Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-03

ment at Augusta was approved by
Gov. Enoch Lincoln, February "a, 1877,
and took effect January l, 1882. The
corner stone of the capitol was laid
July 4, 1929. with Masonic ceremonies.
the procession being escorted by the
Augusta Light Infantry under Capt.
Rufus c. Vose. Addresses We're de
livered by Governor Lincoln and Dan
iel Williams. The first session OF the
Legislature to convene in the State
House opened January I, 1882. Samuel
Smith being governor and Robert I.
Dunlap president OF the senate.
The location Of the arsenal 1T Angus
ta was in accordance with an act pass
ed by the United States senate in 1927.
! The corner stone of the main building
was laid June IA. 1928.
In the foundation of the insane hos
pital, the State of Maine and two pub
lie spirited citizens of kennebec county
participated. The State appropriated
the sum of $20,0G0, and Reuel Williams
of Augusta and Benjamin Brown of
Nassalboro each contributed $4,000.
| The first appropriation was made
March s, 1884. Other appropriations
followed, and on October IA, 1910, the
first patient was assigned to room
in the newly erected building.
Many interesting and vital periods in
| Augusta's history must be passed over,
as the present sketch is more of the
city from an industrial standpoint than
any other. The military record of Au-
| susta is proud one The War of 1Sl2,
the Civil War and the Spanish-Ameri-
can War found the loyal sons of the
Cupilal city of Maine enrolled under
the stars and Stripes.
While not located in the city Of Au-
eusta an institution which should be
r,v:ntlpntl at this point in the nara
tive IL the National Soldiers Home. In
1910 Il sulphur spring was discovered in
Chelsea, and in 1888 Il hotel magniti
Gently appointed, was opened. The
civil War came and the enterprise
failed. the United States government
bought it in 1866 as q home for dis 'bled
veterans. Since then a large number
of new buildings have been erected
ard it is one of The famous show places
Of the State of Maine.
The city To-Day offers many points OF
inter, st to the tourist, and not one OF
them should be neglected.
First there is the State House, Will
the ola battle flags in its rotunda, and
the portraits of the men who in thf
; past have Iabored SO faithfully and 81
; well for the good of their State anl
; ration. While many Of the depart
ments are merely business offices from
the visitors standpoint, vet there !:
, something to see in all of them. lr
, the basement is the fish and game de
partmcut, with its magnificent collec'
ton Of fauna, together with guns an(
, traps that have been conflscated by Tho
, officers while in use for the unlaWfu
, killing or capture of game.
In the fish and game department j:
the visitors book. a register in which
are recorded during each year thous
t andS of names of visitors to the build
; ing.
Another interesting department /:
the adiutant generals office, Where th
military records of the State are OF
{ file Nobody ever leaves the building
; on a first visit without calling at The
, State library Tho halls of the senat'
: and the house of representatives ar
, usually open for inspection
2 A trip to the State House is incolr
plete without q peep into that myster
2 Gus region underneath the senat
chamber, known as "the hub Of hell,