The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-07-21
WORK BEGINS
On NEW CAPITOL
ENTHUSIASM
GOVERNOR CRUcE USES PICK -
ANTHONY USES SHOVEL-PAT
GOULDlNG AND DOUGLAS FILL
SCRAPER-MOVIE

Oklahoma City, Okla, July 90
Amid waving flags and enthusiastic
cheering of a throng of more than
five thousand people, actual construc-
tion work was begun at 1880 o'clock
this forenoon on Oklahoma's capitol
building Governor Lee Cruce moved
the first dirt with a silver pick with
gold points Chairman w. b. Anthony
OF the capitol building commission
followed with a silver spade, throwing
the first shoyelful of dirt Commis-
siOner Patrick Goulding held the han
dies Of a plow drawn by siX-mule
team, turning the first furrOw, and
Commissioner stephen Douglas fol
lowed the plow, filling the first scra
pei with the loosened earth.
A gang of workmen then followed
right in with the actual work of eX
cayatng for the basement and foun-
dations of the building which is to
stand as a monument through sue
ceeding generations to the enterprise
and patriotism of the people who in
a quarter of a century have erected
the great and progressive state Of
Oklahoma.
At the capitol ground Ed S. Vaught
addressed the crowd briefly explain
ing that the ceremonies about to be
| performed Were the formal reln-
quishment of all responsibility for
the capitol construction by the peo-
pie of oklahoma City turning it all
over to the proper representatives of
he people of the whole state-the
governor and the capitol commission
Governor Cruce spoke very briefly
but with enthusiasm for the auspic-
ious beginning of a great work which
he sincerely hoped and fully believed
would be completed without taint of
scandal or hint of graft.
He announced that Just before leav-
ling the temporary capitol building he
had turned over to the state reasury
s1C6,667.72, this sum representing the
100000 contributed to the building
OF the capitol building by Oklahoma
City, together with the interest on
that amount accumulated during the
time it had been held by the COVER
nor awaiting the beginning of the ac'
tual construction work.
He commended Oklahoma City's
patriotism and generosity in making
this contribution together with the
contribution of the capitol site and
the section of land that-while he
would not attempt to say just how
much it is or may be worth-is OF
very great value. He commended tho
city for having made good her plede
es in connection with the securing o
the capital and declared that he be
lieved every fair-irinded and patriot
ic citizen of the state would approve
his assertion that these promise!
have been fairly and generously ful
filed.
Used Silver Pick.
The governor closed by eXpressin;
a fervent hope that the buildin!
might niever be disgraced through
occupancy in any department by un
faithful servants, but that its seas @
power may be always occupied b,
men who are great enough to realiz'
that they are in Office not as masters
but as servants of the people.
Chairman W. y. Anthony folloge'
the governor in brief but quite elo
quent address. Master of Ceremonie
Vaught then presented Governo
Cruce with a silver pick with go!'
points requesting him to break groun'
for the building
At this point an unfortunate Incl
dent occurred. Mrs. Anna Laskey,
candidate for a minor state office
stepped from the side lines in from
Of the governor, and before he coul'
begin to swing his pick began to dii
with a spade and throw dirt in from
of the governors pick, throwing dir
in his face. She had previousI
I asked to be allowed to appear in tn
pictures that were being taken, bu
D was refused. She was several time
Y requested to not get in front OF Tn
), camera, as the pictures were officia
;. and were to be preserved as perm2
: nent records.