The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-08-30
DEPARTMENT NOTES.
STATE DEPARTMENT.


1.-The charter of the Pagoda bath
company of Galveston, capital stock
250OO, was filed Friday with the sec
retary of state. The incOrporators are
Geo. Murdoch, Emile L. Steger, L. j.
Demeritt, G. A. Holmes and Jas.
Ravey.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
Governor Ireland yesterday par
doned John Gray, sentenced by the
district court of Galveston county to
ten years in the penitentiary Tor rob
berry. Having already served out his
term, the pardon is granted on applI-
cation of citizens and because OF his
good conduct in prison, to restore him
to the rights of citizenship.
CONTROLLERS DEPARTMENT.
The assessment rolls of Arkansas,
Burleson, Calhoun, Dimmit, Hood,
Gillespie, Orange and Parker counties
were received yesterday. They all
show large increase in yalues-the
largest being $1,2O0,000 in Parker
county. The rolls of Dallas county,
it is believed, will show IN increase Of
about $3OOO.0OO.
Samples from bidders for the con-
tracts to supply the asylums, are
being tabulated, with view to max
ing the awards.
THE NEW CAPITOL.
Altogether there are about 400 men
employed one way or another in con-
nection with the work on the new
capitol. Of these there are seventy
five at work on the foundations. as
many more quarrying stone, and per-
Ihaps 100 engaged in making the track
of the railroad to the quarry. Clerks,
.draughtsmen, material men and other
employees in various capacities make
up the rest of the number.
The building, as is generally known,
is to be paid for with an 'appropria-
ton of 100000 acrrs of land in the
Panhandle of the state, which have
been pledged for the purpose. Esti-
mating the land at $1.50 per acre the
capitol will cost 81 100000, and will be
a much larger and somewhat finer
structure than the state house of ILL.,
nois, which has already cost S., 800, 900,
and it is estimated will cost all of an
other million to complete it. If these
figures are correct, and the lands are
to be considered well sold at $3.50 an
acre, which is, or at all events was
when the contract was made, a fair
price for such lands in the aggregate,
taking the Illinois capital as stand
ard, the contract for the Texas cap
ital will not be. comparatively speak
ing, such dear bargain as many are
inclined to believe, especially if we
take into consideration the fact that
the lands which have been pledged to
the capital syndicate might otherwise
have been covered by railroad GER
tilicateS. or in some way been gobbled
up by spectators for a mere song.
Three millions of acres sounds like q
big donation for any purpose, but
$4,500,0O0 is huge amount in return
Tor it. even in the shape of state
capitol building.
The Capitals Boom.
Cattle men are coming to this city
to build homes and greatly improve
the resident portions. Among them,
a STATESMAN representative learns,
that Mr.. Mathews, of Fulton pasture
company. has bought adjoining to
Perry Days place. George w. Little
field, of Gonzales, bought the Nc
earthly property and will build very
costly residence. George West, from
near Sweet Home. intends to purchase
property and build a fine home. ID.
II. FAINT, from Goliad, will also locate
here and build IL large house. Mr..
Seeright, of Cheyenne. will begin the
erection of one of the finest dwellings
in the state in a few days. Henry
Stevens, of Sweet Home, will buy
property and erect a mansion, and
several others whose names our repre-
sentative could not learn. They seem
to be locating in the northern portion
of the city. These men will repre-
sent several millions of property and
will be great addition to the bust
ness stability of the capital.