The Forrest City times., 1900-11-30
THE NEW STATE CAPITOL.
Text of the Act Providing for Its Con. struction and What Has Been
 Accampiished

NosemDef Zt. The day was most beautiful one. and thousands took part in the parade and exercises When the great coneourse of people had completed the line of march and gath cred around the foundaton of the new structure, with barred heads. they stood while ex-Gov. James P. Eagle invoked divine blessing. Addresses were delivered by Gov Dan w. Jones, Hon. John D. Kimbell. author of the state capitol act; Hon. Greenfield 1 Quarles, of Helena, and Hon. George w. Williams. of Pulaski county. Hon. | H. H. Myers, grand master of the Ma 1 sonic grand lodge of Arkansas, and Governor Jones wielded the trowels l ip spreading the mortar for the cor ner-stone. which was swung into po- sition without hitch by means of a | derrick.
 | The bill providing for the con- struction of the new state capitol was l introduced in the senate on February p, 1899. On March 20 1t passed the senate by vote of 19 to &. April 14 lit passed the house by vote of 48 to 35. and within a few hours after ward received the approval of the gov ernor.
 The act provides for board of state capitol commissioners. to be compos- ed of the governor and six electors | nf hn cfn nfa sional district. The board appointed 1 by the governor consists of the fol- l lowing gentlemen: J. M. Levesque, of Cross county; Chas. G. Newman, of Jefferson; A. H. Carrigan, of Hemp stead; George w. Murphy. of Pulas- Xxi; George w. Donaghey. of Faulk- ner. and R. M. Hancock. of Baxter. The law directed that the board should proceed at once to procure suitable plans for building commen- surate with the present needs of the state and flor the ages to come"
 it was also authorized to construct building at cost not to exceed $1,- | 100000, to locate it on the peniten- tiary grounds, which occupy prom inent hill in the western portion of Little Rock. and to remove the pen itentiary to some point in Pulaski county to be selected by the peni- tentiary board Fifty thousand dol lars was appropriated and placed at the disposal of the board with which Ito begin thenworkl MT George R.
 Mann, of St. Joseph. was selected as architect for the building. and his plans were accepted.
 A few months after the adjourn ment of the legislature work on the foundation was begun, and was com pleted about three weeks ago. Nearly all the work was done by convicts. and represents an expenditure. If per formed by free labor. of over $200,- 900. The amount actually spent was s46,000, leaving a balance of the ap- propriation in the treasury of s4.000. | The foundation walls are 165x440 feet. They extend to a depth of 20 feet, and are four feet in width at the top.
 lfThe building, as designed. will be of the Ionic order of architecture,
 with first. second and attic floors. basement and sub-basement. It will be 167x437 feet. with large central dome. 22S feet high. and with two smaller and interior domes on either wing. The central dome is to be sur mounted by statue of Victory, with four smaller emblematic figures about | the base, two at each end and over the front, or main entrance, a group of six, representing Agriculture Man. ufactures, Mining, Commerce, Art and science. It is the commissions wish | that the walls of the basement story be constructed of light gray granite, and the upper stories of native mar ble. Wherever it is necessary to use
 wood the native article will be util-
 ized. A broad flight of steps will lead
 up to the first floor. where will be To- | cated the supreme court room and | justices chambers in one wing. and the governors apartments in the oth- CT. cated the supreme courtroom | floor, and the senate and representa- l tives' halls are to be either wing, with all of the necessary private offices, cloak rooms, Hobbies, committee rooms, officers apartments, lavatories, etc. | The attic floor is to be devoted to gal
 leries opening upon the chambers. | also rooms for the accommodation of 1 neWgDaper men telegraph and tele- ! phone rooms. etc. The supreme court and state libraries will be located in the rear of either wing, extending up through three stories to height of sixty feet. with six galleries reached by convenient stairways. On the ground or basement floor will be l located the general state offices. Be low, in the lower basement. will be | located the heating and lighting |