Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1871-02-24
The Capitol Stone Question.

The Capitol Stone Question.
Next to the controversy, caused by
the appropriation for new State Capt.
tol' has been that over the awarding
Of the contract to build It.. We have
said but little on this question, pro-
ferring toilet the opposing papers
bring forward their evidence to show
wherein the Commissioners did
wrong in awarding it to Tama county
Quarries. Much opposition Ito the
action Of the committee, has grown
out of the fact that certain Quarries
did not receive the contract. while
the Mt. Pleasant Journal, among
other of our exchanges, consciously
sees a "nigger In the wood pile. -
Col. Dewey, one Of the Commission
'ers, has written o letter to the Iowa
City Republican, which he sums
up at the close as follows: IS.
"To conclude, and to come to the
case in point at once, have to say
that of the thirty-six samples of
building stone obtained by the COM
amittee alluded to, and submitted TO
Prof Henrichs for chemical expert
ment and determination, four. com-
ing from Iowa quarries, were point
ed out by him as excelling all Others
for their durable qualities. They
came from Jefferson, johnson, Tama
and Madison counties. CThe speci
men of granite, from n Buchanan
county boulder, was not included i'm
the series admitted-it needed no
testing). Tested mechanically, the
Jefferson county stone stood at the
head, the Tama county following
next. then Madison and Johnson
So far as their local reputation for
durability was concerned, they all
stood equally at home; the stone
from Johnson and Madison counties,
however, having been largely and
more prominently brought into use
than those from Jefferson or Tama
counties. From all the evidence
then before the Committee, setting
all partiality aside, and believing
them the Lest stone i'm the State,
what was their duty when called ur..
on TO decide with when to contract,
the quantity required being about
5000 cubic yards, with the following
bids before them, namely:
Buchanan county (bouiderl - 26s3is
Johnson county stone af" s.. % OIL
Tama county stone " " 1880
Madison county stone " " 10 bid
Difference between the Jeferron
and lama, SgT 500. 90
Difference between Buchanan - 4
and Tama, 65 0p0 90
Difference between Johnson
and Tama, 4Gifn.O0
leave yourself or any other equal
ly fair-minded, man to determine
this question, feeling sure that you
would arrive at the same, conclusion
that majority of the Commissioners
did - .tqI
am confident that at the time of
| making the award, each individual
| member of the board acted IA he
! thought was for the best interests of
the State, and l still believe land
trust in this you will also agree
with me) that in any emergency
that may yet arise, they will continue
to do so. No contract has yet been
made with the party who bid on the
lama county stone, and if on fur
| ther examination of its merits, O
majority of the Board shall become
con vinced that the charge Of worth
lessness brought against il In your
paper are true. 1 feel assured that
none will ever he entered into.
Frank Hatton, editor of the Mt.
Pleasant Journal, replies to Mr..
Dewey;s letter, through the State
Register, in which he states that the
charges made specifically, and to
which noalIusion was made by Com
missioner Dewey are these:
LIST. That the so-called scientific
test WAS shown to be entirely value
| less by the testimony of actual ex-
perience, aud the opinions of tile
State Geologist, who is acknowledge
ed rs having gained quite as high Il
! position OIL the hill of sciencer as
Prof Henrichs.
I'd. That certain stone entitled to
be considered was never submitted.
81. That the public had no iDfor-
nation showing that the report at
tnched to certain stone, was the test
of that stone. 49,
4lh. That i'm place of this exami.
nation having been made fairly,
openly, and matter of public record
10y the Commissioners, the whole
knOwledged was confined to one
man. who prepared the samples and
kept the record as q private memo
randum.
9th. That some good reason should
be given why in matter which
would necessarily create considerable
comment, involving as it did the
character of the stone I'm many
of the most valuable quarries in
the State, there should have been
so much mystery and foolish secrecy
land no opportunity offered parties
interested TO see that their stone was
fairly submitted, thoroughly ex-
mined and honestly reported.
9th. That the proposal made to
certain parties, to the effect that they
could have the cot tract ii they would
agree to furnish tile stone at ttrelUe
dollars per gard the manner of tie
letting-the character of the report
the quality of The stone selected, as
stated by two different scientific
meu Plofs. White ami Parker--and
the statements made by certain par
ties bidding, has the look of collision
or unfairness which demands the
fullest and most unrescrved explana-
ton.
We are inclined to the opinion that
the Com missioners have acted in
good filth, and stand ready to do
what is to the best interests of the
State at large. AT all events, let
Icwa's Capitol be built of Iowa stone
so long as it is known that Tama
county quarries cannot he exceIled
in quality by Illinois, or any other
State.
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