Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-06-03
ELABORATE CEREMONIES MARK EVENT
Thousands of Citizens from ALI Sections of
the Commonwealth Attend Laying of
Corner Stone Of the Magnificent
New State House Descrip-
tion of the Building

Jackson, June 3.-With a pomp
and display unequaled in the history
of the commonwealth, the corner
stone of MIssissippi's new million
dollar capitol building, which is now
nearing completion, was laid with
imposing ceremonies.
The crowd assembled to witness
the exercises is the largest ever
gathered at the state capital, or at
any other community in the state to
witness public demonstration. The
city is literally filed to everfiowing
with visitors from all parts of the
state and surrounding states.
The state reunion of Confederate
veterans, which has been in progress
since yesterday morning, augmented
the size of the crowd by at least five
thousand. Yesterday afternoon the
crowd commenced to increase, each
incoming train dumping a heavy
cargo of humanity at the depot and
hotel, and boarding house accommo-
dations are at high premium.
The size of the crowd is variously
estimated. Some conservative guess
ers place the number at $4,000, while
others say it is fully twenty thou
sand.
Early this morning special trains
commenced to arrive at the depot
from all directions. Visitors were
brought in from seven points of the
compass, and all of the trains were
loaded to their utmost capacity. The
railroads have been severely taxed
to furnish rolling stock and equip
ment to carry the multitude.
The entire national guard, number
ing / 800 officers and men commenced
to arrive at daylight, and the troops
were quartered in the city hall park
where breakfast was served and hur-
rled preparations made for the big
parade. Special trains were used fol
the transportation of the soldiery
each train carrying battalion. The
cadets from the A. q M. College at
Starkvllle also came with the troops.
Knights remplar from the twenty
one commandries In the state tray-
eled in special coaches, the knights
wearing the full regalia of the order
The morning train from the north
brought Messrs. Wells & Wells, gen
eral contractors of the state house,
Mr.. Theo. Link, the supervising
architect, Mr.. Carl Link, assistant
architect, Mr.. George Dugan, the
cut stone contractor, and party of
their friends. They travelled from
Chicago in private car.
From all the surrounding counties
the country folks came to town in
vehicles and on horseback, and the
multitude from the rural districts is
conspicuously large, especially the
contingent from Rankin and Simp-
son counties.
Gen. Robert Lowry, Grand Mar
shall of the day, and his staff of
aides -de-camp, were busy through
out the morning with the details for
the big parade, which ecIipsed in size
and spIendor any event ever re-
corded in Mississippl's history
Gen. Lowry's chief assistant was
Adiutant- General William Henry,
of the national Guard.
At Ii O'Clock the procession was
formed. 1t was composed of Gov.
Longino and members of the capitol
commission, Messrs. r. A. Dean, w.
q. Stovall, r. H.. Thompson, Attor-
nev-General William Williams, Sec
retary FitzhugE, and j. +. Barnes,
superlntendent of construction; Mr..
Theo. Link aud Carl Link, arcbs-
tects: Messrs Wells & Wells, con-
tractors. and their staff of assistants
and the various snb-contractors ano
speeial contractors who have per.
formed work OH the building. Mex
WAS about one dozen old citizens who
witnessed the commencement o
work ON the old state house In 1887
and who we're especially invited t.
he present on this occasion.
The national guard was one oil th'
chief features of the parade, and tn
snlendid marching of the troops, clat
In blue shirts and khaki trousers