Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1907-02-19
West Yakima, Washington, Man Sc
cures Contract for Plannjno
the New Court House.
BOARD PURCHASES FOUR LOTS
Ground Owned By J. B. RauCh Pur-
chased at Moderate Price,
Other Proceedings.

After spending three days in the
consideration of four separate arch-
tects plans for the new $lOO, 900 court
house, the board OF county commits
| sioners last Friday afternoon rejected
| all plans and ordered Mr.. Newton G.
Gauntt of North Yakima, Washington.
to draw plans in accordance with GER
tain instructions given by the board.
Mr. E. c. Bell, now of MinneapoIis
but formerly of Helena. first present.
ed his plans to the board for consider
alton. Mr.. Bells plans excited the ad-
miration OF not only the board but Of
many others who crowded the corr
missioner's room to have a look at the
drawings. His plans called for q three
story building 92x67 2 feet in size with
a fine tower. The building was planned
to be entirely fire proof
Mr. Kent of Helena also had a man
nlhcent set of plans with very COM
plete detailed specifications The
building proposed by the plans of Mr..
Kent also was to be fire proof in every
particular with an interior arranpr-
ment which was very convenient Mr..
kent's drawings were before the
board Thursday morning and were
carefully considered by the board.
Wells & Ellsworth, local architecta
submitted plans which called forth
many favorable comments from the
commissioners and spectators. The
local men hardly expected to have their
plans adopted but the drawings which
they submitted showed that they are
architects of move than average abjl-
ity.
Mr.. Newton c. Gauntt of North
yakima, Washington, owing to
blockade on the Northern Pacific did
not arrive In the city until Thursday
evening. He was driven at once tou
the court house and submitted his plans
to the commissioners The board waA
highly impressed with Mr.. Gauntt,a
drawings and carefully considered them
Thursday afternoon and Friday morn
ing.
Mr. Gauntts plans commendesf
themselves to the board because of the
fact that the building which they pro-
posed could undoubtedly be construct
ed for sum within the $4,000 limit.
This Is one thing which the COM
missioners are very careful about
It is determined that the court house
shall be built for that sum and no
more and before any plan shall be
finally accepted, bids from contractors
falling within the limit must be re-
ceived and bond for the same put up.
After going through all Of the plans.
the board, Friday afternoon decided
to reject all plans and ordered Mr..
Gauntt to alter his plans according to
suggestions by the board
Mr., Gauntt, who Is an architect and
contractor well known throughout the
west. left Saturday morning for his
home, with the promise to return with
the required plans within a short
while. His plans contemplate build
ing of three stories and a towerA
reaching 107 feet from base to tip Of
tower. The building will be 1O6 feet
by 81 l-2 feet, built on the Spanish
Colonial style.
The board also purchased of J. B.
Rauch four lots in the court house
block, paying $4,000 for them. This
gives the county the entire block, a
portion of which is already occupied
by the county Jail.
Advertisements for the contracts
will be placed Immediately and it is
the hope Of the board TO have actual
work begun on the building not later
than the first of May. 1t will re-
quire about one year in which to COM
plete the building, but the chief de-
sire of the board is to get it undei
cover before snow flies
Before adjourning, the board appoint
ed David Forman justice of the peace
for Flatwillow township with his Of
flee at Grass Range.