ers accepted q design for the new coun-
ty court house. The plans selected are
those OF Bell & Kent Of Helena. A
decisive expression Of the opinion of
representative citizens and business
men with regard to the plans was given
by means of q vote taken among nine
OF ten prominent citixens who have
been invited to confer with the COM
missioners.
Last Friday the commissioner in
structed the clerk to issue invitations
to a dosen or q Of the city's most
prominent men to be present at yes
board. The greatest secresy was OBJ
served In issuing these invitations,
and 1t was not until Monday afternoon
that Clerk Martin dropped them into
the postoffice. None of the architects
or other interested parties were aware
OF the plan Of the commissioners to Sc
cure an expression Of the views Of the
business men in regard to the plans.
The matter was kept secret for the
reason that the commissioners desired
that the invited persons be not both
cred to death by the architects in ex-
planning the many advantages of their
own plans.
The commissioners went into session
at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. The
business OF the morning session was
limited to the examination of plans by
h board, n a further consideration
of the specifications. In the afternoon
the citizens who had been invited to
meet and consult with the board began
to drop in. Each Of the five architects
whose plans were still under considera-
ton was called in and explained at
length the features of the designs
When all had had their say II was sug-
gested that the citizens present ake a
straw vote, which was lone. The fol-
lowing Is the resul of the balloting:
F. S. Van Trees. San Francisco. 1
vote.
Bell & Kent, Helena. Z.
Smith & Black, Anaconda, 1.
H. M. Patterson, Butte, O..
The commissioners themselves did
not take any part in the voting.
After the citizens had withdrawn the
commissioners took their vote for the
adoption of the plans. Bell & Kent's
designs were unanimously chosen.
Among the prominent persons present
were Colonel T. O'Leary, M. j. Fitz-
Patrick, John v. Petritz, d. F. Halla-
han. John s.. McGroarty. Mayor Lesser.
II. y. DdNIuSOHs JuuSe bTdntiy anu
John McMurray. Several others were
also in attendance, but did not cast any
vote.
The plans of Bell & Kent call for a
handsome and imposing building, and
are now on exhibition in one of the
show windows of the city. The build
ing is to cost $97, 900. The plans also
show the Jail building to the left of the
court house.. 1t Is understood that one
of the things that induced the commits
sioners to decide on the Helena mems
plans was the fact that the firm has
already built three court houses in
Eastern states that are identical with
the one about to be erected in this city.
In each instance he cpu houses
have given the greatest satisfaction.
The board therefore considered that it
would be safer to accept the plans that
had been tried and found satisfactory
than to take chances on the plans of
other architects. whose designs had
never been tried. Bell & Kent have
built the court house at St. Joseph,
Berrien county, Michigan; at Eureka,
ILL.,. Inc at M other point in the East.
To-day the commissioners will take
up the matter Of the bonds. Already
several bids fer the purchase of the
bonds I'VE been received. and 1t is
probable the board will put in the en-
tire day to-day in considering the vari-
GUS offers. Deitz, Denniso & Prior.
of Cleveland, have sent a rep
resentative in the person OF Mr.. Rus
sell to the city to negotiate tee pur-
chase of the bonds IL possible. 1t is
not thought that the board will COM
plete its business to-day. and 1t is prob
able that another session will be held
to-mOrrow.