The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-15
GROUND BROKEN
 FOR CAPITOL WING Governor Removes First
 Earth and Speaks BLESSING IS INVOKED Interesting Ceremony Marks Begin ming of Work on $10O,OO0 Annex
 Which Will Be Completed
 About January l
BLESSING IS INVOKED

About January
 l Montgomery. June 14.-iSpecial.)- J. Another monument to tile progress of Alabama was begun n this city today, 1 " her around was broken for ,he ad dition If 2 north wing tp tie state cap l it.d. Pretty and interes.ing cercmonies attended the event, wnsch was wit messed reI only by all ot the state of- | ficials and their ele.l but by nm irees of Montgomerians and out of the I city residents who we.c at the capitol. Under the contract which will regu- late the erection of the handsome structure, the building is to be com pleted by January 1, next. at which time it will be opened with further ceremonies.
 1 The programme carried out at the capitol today was short. The Rev. H. NJ Edmonds, pastor of the First Pres byterian church. this city, invoked the blessings of God upon the task before the state, following upon which Cover nor Emmet O'Neal made stirring speech commemorative of the occasion.
 
 were taken by photographers who were present.
 S100,000 Appropriation
 Funds authorizing the erection of a new wing to the capitol were appro- priated by the last legislature, with the understanding that work was to begin as soon as possible. Recognizing the need of increased facilities, Gov ernor O'Neal grasped the first oppor- tunity that was offered to the state be- fore calling the building commission to- gether. At d recent session of the com mission the contract for the building was awarded to R. E. L. Majors of Troy at sum slightly exceeding s70.000 A total appropriation of s1oo,0oo was made for the work.
 At todays celebration the same shovel which was used several years ago in breaking ground for the south wing to the capitol was used by Cover nor O'Neal on this occasion. The shovel was furnished by Adolph Dietrich, cap itol gardener, who likewise furnished flowers for today's ceremony. O'Neal's Speech
 Among other things Governor ONeal said:
 l "The work which we have this day | commenced for the construction of an ad- dition to the states capitol marks an 1 important era in our history. This ad- dition was not only necessary in order 10 give architectural symetry and harmany l to the states capitol, but was imperative ly demanded by the increasing needs Of | the states government. Tho present capitol did not furnish sufficient accom- modations to those who were dele gated to manage the states affairs, and
 for the first time in our history we were compelled to seek quarters in other parts of the city for many of the most inn portant departments of the states gov 1 ernment The necessary result has been 1 that. the states business could not be conducted as it should beat the states capitol-and that supervision and control vested in the executive fully secured The l public was inconvenienced and the high | est degree of efficiency could not be ob- tained where important departments of government were located away from the capitol building It is the duty of the | state to furnish ample and sufficient l accommodations for those who are en- gagged in the states business, and the imperative needs of this addition attests the marvellous growth of our com mon wealth in population and wealth. The taxable values of our property has in creased from S135,5oo,ooO in 1876 to over S500.0 900 in 1910.
 Expenses Increased
 To meet the growing needs of a pros | porous and progressive state, many sad- 1 ditional departments have been ere ated and the expenses of conducting | the states affairs has largely increased. 1 elf ta ha her appropriations for the construc- tion of additional buildings required for 1 our common schools and higher institu- tions of fearing, but extremely par simonious in providing the necessary public buildings for the conduct of the states government. In this respect we have failed to keep pace with our sis l ter states in most of which modern and splendidly equipped capitol buildings have been erected, and even the con- struction of this addition can only meet temporarily our need for additional ac- | commodations.
 The architectural symmetry and beau ty of the old building has been att tested by the most eminent exports of the country and it Is consecrated in the hearts and affectations of our peo- | pie by sacred memories and noble Sra- dirions. Its halls have been trod by many men whose namss have adorned | eosc na tion's history. The walls of the leg islative chambers have echoed to the eloquent voices of the men who have \ made our history and givon character and renown to our commonwealth. It was here that the young republic was ushered into existence, amid the en- thusiastic plaudits of our people, who with unanimity almost unknown in history dedicated their lives and for tunes to It's defense. It was here that Jefferson Davis took the oath of office and proclaimed the birth of the young Con tederacy, whose constitution de- clared the Fundamental principles of free government and the sovereignty of the states. It was here, after the close of that bloody drama. and after all had been lost but honor, were en- acted the darkest chapters in our his- tory, when the state was subjected to the control of aliens to her soil. Kinky headed negroes sat in the legislative halls and saturnalia of misrule, cor rLption and misgovernment without parallel in the annals of history pre- vailed.
 The State Awakens
 But from the carnage and horrors of lcivil war from satiap rule and negro Nomination. from the fiery furnace ,f re-