The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-05-05
MULTIPLICATION AND DETECTION


been, it is said, misunderstood, and
yet it does present features which
have not been regarded with special
favor by the public. and which are
certainly not most advantageous to
the state, nor most satisfactory TO
the contestants. The primitive
movements of the building commits
sioners-the advertising for plans
with an absence of specifications to
guide designers-resulted in a sort
of go-as-you-please contest, in which
every fellow, from modest "Waggle-
snop" to wide-spreading "Tuebor," !"
presented ideas in a multitude of
styles--in pokeberryjuice and in cray
on, on plain. in valley and on hilltop,
from a modest thing, fashioned af-
ter highly colored roadside Swiss
chapel, and perched ina great square,
to a longitudinal structure intended
for a plain, with ends extending
from the orient TO the occident.
The time given for the completion
of plans was too short in which to
prepare special designs, and it Is
probable there is only one design on
exhibition, meriting favor, which
was especially produced, during q
period of six months, however, for
this occasion. 1t was originally pro-
posed, too, that there should be
great secrecy about the ownership
of plans, and hence a nom de plume
was called for with each plan,
and it was said the commissioners
would not even know the real au-
thors of the plans; yet, we ven-
ture to assert, the author of each one
is known and has been known to
these gentlemen since two weeks
afrer they were received. 1t was
said that no favoritism was to be
shown as to persons, and yet it is
reported that plans have met with
approval or disapprOval through
the authors own name and stand
ing, and the merits or demerits of
plans have been discussed on the
practical experience of the authors
as well as upon the point of Origi-
nality in design. Such facts are
enough to show that original pur-
poses have not been adhered
to, and had those engaged in
the execution of these preliminary
steps, had at first proper concep-
ton of the duties before them, they
would never have established plan
of procedure, the breaking of which
would become a pure necessity.
Specifications being SO indefinite,
and plans being SO varied, and not
one probably just the thing needed
for Texas, nor suited to the building
site, it appears reasonable that out of
these plans there ought to be carved
more perfect one, suggested,
probably, by the man of national
reputation" who now scans them
with the critics eye. 1t is to be pre-
sumed that several of the plans will
be found expensively equal to the
demand-a million and half dol
lars-but it is more reasonable to
assume that not one of them is just
the thing needed for Texas. The To-
cation ofthe building, and the nature
and appearance of material to be
used in its construction, and the
requisites Of climate and surround
ings are TO form most important
features in Il conclusion, and hence
it is reasonable to suppose that out
of one or more these plans pre-
scented II perfect building may be
SECURED The advice of an expert,
who should be brought in contact
with men who compete ought
to be sufficient guarantee that
structure, so directed and
composed, would be the most
reasonable that could possibly be
secured. For Texas to follow the
course of other states in making a
capitol might prove most expensive,
and even defeat the erection of any
such building, for the history of
modern capitol construction is re-
plete with jobs that have cost states,
in some instances, from five to ten
times as much money as was
contemplated. Preciedents estab-
lished in such building would not
suit Texans, and plans adopted do
not give reasons for following them.
These buildings have been defective,
nor are they suited in taste and style
to Texas genius and to Texas eli
mate. The requirements of such a
building for departmental purposes,
peculiar to our state government
require all the solidity and prox-
unity possible, commensurate with
requirments necessary to proper
ventilation. Admitting that errors,
and grave ones, have, been
committed, those in authority,
it is now hoped will profit
by experience and information
gained, and proceed, as best they
may, in giving to Texas what it
most needs, capitol, symetrical and
beautiful as well as convenient aud
comfortable; structure that will
be worth in style and finish the
magnificent provision made for it.
Instead of needless expance of
walls we want monumental build
ing with every convenience, kissing
the azure heavens that hover over
Austin, and in every part thing of
Texas, grand, solid and airy, such a
building, probably. as can only be
brought out of one or more of the
preliminary sketches submitted by
these architects. The expert and
the commissioners and the board
have. an important. duty before
them. They are all more fully in
formed now than when they began
work and ought to make no
mistakes Valuable and profitable