edge leads man to the highest type of social enjoyment. The frowning stockades at your northern door have been removed, as no longer necessary to your safety; a teeming population under the direction of skill and capital, extends its labors and scatters prosperity and hap piness on every son of toil. Every department of industry is pursued, and every resource of wealth developed. Situated at the outlet of an immense sea fed by others and at a point that must make your lovely city a commercial and railroad center, nothing can retard its onward progress.

"This proposed edifice attests the liberality and public spirit of the people, and here, on behalf of the great fraternity I represent, I congratulate the "itiseus on the prosperity they have so worthily secured, and on the commencement of a building which, when finished and completed in all its parts, will be a pride and ornament to the metropolis. Brethren, according to ancient Masonic usage, we will now proceed to lay the corner-stone.

The corner-stone was then adjusted in true Masonic form, after which the Grand Master addressed the citizens as follows:

"Fellow-citizens—To our trust, as Free and Accepted Masons, has been committed the laying of this corner-stone; and we who are lawful Masons have performed that duty with an eye single to the glory of the Great Architect of the Universe, and exact justice to all men.

"Centuries have looked down upon our fraternity, and ages still in the womb of time will attest the honor and beneficence of the brotherhood.

"We practice the essential requirements of the good and just, as handed down to us by the best of the sons of earth.

"And now my brethren, let it ever be our effort to observe, preserve and keep every rule enjoined by Masonry, and so live as not to bring a taint upon its future history.

"Thus untarnished and full of fresh life and vigor, may it ever march on to new achievements until time shall be no more."

At the command of the Grand Master, the Masons then gave the public grand honors, in perfect time, and with impressive effect.

The following is a list of papers and other articles deposited in the corner-stone, which was read by the Grand Secretary:

Copy of City Charter and Ordinances.

Port Huron City and Business Directory.

List of members of Board of Education, rules, etc.

List of Mayors of the city.

Autographs of City, County and United States officers residing in the city.

Copies of city papers of latest dates.

Copy of Lake Huron Observer, September 16, 1837.

Proceedings of Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Michigan June 4 and 5, 1872. Other proceedings of Masonic bodies.

Manual of First Baptist Church.

Manual of First Congregational Church.

Certificate of Membership of St. Stephen's Catholic Church.

List of Members of Fire Department.

Historical sketch of Lalios' Library Assosiation with list of books.

Historical paper on "Early Sattlemant of Port Huron" by Mrs. B. C. Farrand, in the Daily Times of June 17.

Photograph of William Stewart & Co.'s hardware stor*.

Business cards of Howard & Son. W. B. & J. Hibbard, James H. Haslett, L. A. Rose, William Wastell, H. Mears. M. Walker, William Stewart & Co. (with coin attached), Commercial, and Samuel J. Giddey.

One 25-cent fractional currency, issued by John Miller & Co., August 25, 1862.

One dollar note of First National Bank, deposited by Henry Howard.

Silver coin deposited by Edward Petit, date 1854, inscription, "E. Petit, born 7th Febru

ary, 1813, first white child born in the city of Port Huron."

Five silver coins, inscribed and deposited respectively by John Miller, J. Gillett Wastell,

Alice M. Miles, Nellie Stewart and Hattie Howard.

One silver coin, inscription, "S. T. Probett & Son, Builders, August 30, 1872."
Photograph of William Wastell's drug store.

Certificate of membership of Spiritual Society, with date of organization, and date of erection of their hall.

Piece of charred wood from Chicago fire.

Discipline of Methodist Episcopal Church of Port Huron, 1868, with names of officers and

members.

Copy of programme of banquet given to the Masons, August 13, 1872.

List of officers and members of Grace Episcopal Church, with history of its organization. Copies of Detroit daily papers of latest dates.

Copy of contract with Stephen T. Probett, builder of City Hall, dated July 16, 1872. Photograph and history of Mother Rodd.

Business card of J. W. Camptield, boots and shoes, established 1833.

Early history of the family of S. S. Ward.

The Masonic ceremonies were completed by the application of the square, level and compass, the stroke of the mallet, and the pouring on of corn (wheat), oil and wine.

Judge Mitchell then made a few remarks, saying that the orator of the day, Mr. Eldredge of Mount Clemens, was not present, being detained, as he supposed, by ill health. He thanked the brother Masons from other places for their kind assistance in the ceremonies and labors of the day, and especially those from Canada, wbose presence testified that the brotherhood of Masonry is not limited by cities, counties, States or nations, but is as wide as the world. He called upon Mayor Miller to speak for the city.

In response to this, Mr. Miller came forward, thanked the Masons for their assistance in the ceremonies of the day, and expressed his confidence that the building would stand for he did not know how long.

Mr. O'Brien J. Atkinson then spoke on behalf of the Common Council, also thanking the Masonic brotherhood for the part they had taken in the ceremonies of the day. This closed the exercises at the stand, and the crowd, which must have numbered two or three thousand persons assembled in the park and streets adjacent, immediately dispersed. Most of the stores were closed from 1 until 3 o'clock and many places of business were handsomely decorat ed with flags and streamers. All the exercises passed off pleasantly and satisfactorily, making the affair in every way a success.

THE CUSTOM HOUSE AND POST OFFICE.

During the year 1865, the customs business of this region attained such porportions as to convince the Government authorities that the interests of the revenue service would be advanced by the organization of a new district separate from that of Detroit, of which it was then a part. In the winter of 1865-66, definite movement was made by our citizens to secure the creation of the new district, and a delegation of our leading business men, among them Hon. James W. Sanborn, Henry Fish, John P. Sanborn, H. Howard and F. L. Wells, proceeded to Washington to labor for the result which was attained in the April following by the passage of the bill creating the "Customs District of Huron," embracing twenty-two counties and all the frontier from Lake St. Glair to the Straits of Mackinaw, a line of coast of fully 550 miles, counting the bays and inlets of Lake Huron. The organization of the district was begun in the fall of 1866, and completed the next spring, since which latter time the upper part of Johnston & Howard's block, on the corner of Water and Military streets, has been occupied by the offi ces of the district. This arrangement was, of course, intended from the first to be only temporary.

Hon. Omar D. Conger was elected to Congress in 1868, and among the first bills introduced in the House by him was one providing for the erection of a Government building at this point. After the usual delays which such measures meet with in Congress, the bill was finally passed June 10, 1872, and approved by the President the same day. It authorized aud directed the Secretary of the Treasury "to purchase at private sale or by condemnation in pursuance of the statute of the State of Michigan, a suitable lot of ground in the city of Port

Huron, State of Michigan, and to cause to be erected thereon a building suitable for the accom modation of the custom house, bonded warehouse, and other Government offices in that city, the lot of land and the building thereon, when completed, upon plans to be previously made and approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, not to exceed the cost of §200,000.” were at once prepared under the supervision of A. B. Mullett, then Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, and steps taken to secure a suitable site for the building. There was some rivalry between the north and south sides of Black River in the effort to secure the location of the building, and various spots were placed in competition, most of which, however, were excluded by the exactions of the Government, which were that the site should be bounded on at least three sides by streets or alleys. The site finally selected by the locating committee (consisting of Collector Sanboru, Postmaster Hartsuff, Capt. E. Fitzgerald, John Howard, W. L. Bancroft, Albert Hendricks and Peter Hill), was the lot on the corner of Sixth and Water streets, fronting 225 feet on the former street and 131 on the latter, and 175 on the alley. The cost of the lot was 810,000. $5,000 of which sum was paid by subscriptions of citizens, so that the cost to the Government was less than had been anticipated. Some fault has been found with the location, but all things considered, it is doubtful if any bettor one could have been made. It is central, on high ground and convenient of access, which considerations outweigh the single objection that the building is not as conspicuous as if situated on Military street or Huron avenue.

The plans of the building were completed and the first appropriation of $100,000 toward the work made March 3, 1873. It is of rich light-bluish sandstone, three stories in height, hip or square roof, and surmounted by a dome. The style is composite, the Italian predominating. Its exterior in the main is plain, though the carved stone cornice and pilaster capitals are handsomely and richly ornate. The dimensions of the structure, are: Length, 113 feet 10 inches; breadth, at the ends, 62 feet 7 inches; at the center, G7 feet 7 inches; height from the basement to the eaves, 53 feet; to the summit of the dome, 105 feet; to the top of the flag staff, 144 feet.

As above stated, the first appropriation, $100,000 in amount, was made March 3, 1873. The subsequent appropriations were, $75,000, June 24, 1874; 825.000, March 3, 1875, and $36,000 for completion of building, and furnishing the same, July 31. 1876. The work of excavation was begun in August, 1873, under the supervision of Henry N. Wright, of this city, who remained in charge until the arrival of Mr. George H. Saasa, th9 present Superintendent, who came here in October of that year from St. Paul, whero he was just completing the United States Court House and Post Office at that point. Mr. Saasa, who is one of the most capable builders in the employ of the Government, besides the St. Paul building, had also superintended the construction of the Cairo, 111., Court House and Post Office, and was thoroughly familiar with the task before him, which he at once entered upon with vigor, and has prosecuted most faithfully and successfully from that time to the present. He has given close personal attention to the minutest details, and not one cent of the Government's money has been wasted. He first completed the excavation and procured the material for the concrete foundation. The excavation extended three feet below the floor line, which space was filled with concrete composed of limestone, broken into pieces about the size of a hen's egg, mixed with a composition of coarse gravel, sand and cement. As the concrete was laid the system of drainage was also constructed. This is of the most perfect and substantial character. Water from the roof is conducted through cast iron pipes in the wall into two stone drain pipes underneath the basement floor, extending the full length of the building, with lateral branches. These pipes are provided with stench traps that prevent gas accumulating in the sewer from coming up in any part of the building, and empty into a 15-inch stone pipe leading to Black River. The laying of the concrete was about two-thirds completed when the weather became so cold that work was necessarily suspended and Mr. Sease proceeded to St. Paul to close up his superintendence there and accompany his reports to Washington. He returned here in February, 1874, and as soon as the weather would permit resumed work.

The putting down of the concrete was finished and the laying of stone in the basement story begun May 1. Work was pushed rapidly forward and the corner-stone laid October 8,