Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-19

In the hall of the House of Represent
yves. The report of the commission
SHOWS that the sum of $751;, 800 was ex-
pended and that the sum of $4.46 was
turned into the State treasury as I'M
expended.
The report of the commission of 20
years ago was presented to the Legis-
1ature of 1891 and said in part:
In obedience to a call from the
Governor, the commissioners met at
the Governors room at the State
House, Monday March 25. 1889, and,
having taken oath of Office, effected
an organization by the election of Hon.
Edwin c. Burleigh as chairman and
Charles S. Hichborn of Augusta as
secretary.
Before taking definite action it was
thought advisable to ask the citizens
of the State to cooperate with the
commission in it's work. and to this
end notice was published by the Asso-
ciated Press, and inserted in the sew
eral daily newspapers of the State in
viting architects and all interested
citizens to meet the commission and
make such suggestions and present
such plans regarding the proposed en-
largement, as should seem to them de-
slrable. In response to this invita-
ton gentlemen from various parts of
the State appeared and discussed with
the commission the question of how best
to make the proposed enlargement. Two
plans were advocated; the one for
central wing and the other for one or
more side wings. Each seemed to pre-
sent some advantages over the other;
but after carefully weighing the ques-
ton the commission unanimously vot-
ed to adopt the former.
1T was further strengthened in it's
judgment by the fact that the plan
submitted to the Legislature of 1883
and by the members thereof very gen.
orally approved, contemplated the adj
dition of central wing. AS the work
has progressed and the convenience
and accessibility of the building be-
comes apparent, the commission has be-
come more thoroughly convinced Of
the wisdom of this decision; and it is
confidently believed that the structure
with which you are now familiar pos
sesseS, in satisfactory degree, the es-
sential qualities of safety, comfort and
adaptability to the needs of the State.
Before deciding upon the plan the
commission. accompanied by the archt
tects visited and inspected the State
House Of Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire and Connecticut for-the purpose
of gathering information stth as would
be useful and ashelp to ting commission
in the discharge of it's duties. Many
Lao III II,
erous desirable features have thereby
been Incorporated in this building.
The plans-having been adopted, adj
vertisements. inviting proposals for exc
cutting the work were published in all
the daily papers of the State. In reply
thereto Ga bids were received, tabula-
ton Of which showed the Booth Broth
ers and Hurricane Isle Granite Com
pany of Rockland to be the lowest
bidder for furnishing the stone, and
Messers. M. C. Foster & Son of Water
vile the lowest for doing the balance
of the work, excepting the heating and
ventilatng plant, elevator, mantels,
electric light and bell wires and other
matters of less Importance. The con-
tracts were awarded to those parties
whose two bids combined were more
than $4,000 less than the next lowest
bidder
"On the third day of June, A. D., 1889,
the first blow was struck and on the
first day of January, 1891, the building
was formally turned over to the State
by the contractors"
An additional appropriation was made
by the Legislature of 1891 for furnish
ing the extension.
At the annual encampment of the I'd
Regiment Infantry which will be heud
in August the State of Maine intends
that it's citizen soldiery shall have
something good to eat and plenty Of it.
The military authorities go under the
idea that if you give man plenty to
eat of good wholesome food that more
work can be accomplished. The follow
ing subsistence stores are included in
the proposals which will be opened at
the adjutant generals office Tuesday:
One thousand five hundred and seven
tyfive pounds of roast beef $40 pounds
of beef stew. 700 pounds of roast lamb,
1875 pounds of corned beef, 700 pounds
of fresh cod and haddock, 40 pounds of
salt fish-scrap cod, 700 pounds of pork
chops, 1750 pounds of beef steak, rump
and loi1 s. 924 cans of baked beans, 1900
pounds of potatoes. 1900 pounds of
onions, GA pounds of beets. 672 pounds
of turnips 700 pounds of cabbage. 54OO
leaves of white bread, 1900 loaves of
hard bread. SIS loaves of brown bread,
800 pounds of creamery butter. 500
pounds of cheese, $50 pounds of Mocha
and Java coffee, $4,000 doughnuts. 500