The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-20
CONTRACT is AWARDED
Bell and Kent of Iowa the New
Capitol Architects.
THEIR PLANS ADOPTED
All Is Ready Now for Another Whirl
a t Capitol Construction-The Com
missioners Are Now Making a
Dicker With Contractors.

Special Dispatch 10 the standard.
Helena. March &c. z. Bell and J. VI.
Kent. comprising the firm of Bell *
Kent OF Council. Bluffs. Ia. are the ar
chitects who have been selected by the
state capitol building commission to draft
the plans and supervise the construction
of the building of the proposed capitol.
The commission made this announcement
this afternoon. after n ~wo-hour ses-
sion. This II the firm that the commits
sion had practically agreed upon at the
last meeting in January. Before making
public announcement of the chosen ar
chitects. the commission desired some
time to look into their standing and to
afford them an opportunity to procure a
bond for the faithful performance Of the
work. Investigation has satisfied the board
as to the credentials of the architects.
and the bond which they furnished in the
sum of s20.0c0 proved equally satisfactory.
The contract has practically been signed.
and the state can be said to be ready for
another whirl at capitol construction. The
| architects are To receive the sum of $500
for their plans. and an additional fee of
81. $50 for the supervision of the construc-
ton of the building.
The latter is contingent upon the sue
cess of the commission i'm mating a dick
err with contractors who are ready to put
UP " ~ at's 'h' ~, 1879 ~
payment. Whether the building is built
or not. the architects will receive the ST.
800 to be paid for the plans In cash. money
having been subscribed by the citizens of
Helena. who Will take capitol bonds in
payment. The architects estimate that
IL will require about four months In which
to complete the plans. Within six weeks
they expect to have the preliminary plans
prepared. If these meet with the approx
al of the commission, then the architects
will go ahead and work the plans out
In detail, so that contractors can bid on
them.
So far as known. no general design for
the proposed building has been agreed up
on. The commission wants a building to
contain at least 65 offices. including the
two legislative halls. which must not cost
to exceed t275.00o. The presumption Is
that II will possess some artistic beatty,
he well provided with light and up to date
in the matter Of ventilation and general
convenience. II will probably be a stone
structure, with the first story of granite
and the remaining stories of some cheaper
stone. IL Is not likely that a dome of the
handsome proportions of that which
adorns the shapely structure designed by
George Mann will be used. In fact, the
entire structure will no doubt be planned
on "A decidedly less pretentious scale than
the million dollar affair which never ad-
vanced farther than the plans.
Bell a Kent say they will give the state
a suitable building for the money. and
they produce plenty OF references as to
their reliability. Their bond I'm the sum
of $50. 1000 liz furnished by the Union Bank
and Trust company OF that city. Among
recent buildings which they designed they
mention the court house at st. Josenf
Mich, similar structures at Lewiston and
Eureka. M. and two in Iowa. and KEEL
lom school at Omaha. Neb. They have
-a... sl.nt Afff.A and hntanhnlI A H.ata
here. and announce IL as their intention
TO make this their future home. They
have opened offices In one of the Main
street office buildings.