The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-10
HELENA FOLKS WAKE UP
They Subscribe 81, 800 Towards
the Desired Fund of $4,000.
PLANS AND ARCHITECTS
The Commission Is Proceeding Slowly
and Will Investigate Things Carefully.
Architect Mann Makes PROPOSE
ton, Through His Attorney.

| Special Dispatch to the Standard.
/ Helena, Feb. 9.-Seyen thousand eight
4 hundred dollars was raised in Helena
/ to-day towards the fund of $4,000
which the capitol commission desires
| for contingent expenses in the con-
struction of the building, providing the
| contractors who have offered to erect
the building taking capitol bonds in
! payment come forward and make good
| their promise. The sum of $500 is con-
| sidefed sufficient for the present to pay
the expense of engaging an architect,
| advertising for bids and paying other
expenses of a like nature. Just as soon
as the work is commenced and the bal
ance of the $4,000 is needed, the Helena
Business Mems association will under
take to raise the money. Those who
subscribe towards this fund Will re-
ceive capitol bonds in like amount. Ii
the lands back of the bonds prove to be
in time as valuable as is claimed and
yield revenue sufficient to pay the
interest, those who contribute towards
the $4,000 fund will receive fair re-
turn for their investment.
The following citizens subscribed the
money raised to-day: Thomas Cruise,
81. 200; Nick Kessler, $1,000: each of the
following gave $500: Cans & Klein,
i. w. Fiske, A. M. Hotter, Richard
Jockey, Sanford & Evans, Parchen
Drug company and r. c. Wallace; John
Steinbrenner, 5000; Thomas Pursell, 800.
The commission spent to-day consid
ering some of the offers from architects
and listening to architects who APP
peared in person. OF the 1877 architects
heard from, quite a number were elimi-
mated from the eligible list because
their figures were too high or too low.
The commission will look into the
standing of those who have not been
oil ms cd nd in Of
one to draw plans and perhaps to SUI
pervise the construction Of the build
ing.
r. C. Day, attorney for George r.
Mann, the St. Louis architect who de-
signed the plans that were accepted by
the former capitol commission, ap-
peared before the commission in behalf
of his client. He said that Mr.. Mann
hoped that in awarding the contract for
designing the plans or in engaging an
architect the commission would have
some consideration for him. He had
gone to a great expense to prepare his
plans, and believed he should be afford
ed an opportunity to protect himself
against the loss of reputation and pres
tige that would be entailed upon him if
he were left out in the cold He is
ready to revise his plans to suit the re-
Quirements of the commission. and says
he can do this and still give a very
satisfactory building that can be en-
larged very conveniently whenever the
state so desires.
Mr.. Mann claims he can cut down his
million dollar building to $275,000 and
preserve its architectural contour. The
commission gave Mr.. Day a respectful
audience. but Tefrained from an ex-
preston of opinion.
The opinion rendered by the attorney
general to-day to the effect that the
provision in the law preventing the en-
ployment of an architect not resident
of the state does not hold because of
conflicting portions of the law, has
simplfied matters considerably. The
commission adjourned tonight for a
short while in order to afford an oppor-
tunity to inquire into the standing of
the architects who are so anxious to
design the capitol.
Governor Smith will call the men,
bers together again just as soon as the
desired information is obtained. The
commission is going very slowly and
seems determined to make no mistakes.
The sessions have thus far been secret
and the members are very wary about
disclosing much of their proceedings.
They will not disclose the names or
whereabouts of the contractors who
offer TO build a 65-room building for
s215. 900 and take the bonds in payment.
Their identity will probably remain a
secret until they put in their bids. The
citizens of Helena feel quite enthusiast
tic over the prospects of something be-
ing done by the present commission.