The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-05
Special Dispatch to the Standard

the future state house Of Montana, an
immense cube of granite, weighing
several tons, was lowered into place
this afternoon in the presence of a
multitude of spectators and with the
ceremonies that are observed by the
Masonic fraternity upon such occa-
sions. AS the officers of the grand
lodge of Masons concluded the cere-
mony and Grand Master Pomeroy pro-
nounced the stone to have been laid
true and just. the vast throng that had
witnessed the impressive ceremonies
broke into cheers over the consumma-
tion of an event of no little Importance
in the states history
This has been the proudest day in
the history of Helena. The citizens of
the capital have kept open house, vel
coming visitors from other portions of
the state, and straining every effort to
make the day a complete success. 1t
has been big success from beginning
to end. Everything passed off as plan
| ned. Even the weather favored the
event The prOverbal Fourth of July
rain did not put in an appearance until
the ceremonies had ended and the peo-
| pie were returning to town from the
| capitol site upon the eastern outskirts
of the city, and then but few drops
fell. just enough to tickle the vanity of
| the lucky individuals who had been
! thoughtful enough to provide umbrel-
las. During a large part of the cere-
monies the sun beat down relentlessly
upon the spectators and participants in
| the exercises, and one unfortunate
knight templar was partially over
! come by the heat and had to be taken
| home
Barring the misfortune that over
| took John Moffat deputy collector of
| internal revenue. who recently recoy-
cred from an illness and braved the
sun to participate in the exercises.
everything passed off smoothly. The
| ceremonies were scheduled to begin at
o'clock. and those having charge of
| affairs saw that no promises were bro
ken in that respect, After COM
| menda BILE street parade. participa ted in
by the various Masonic societies, & as
well as the Odd Fellows, Elks, Wood
men, knights of Pythias, Ancient Orr
der of United Workmen, Grand Army
and other societies, and two bands
making up one Of the, largest process
| sions ever seen in Helena, the capitol
| site was reached Inside the walls
raised seats had been provided for sew
| eral hundred people, while an elevat-
ed platform stood by the northwest
| corner of the building, where the cor
| ner stone was to be laid. for the use
| OF the grand lodge officers. members of
| the capitol commission, speakers and
| others. All of the seats were occupied
| and hundreds, una BILE to secure seats.
| stood on the outside of the partially
completed walls of the structure, and
| closely followed the proceedings The
| huge derricks, used in raising the ma
! teflal IN the construction OF the build
ing We're gay in flags and bunting, and
| the spectacle was withal a memorable
| and inspiring one as Governor Smith
called the assemblage to order and
asked the Rev. Mr.. McNamee of the
First Baptist church to invoke the di-
| vine blessing.
| Governor Smith.
| After the invocation Governor Smith.
as the chief executive of the state and
presiding officer of the board of capitol
| commissioners, delivered short intro
| ductory speech, devoting himself chiefly
| to the history of the building as far as
| it has advanced. He referred to the
enactment of the law of 1895 providing
for building to cost sl,ooo,OOO, This
! undertaking. after unsuccessful eff
forts, had been abandoned as imprac-
| ticable and too costly. Then came the
| passage of the law of 1897 providing
| for more modest yet ample struc-
ture to cost 100000. the law under
which the present commission is act
| ing. AS soon as the present law had
become effective, April l, 1897, the gov
| ernor appointed as members of the
| capitol commission Hon. D. E. Folsom
of White Sulphur Springs, Hon. ]. NJ
Fox of Red Lodge, Hon. A. D. Peck of
Anaconda and Hon. Elizur Beech of
! Augusta. The commission then set to
work to procure plans and provide
FUNDS for the construction of the capi-
| tol. Little was accomplished during
the year 1897. except to endeavor to dis
| pose of the securities that the law al
| lowed the commission to negotiate
| capitol building bonds to raise the
| necessary funds and to discuss plans
The matter of raising the funds did
not progress very satisfactorily, and it
was January of the following year be-
| fore the commission saw its way ahead
to even ask for bids from architects for
| plans. The citizens of Helena then
| pledged the funds sufficient to defray
| the architects expenses and in re-
sponse to advertisements about 1877 ar
chitectural fgurers responded. In
March the contract was awarded the
Messrs. Bell & Kent.
Still the commission had not sue
ceeded in raising the mony TO pay for
the construction of the building. In
June of that year. however. a citizen
or Helena, Thomas Cruise. with COM
mendable public spirit. announced his
Willingness to take the entire issue of
bonds s575,0O0, and pay cash for them.
As the governor paid tribute to the
man who had made the construction
of the building possible at this time,
the audience applauded vigorously.
Continuing, the governor told how the
contract ha- been awarded to the Mon
tana Building company, consisting of
H. l.. Frank and Joseph Soss of Butte,
for S290,000, and concluded by briefly
sketching the progress of the work no
to to-day and expressing the hope that
the structure, when completed would
be credit to the state in general and
all concerned in its construction.
The ooyeroOr theO n n. th.