The Tupelo journal., 1903-06-12

marble steps leading to the main en-
trance of the building. This work
was the conception Of Mr.. Bringhurst,
a sculptor of st. Louis, assisted by
Architect Link, and has taken him
several months to complete. The GEN.
trail figure is, OF course, a woman of
majestic proportions and noble mold.
She is seated upon a throne and rests
her feet on a bale of cotton, symbolical
of the States greatest source of
wealth. Smaller, but no less perfect,
figures represent the. States manufac-
turing industries, the products of her
soil and her history, wealth, tradi-
lions, etc. The figure of a child re-
minds one OF what is coming, while
the outline of two Indians tell of what
has been in old Mississippi. In all
there are more than a dozen of these
figures, grouped in such artistic way
as to form a handsome and attractive
picture.
The grounds. which cover four city
blocks, are about $50 feet square. A
great amount of grading has been
done during the past year, but a vast
amount of work remains to be done
before the landscape gardener a
take charge and the cement walks and
drives be laid. Neither is the work
on the inside of the building COM
pleted, though far advanced, and it
will be several weeks before all the
officials can take charge of their new
quarters.
The original. appropriation for the
capitol was n million dollars, and
the governor vas authorized to issue
one million dollars worth Of 4 per
cent. bonds, to be used in the con
struction, if found necessary, but for
%tunately it has not been necessary,
the ordinary receipts from taxes and
privileges and State convict farms
having been sufficient. The last legis-
lature made an additional appropria-
ton for furniture and fixtures, the
grading has been much more expen-
sive than was contemplated, and it is
now evident that the structure is 60
ing to cost complete about 1880, 900.
The legislature authorized the con
struction of the new capitol at its Jan
uary, 1900, session, and work was be-
gun in January, 1901, Wells & Wells,
of Chicago, being the contractors.
Their bid was about 1888, 900, but it
did not include steam fittings, plumb
ing, electric lighting, grading, etc.
The Old Capitol.
The capitol which is soon to be va
Gated by the officials of the State of
Mississippi has done service for more
than sixty years, and around it cling
many fond memories. When first built
it was the hanisomest structure of a
public character in the South, and
there were few anywhere that sur
passed it in architectural design or
beauty Of. finish. Even yet it excites
the admiration Of all visitors save
those who have grown weary with
watching for it to collapse, as was pre-
dicted twenty years g it was liable
to do any day. The material used in
its construction was limestone quar-
ried near Raymond, fifteen miles
southwest of Jackson, and brick made
on the grounds. The brick and the
mortar used was OF a very poor quail
ty, and has crushed and crumbled
with increasing age, but the stone has
held its own, and Is as good and sound
today as when placed In position more
than three score years ago. The mas
sive pillars and the rotunda which
support the great central dome are as
fine work as is to be found anywhere
today, and there are those who de-
clare there is nothing in the new cap
itol to excel the carvings, the finish
ings and the stucco work.
This historic old building has re-
sounded to the eloQuence Of Prentiss.
Henry Clay, Lamar, Jefferson Davis,
Henry S. Foote, George and a host Of
others whose memory will always be