Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-24

connected with the hall, and embodied e.,
) the city reports Of this last spring IL A.
) follows:
: The history of the efforts made for /,
city building is long one, too long "a
7 repeat here. Five years ago. when Hon
r. r.. webb was mayor. an effort wa.
made and work begun. foundations being
built and contracts made for the build
ing. But opposition developed against
the manner Of raising money for it and
work was stopped.
Soon after the election of the present
city government agitation began, urging
that work should begin towards the cree
ton Of the building. and on May Z, 1901
an order was passed by substantial ma
jorities in both branches Of the City
| Council authorizing work to begin and
appropriating money for the completion
of the superstructure to be raised BY
taxation. A building committee was ap-
pointed consisting Of the Mayor, Alder
men Wardwell and Pitcher and Council
men Mitchell and Decker. The commit
tee began at once to arrange for carry
ing out the order.
| 1t was the desire on the part Of the
committee to utilize as much as possible
| the work done and material which had
| been furnished on the former building.
and the architect who made the plans
for the first building was engaged TO
| modify those plans to meet what ap-
peared to be the wishes Of the citizens
Much care was taken in the prepare
| ton Of these plans. that all the wants Of
the people would be served as well az
| possible in this building and vet bring
| the cost within the amount which
would not be a burden to the people.
We believe that when the building Il
| completed, it will be found that these
wants have been met and will meet the
approval of the citizens.
Rooms for all the city officers on the
first floor; vaults for the preservation OF
| the city records; Aldermen's and Coun-
cilmen's rooms; police officers; lookup:
police court room, Of sufficient size for
the holding Of the Superior court-hera
are provided. The second floor is for
the audience room, and has been 50
planned as TO make it suitable for con-
ventions and all public gatherings. as
well as finely adapted for graduating ex-
ercises of the public schools. lectureg.
concerts and other entertainments.
Bids We're called for early in July for
the erection Of the superStructure ana
the contract let to Messrs. Horace Pur-
inton & Co., Of this city and work has
been pushed along rapidly since. Whfl.
the work has been going along and in
response to what seemed to be The wish
Of the citizens, it was decided to con-
tinue the work on the building TO com
pletion; especially was this felt desirable
as this is the centennial year Of our in
cOrDOratiOO . a nd
to be celebrated BY the citizens during
the summer. and to dedicate the new
city building at that time would be a
fitting way to crown the work Of a cen
fury as a town.
On November ;. 1901. an order was
passed unanimously in both branches OF
the city government authorizing the CITY
building committee to let contracts for
the full completion of the building and to
this end plans and specifications were
prepared and contracts let: Steam heat
ing to Messrs. w. B. Arnold & Co. Of
this city; plumbing. The Carman-Thomp-
son Co.; electric wiring to the Messalon-
skee Co.; and to Horace Purinton & Co.
the builders of the superstructure. the in
side finishing.
1t is matter of congratulation that
nearly all the work done and materials
furnished for this building have been by
Waterville men. and to the entire sat
isfaction of Mr. w. B. Lane who came
here from the office of Lockwood Greene
Co, of Boston. as Inspector
In order to meet the wishes of the GILL
zens and have the building ready for ded-
ication at the centennial celebration the
committee are pushing the work as fast
as possible and contracting for all the
material and furnishings necessary to
make the building ready for use as soon
possible.
The cost and expenditure so far will be
found in the auditors report. under New
City Building" and below will be found
amounts of contracts let so far. and
which have been made public from time
to time as these have been awarded:
Observation-Disclosures Purinton
& Co. SOC ON a.
Steam Heating-W. B. Arnold &
Co. 7on m
Plumbing-Ca & Thompson
Co, 20isOo
Boliers-Rlchmond stove Co.. 173,25
Inside Finishing-Horace Purin-
ton & Co, 19iS1.00
The other expense. such as inspector.
architect, decorating. and such extra
work as the committee has seen fit to
oruer mas gone IN 10 make up the amount
already paid out, and which may be re-
quired to make up the fun amount when
completed.
We believe that in all cases the com
mittee have acted for the best interest OF
the city throughout and that full value IL
received for all money paid out.
MARTIN BLAISDELI.
GIDEON PICHER.
T. c. WARDWELL,
II. r.. MITCHELL,
Il. L. DECKER
Building Committee.
The present city hall building commit
tee is made up Of Mayor Blaisdell. Alder
men Wardwell and Learned and Council
men Greaney and Loud. When this com
mittee makes it's report it will doubtless
be on. the completed building and will be
read in the rooms in the building as
signed to the city council.
So now one of the most pleasing feat
ures of this centennial celebration, an
event that in itself is very gratifying ia
the dedication of the building whose his
tory covers five years before it is occu-