The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-07-08
DEDICATION OF THE NEW cAPl.
ToL BUILDING.
TO The STATE
Governor TooIe and Senators Clark
and Gibson Have a Few
Words to Say.

celebration in Helena today was made
memorable by the dedication of the
new capitol. Nearly every community
in the state contributed to the crowds
that assisted Helena to celebrate In
dependence day. Notwithstanding
the state Of the weather, which was
entirely bad, the big crowds in Hell
ena seemed to have a thoroughly good
time. Main street was crowded all
day long, and in spite Of showers that
would have had a depressing effect,
the enthusiasm of the people seemed
to be qnbounded.
The rain had prevented the decora-
ton of the city to any. such extent as
was anticipated, but in spite of un-
favorable conditions the business por-
ton was a mass of flags and bunting.
1t is realized tonight that had the
weather been good there would have
been a crowd in the city such as Hell
ena has AS it is there
are about all here that can be we'll
accommodated. All the hotels are
crowded, but as the people have open
ed their homes to visitors none of the
excursionists will be deprived of
places to sleep.
Event of the Day.
The great event ct the day was
tho 1o1;oo+i1r re Tho wow, ,%n%oL1,,oo
Under the dome of the handsome
building and in the presence of an
assemblage that included her most
distinguished citizens, the state of
Montana formally received it's new
capitol. 1t had been intended to hold
the exercises outside of the building,
but Bbecause of rain the programme
was changed.
Never before in the history of the
commonwealth have there been
brought together at one time and
place so many of the leading men
of the state and never have there
been assembled so many pio-
neers of Montana as gathered under
the dome of the capitol today. In
cluded in the crowds that filled the
rotunda and corridors, the grand
staircase and galleries, were scores of
the territory and mined in the more
famous gulches of the state that have
long since yielded their golden treas
ures. II
The spectators began to arrive ear
ly. In fact, the building was we'll fill
ed all day with visitors, who inspect
ed the new ~statehouse from basement
to dome. The state officials and their
deputies were on hand to receive the
visitors, and kept at their posts most
of the day.
Governor TooIe's Address.
At 2:1O o'clock Governor Toole
mounted a table under the center of
the dome and called Upon all who were
tc take part in the exercises to meet
him there. The several speakers
made their way to him through the
crowds that filled the main floor of
the building. Governor Toole then
introduced the exercises with a brief
address. y.
a5 Transfer Of Capitol.
A. D. Peck of Deer Lodge, on be-
half of the commission, then formally
turned e the building to the state,
at the same time reviewing the work
of the commission. Secretary of State
George NJ. Hays received the building
in a brief speech.
United States Senator w. A. Clark,
of Butte, was then introduced by the
governor, ana made an address on
Montana, Her Past, Present and Flu
ture."
The subject was n peculiarly
adapted to Senator Clark, for in that
vast throng there was certainly no
one better qualified than he to speak
of the development of the state or the
possibilities of it's future.
-
Senator Paris Gibson of Great Falls
followed Senator Clark in an able sad-
dress on the Agricultural Possibili-
ties Of the State"
Former Governor Robert B. Smith
made an address on "The Executive
Department" in which he told of the
relations of the governor to the state
government and the important part
Governor Tocle had taken in the work
of constructing the capitol.
1.-THE Judicial Department" was the
subject of an address by Chief JUS
tice Theodore Brantly.
Former Senator Wilbur F. Sanders
was to have delivered an address OF
Srl - D---- - AR--I--- I.L 1900