Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-11
MONTANA MODEL. |.
he Capitol Commission Re
turns After Viewing Mon
tana's State House.
Like Plans Will Be Adopted
for the New South Da-
kota Structure.

of Governor Elrod, Secretary of State
Wipf, Auditor Halliday, and Land
| Commissioner Bach, returned from a
weeks trip to Helena, Mont, where
they went to look over the capitol build
ing and find if it would be suitable for
/ the needs Of this state. The result OF
their explorations is given in the fol
lowing interview, which was made with
the governor, as spokesman for the
commission:
"While the trip was hurried one yet
the information received at first hand
was exceedingly valuable to the com
mission. And of course whatever is
valuable to the commission in their
labors is of value to the state as a whole.
The commission made a minute eXami-
nation of the 2Montana building and
| found that it was entitled to even more
! praise than had been bestowed upon it
by enthusiasts who had previously eN
amined it, The interior Of the building,
to use a common expression, is a dream.
| tia structure in mind when the plans
We're drawn, but likewise designed
building which is pleasing to the eye.
| The decorations are Of the highest order
and the entire interior effect simply Ell
| trancing 1t is world of beauty and !
| feel safe in saying that more substai
| tial structure, a more sensible arrange
| ment OF space and a more beautiful de-
| sign was neve: erected for the amount
of money expended by our Montana
friends. 1t must be seen to be appre-
ciated, and | can only say that if the
commission succeeds in placing on
| Capitol Hill at Pierre, a state house
that equals in every way the Montana
| building, and can keep the cost within
a half million dollars, that the young
and prosperous state of South Dakota
will have a capitol building that every
citizen can point to with pride and that
will not only be a credit toaour com
monwealth, but will amply supply our
needs in this line for a century to come.
eve examined every part of the
building critically, accompanied by a
competent architect, and made notes of
what necessary changes should be made
to meet our wants. No building was
ever erected that could not be improved
upon, slightly at least and it is our
good fortune to be able to take adyant.
age of Montana's experience. Some
changes, of course, would have to be
made because of the needs OF the Off :ials
being slightly different, and by this per-
Sonal inspection, we were enabled to
exactly determine what these should be.
!, The Montana building was erected on
| honor, and was entirely free from graft,
and the state got dollar for dollar in its
| erection
Governor Toole and members of the
commission certainly earned the graft
| tude Of the people of Montana i'll this
work and the beautiful building stands
as monument to their integrity,
| Watchfulness and good business judg
ment. The South Dakota com mission
is determined that in SO far as ability
Of its members will permit the results
tt;o t;o co;;:: people sha!! be equally satislac.
| tory Much valuable information was
received from Governor Ioole in refer
ence to the contracts, plans, etc, and
the commission feels ti.at the trip has
been worth more than can be estimated
from business standpoint.
/ "Helena is a live busting city and The
people are awake every minute L is
one of those thriving little cities that
owes its position and growth largely to
the pushing ability Of its citizens. The
wait for things to come To them. They
get up and go after everything in sight.
| The result is a substantial, bustling,
i growing city that is attracting new
people and new capital. Out there they
do not know what "a rut is. There are
some towns that | could mention that
ought to absorb little of the ginger
that is SO much in evidence in the capi-
tai city OF our western neighbors.
While the country, the resources and
, natural advantages OF the community
| have considerable bearing on its growth
and prosperity. it is nevertheless gospel
truth that the people themselves cut a
!, greater figure in the development of a
toWn or city than: airy ether one cause.
4 While the commission was on q
purely business mission and crowded
tlfor time. yet we could not entirely es-