The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-01-12
CAPITOL CONTRACT SIGNED.

The fact that the contract for the
erection of the new state capitol
was, yesterday, signed, sealed and
delivered, is a matter of congratula-
ton, not only to the people of Aus
tin, but to those of all Texas. Texas
increased in population, between
1870 and 1880, from eight hundred
thousand inhabitants to sixteen hun
dred thousand. Mr.. Hoxie, of the
Gould roads, who stands in a posi-
ton to best comprehend immigra-
ton movements in the southwest,
said, not long ago, that over three
hundred thousand people had
moved into Texas in one years time.
This human stream continues, and
it will continue, until in 1890 the
population of Texas will have
reached five millions. Before this
time elapses the stately capitol of
Texas, this magnificent edifice that
is to crown capitol hill, will have
lifted its stately head to a point
overlooking the fairest fields and
valleys of all Texas. Every Texan
ought to feel pride in the fact that
Texas is to possess, as a monu-
mental structure, a capitol hardly
second in grandeur to that of the
mightiest nation. AS an architect
ural building, it is said, this capitol
will surpass any similar build
ing west of New York, and
south of the Ohio. 1t is to become
as it were, typical of the magnitude
of Texas, and being built of her i'm
perishable rocks it will remain the
admiration of coming generations.
The contract is made, and soon the
work of excavation and building is
to begin, when slowly and solidly
the work will mount up from pit to
pavement, and from basement to
halls and dome, and towering in
this ever radiant southern sunlight
it will justly be the pride
of Texans. 1t is variously es-
timated that the specifications call
for a building worth from two to
three million dollars, and Texas is
able to pay all this sum without tax
ing out of the pockets of the people
one dollar, or issuing even one sim
gle evidence of debt. The sixteenth
legislature passed a bill, and it is
proper here to give our distin-
guisbed towrsman, Hon. A. W. Ter
rell, the credit due for its origina-
ton, appropriating three millions
ofacres of unappropriated public do
main, with which tobuild a new cap
toll. There were those who said his
plan would not work, that the issu-
ance of land certificates would alone
secure the capitol, but all this is
passed, and we have the fact pre-
sented that the new capitol is GER
tainly to be built. These gentlemen,
referred to elsewhere, who have en-
tered into contract with the state to
build this capitol, are backed by
large capitalists, who stood pre-
pared to even buy the lands for
two millions cash. The contract
calls for the erection of a splen-
did structure, and for this the
state gives three millions of acres of
land, laid aside and surveyed
into leagues, and all in a
body in the Panhandle of
Texas. The state owns eighty mil
lion acres of land and cannot miss
the expenditure of these lands,
while the syndicate securing them
gets a prize. Of course they are
to be made valuable by development
of the country in which they lie, but
even now there is active demand for
land, adjacent to the capitol lands,
for purposes of stock raising. A few
years hence these lands will become
very valuable, and indications are
that the gentlemen composing this
syndicate will in the next half dozen
years treble their investment. True
it will take the expenditure of capt. |
tai to secure this, but this means in
creased revenue to Texas aud en-
HANGED material and political |
power. Certainly no one regrets |
such results. The state officers |
composing the capital board have
certainly done a good work, in con-
and with the Old Alcalde at
the helm, it may be known, that a
square contract having been made,
IN honest work Is all that will be re-
ceived.