The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1882-03-18
BADLY EUCnRED.



the Erection Of the feNas Capitol.
st luis Republican
The RepuJhcan of Sunday con-
tanned an article in relation to the con
tract which some Illinois parties haro
secured to erect the Texas stato-house,
ut Austin, aud it has subsequently been
learned TINT q st. Louis syndicate had
"a splendid opportunity to secure this
bonanza, but let the Sucker people get
away with them in Il most lamentable
manner Before going into the detail
1t is well to state that the Texas author
tiles propose to give 100000 acres of
land in the PAN Handle as the consid-
Grafton for the erection of the capitol.
When the bid was first advertised,
Mr.. Swell Of Rock Island, Mr.. Beard.
sley, the postmaster at that place, and "A
Mr.. Drake of Rock Island opened ne
gotiations with the authorities They
then called the attention OF Col. A. Q.
Babcock of Canton, Illinois, to the
matter, and subsequently the Farwclls
of Chicago and Col. Abner Taylor of
that city were induced TO go into the
enterprise. Messrs Smell, Beardsley
and Drake went to tholettingHt Austin,
and putting in
THE LOWEST BID,
They got the refusal of the contract.
They failed within the prescribed time
to furnish the required bonds it is said,
and Mr.. Smell gave his check for 500
600, to be forfeited unless the require
ments of the bond were complied with
in 20 days. On returning from Texas
the party stopped at the Southern hotel,
where they were to be Joined by Col.
Babcock. While here they made the
acquaintance of Capt. H. M. Chipley,
who, upon learning of the enterprise
in which the ywere inteies ed, went to
work to secure the contract for furnish
ing tho granite for Mr.. w. r.. Allen and
his associates in that line of business.
This contract was secured before the
arrival OF Col. Babcock.
AT once comprehending the magni-
tude OF the scheme and perceiying IA
woaknc in the situation, Capt. Chip
ley opened negotiations with Smell for
the purchase of the entire contract, in
behalf of a syndicate of ten gentlemen
of St. Louis, induced inside OF "A
hours by Capt, Chipley to go into the
enterprise if they could secure the
contract. Among the ten were large
capitalists, manufacturers and contruc
tors, Babcock's friends, too were
NOT ACTING PROMPTLY ENOUGH
To suit him, and lie was just in that
state OF mind ut the time to be oper-
ated upon easily by the st. Louis syn.
dictate. Smell was really at that time
the only man who had u dollar invested
in the deal. He was out $4,000 on ex-
pense account and had PIT up $4,000
as u forfeit.
The st. Louis men dickered for some
days and finally made offers that were
boo weak TO secure the prize. They
offered only $500 for the contract.
If they had put up 100000, the gentle
man who furnished this information to
the Republican thinks they could east
ly have closed the bargain.
1T was while the negotiations were
going ON that Col Babcock arrived.
He was the Napoleon Of the party. II
took him but moment to realize the
situation, and he sent Smell of to Rock
Leland ON the first train Tie then took
the negotiations into his own hands,
and was open for any arrangement with
THE 5r. LOUIS SYNDICATE
That would be to their mutual advan-
tage. He waited few days to allow
them to decide what thoy would do
Unfortunately for the syndicate it is
alleged that they became possessed with
the idea that the thing was too large IL
deal for any other parties than them
selves, and that in due time the others
would drop ont and it would TALL into
their hands. All this, too. with the
full knowledge Of the face that they
We're working ag inst men of financial
strength and ability. The consequence
was that Col. Babcock aud his asso.
clates went OIL to Chicago and organ
zeS tho company, getting all the
money and assistance needed. They
then returned to Austin and made good
the bond with the state, viz, S25O,000
This all happened within tho past
fortnight. Coils. Babcock and Taylor
will return to ST. Louis in few days
All the benefit that st. Louis will now
derive from this enterpu is that the
Aliens will furnish the granite for the
state house. Capt. Chipley did his
work well, although not interested to a
great extent. He saw a good oppor-
tunity for money TO be made and in a
remarkably short time got the syndi-
cate together; but they were too slow.
The Illinois party is indebted to Col.
Babcock for their success, and st. Louis
lost the thing, il is asserted, by not
backing properly Capt. Chipley, WHO
saw at glance.
THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
Since the bond has been filed, il is
said that the parties have been offered
5000 900 for the lands. The state.
house will cost between 81 800 600 aud
Sl,7OOOOO, so that ut the very lowest
there will be a profit OF from 81 900 600
to 100000 in the undertaking, even
granting the fact that the lands do not
appreciate for some time ia value,
The tract Of 100000 acres embrac.
ing about 5000 square miles, is nearly
200 miles long aud about 80 wide, and
very near the size, therefore, OF the
state of Connecticut. Fifty thousand
acres OF the tract have been sst apait
by the state OF Texas Ia defray the OK.
peuses of the survey aud the remainder
will be- the property OF tho Illinois peo.
pile ia the deal
Three pilwaya are pushing 10 that
country, which will increase the
yalne oi the lan "a, viz, tho Houston
and poyas Central, line from Donver
10 New Orleans, and another road nom
Auaun 10 d only LOO miles distant