The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-04

of cavalry was also enlisted from Mon
| tana, making our total number fur
nfshed 1856 whereas our quota called
only for 524. The regiment of infantry
was sent to the Philippine Islands,
where it is now stationed, and although
seven members of that organization
| have succunlbed to the grim reaper. it
| is gratifying to know that the health,
discipline and efficiency of our regiment
far surpasses that of any other volun-
teer regiment transported to those dis
tant lands.
The cavalry rendezvoused at Camp
Thomas, or Chickmauga park, where
they remained until they were mus
tered out in September, after the close
of hostilities. / am not absolutely GER
tain, but believe that their total loss
was only four men. This is certainly a
gratifying and splendid showing for
our soldier boys, and it is to be hoped
that no more of them will be sacrificed
until they can be returned to their
homes, their friends and their country.
The cost of maintaining the militia of
the state during the past two years
was reduced to a minimum. The cost
of mObilizing and mastering in the reg1-
ment was something over S2,700 This
sum, we are assured by the govern
ment, will be repaid to the state. At
the present time the militia of the state
consists of one battery, under COM
mand of Captain Moore, stationed in
this city. At the time aOf the call to
arms every company or troop organ
lied as a part of the national guard of
the state volunteered with alacrity and
responded almost to a man. The eff
cheney of the organization greatly aided
in the rapidity with which it was mus
tered into the service of the United
States.
] shall very briefly call your attention
to the condition of the different public
institutions of our state.
state Capitol Building.
The Fifth legislative assembly passed
an act repeating the act passed by the
Fourth assembly for the erection and
construction of a state capitol building
to cost $1,0OO,000, and in lieu thereof
provided for the erection and construc-
ton Of building at a cost NOT to ex-
coed $500, 900, and for the taking up and
payment of the outstanding obligations
of the former commission, amounting
to $40, 900.
A complete history of what has been
done with reference to the capitol build
ing will be found in the report Of the
state capitol building commission,
which you will find upon your desks.
Suffice it to say that under the act
passed by the Fifth legislative assem-
bly, a new commission was created by
the appointment of Hon. Elizur Beach
of Lewis and Clarke county, Hon. d. e.
Folsom of Meagher county, Hon. ]. M.
Fox of Carbon county and Hon. A. D.
Peck of Deer Lodge county. who, to-
gether with the executive of the state,
composed the capitol building commits
sion.
We organized, and before proceeding
further in any way to create an ex-
perse, undertook to find purchaser
for the s35O,OO0 worth of bonds author
+! lied by the act. Not succeeding during
1897, in January. 1898, we thought prob
able that if we could raise sufficient
money to pay the architect his fees and
mmissions that we might find some
contractor who was willing to erect the
building and take the bonds in pay
ment. After due advertisement and
consideration of all bids, Messrs. Bell &
Kent of Helena were selected to pre-
pare the plans and specifications for
the new capitol building and to super
intend the erection and construction of
the same, at a total cost of $3.50. Be-
fore these plans had been fully perfect
ed and completed the capitol building
commission We're gratified to know that
one OF cur own citizens of the state
of Montana and of the city of Helena,
Thomas Cruise, came forward and
agreed to take the whole issue of the
capitol building bonds at par, and pay
for them at such times and in such
amounts as the commission might re-
quire, only charging the interest upon
the money advanced from the time of
it's actual receipt by the commission.
Having thus secured the funds and the
plans and specifications for the capitol
building, on the 18th day of September,
1898. we let q contract for the building
of the state capitol building, at a cost
of $2S9,S21, to Joseph Soss, a citizen of
Butte with whom was associated the
Hon. Fl. l.. Frank of the same city.
They Immediately went to work in an
energetic way. and at the present time
the foundation for the capitol building
is almost completed. The warrants of
the old capitol commission, outstand-
ing, We're bearing I per cent. interest
We Immediately called these in and
paid them off. and have issued bonds
in lieu thereof bearing per cent. in
terest. A full history of the financial
transactions of the commission will be
found in the report submitted for your
inspection
We are assured by the contractor
that the building will be finished and
completed in May. 1900, so that the next
legislative assembly, instead of being
called together in the narrow, close and
unhealthy quarters to which you are
subjected, will be able to assemble in
spacious, elegant and we'll ventilated
rooms and buildings, and can enjoy to
some extent the pleasures of our new
state home.
The University.
The last legislative assembly provid-
ed for the issuance and sale of 100000
worth of bonds, secured by the rents
and profits of the lands granted to the
state university, for the purpose of
erecting university buildings at the city
of Missoula. Under his law a commits
sion, consisting of Hon. Alfred Cave.
Joseph K. Wood, George L. Higgins,
Reuben Latimer and A. E. Winstanley,
We're appointed for the purpose of con-
StrurtiDg Jbe JniVareity b,,jldipcS Tbeu
adopted wise course by reserving a
part of their funds for the purpose of
equipping and furnishing the univer-
sity. Plans and specifications for two
splendid buildngs-known as the main
university building and science hall
were secured and contracts let for their
construction, at a total cost of about
$50, 600. These buildings are almost
completed, and | am assured will be
finished by the first of February ensu-