The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1909-11-16

UEENLY alive to the benefits to he
reaped by the people of Column
bus and of the western portion
OF TINS county through the construc-
ton of the wings of the new capitol
building of Columbus sandstone, and
DelieVing that to build the wings of
Indiana stone or any other stone is
an injustice to an industry of the
state of Montana and may result in
marr1ng the appearance of the build
ing, the main portion of which is al
ready built of Columbus stone, the
Billings Chamber OF Commerce yester
day met in special session and adopted
a series Of resolutions directed to the
governor and the board of capitol
commissioners, urging upon them the
relative merits of the two stones and
guaranteeing that if the cost of the
Columbus stone is greater than the
indiana product the people of Colum-
bus and of Yellowstone county will
make up the difference.
Following are the resolutions
adopted:
Billings, Mont, Nov. Is. 1909.
To the Honorable Edwin l.. Norris, A.
N. Yoder and Albert j. Galen, COM
posing the Board of Capitol Com
missioners:
Gentlemen-The following resolu-
tions were unanimously adopted by
the Billings Chamber of Commerce at
special meeting of this date:
Whereas, The manufacturing indus
tries of Montana are now in a state
of infancy as compared with those of
older and more densely populated
states, and
Whereas. Those of the industries of
our state that have passed through
of all loyal Montanans and should be
protected as far as lies in the power
of all loyal Montanians and should be
permitted to reap the benefits of in
creased business that the rapid devel-
opment of the state now promises and
given the preference in all public and
private contracts wherever and when
ever it is possible, ~nd
Whereas, 1t is admitted that there
Is difference of only about $4,000
in the actual value of the sandstone
quarried at Columbus, Mont, and the
limestone produced at Bedford, Ind,
so applied to the bids on the new
state capitol of Montana; therefore
be it
Resolved That it is the sense of
this body that Columbus sandstone
should be given the preference in the
construction of the capitol, even at an
advanced cost, if any there be, asking
the board to bear in mind the diff
ference of expense in production of
the stone, stone cutters in this state
receiving $6 per day as against $3.50
paid in Indiana, and all other expenses
being proportionately greater; and it
is further
Resolved, That the effect of using
two kinds of stone in this magnificent
structure will in a short time result
in such a disparity of coloring as will
utterly destroy the harmony and
beauty of the building; and further
more, it having become current report
that a combination has been formed
by powerful interests, as evidenced by
the unanimity in the bids, with one
exception, to crush out the building
stone producing, industry of the state
of Montana, this body does hereby
earnestly request that the capitol COM
mission shall reconsider its action
in selecting Bedford stone for the
capitol, and that the stone produced
at Columbus, Mont, be selected in lieu
thereof and if such change may be
made this body is credibly informed
that the difference in the price of the
two products after their actual values
have been taken into consideration
will be made up by the citizens of
Columbus and Yellowstone county.
These resolutions are adopted with
the understanding that the stone con-
tract has not yet been signed by the
and that it is still in its