The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-05
THE STATE CAPITOL.
THE BOARD RISES TO EXPLAIN,
Each Member Makes a statsmeut-No
Stone In Texas-Plenty In Indiana.
Letu Have Good Article.
Keep the Contract.

AOSklNt o0lN LopOSAoisl NOhA-
missioner Walsh, Comptroller Swain
and Attorney-G General Templeton have
come out in lengthy statements ex-
planning their vote on the adoption of
Indiana stone. Walsh says; l voted
tor Indiana limestone and will do so
again under like circumstances. / re
garded the construction of the capitol
out OF good material without cost be-
yound land itself as the grand
object for which we were to work.
The original Capitol Board were led to
believe by men of experience en-
ployed by them that Austin and i'm
mediate vicinity would furnish all the
limestone needed TO erect such
building and dozen moro like 1t.
The stone which we provided tor
the construction of the foundation and
basement because of its abundance
proved to be complete failure as to
quality and quantity. Nothing in the
law or contract specified the use Of
Texas stone. When, therefore, the
syndicate, after discovering that the
Octmanville and the Avglnal quarrles,
and to which they built railroad,
would not furnish stone acceptable to
the commissioners, offered us stone
from Indiana equal in every respect
as TO texture aid crushing strength
and superior in color, voted to ac-
cept it. To note otherwise would haye
placed the State in the attitude OF say
| ing; "lf you bring me white lime
stone corresponding to sample from
Indiana or any where else | Will ac-
cept it without questior, bat II you
| offer me a stone equal in every respect
but better color I will reject it be.
cause it comes from beyond the bound
aries of Texas" Neither law nor con-
tract authorize us as a capitol board
| to jeopordize interests 80 vast for q
mere idea. or sentiment. II can make
little difference to the farmers
as to the artisans of Texas
whether the small amount Of stone
needed in the construction of the eX-
terror walls of this building comes
from Oatmanville, Burnet or Indiana,
so long as you do not call on them to
supplement by the payment Of taxes
deficiencies created by gigantic of.
fort at economy. Ithas been suggest
ed as practicable to sell the 1900, ,00C
acres OF land left for 81 per acre cash
and with the proeeeds and the use OF
convict labor construct the building,
Millions of money are to-day
being paid in taxes as the
result OF like experiments by the city
county and State governments. | wish
the State, through the board, to taRC
such a position as will, in connection
with this contract, s6nd the syndicate
out of Texas naked if they do not com
! FN1atn hn hnflHfnu otNA knaV for Hn a
and her future contractors all that has
been so far done and all the orlgina
land, and enable her to recover the ful
penalty bond given by tho contractors
/ am convinced that Texas will never
in future, secure on moro economical
terms a grands state house, and IL not
completed under the present contract
our children and grand children viii
gaze at It's unfinished walls and groar
as tho tax gatherers como around.
Templeton says: ~ voted for tht
proposition 10 allow the contractors 4
use Indiana stone. 10 received thu
unqualified approval of my judgment
and / regret Il as little as anything
have ever done. The difficulty abou
Ontmanvillo stono is no recent dis
covery. AS early as April, 1884, tho
superintendent of cons ruction calleC
my attention TO its imperiecs'on anC
for many months IL has been a matter
for formal and informal discussion
among the Capital Board Commits
sionsrs and the superintendent o
construction. II was thought at tn,
time that suitable ston0 coulC
be found near Round Rock
but investigation proved
could not. We all favored granite
and | did all / properly could whel
the Legislature was in session TO ai'
the passage Of the granite bill. Th
State either had to accept indiana
stone or see the contract abandoned
believe the people would prefer In
diana stone to having the contrsc
abandoned, and could they compar
the two l sincerely believe they woult
prefer the Indiana stone. have don
what consoientlously believe TO be I,
the best interest OF the people,"
Swain goes into q lengthy statemen
defending the position, in which h
says: "M0nths ago the governor OK
pressed thelopinion that limestone o
the required.list could not be had &C
cessible TO Austin, and he had hopes O
securing granite instead, and the mem
bers OF the board without exception 81
hO kONOIhOl nNub nO lhl ~
to offer contractors q thousand con
victs. This was, | thought, stretching
the law, as / understand the statut
prohibits the use of conyicts on publ
buildings. 10 have refused INDIAN
limestone would have forced tn
abandonment OF the contract
The following are the
VIEWS OF HON, W, !. SWAIN:
81 have no objection TO giving m,
views II any one demands TO know
them.
"Tho law under which the capito
contract was framed did not requir,
Texas stone to be used for the outsidl
or exterior walls of tho new Texa
capitol and the contract made in &C
cordauce with tue law does not 70
quire it.
"Phe contract called for Texs
cement, but soon after the commence
ment OF the work upon the building |
was ascortained that Texas cement Ii
sufficient quantity OF the standard 70
quired could not be furnished anC
either work would have TO stop or 1
standard brand of cement be allowed
to bo used, no matter where IL oam,
from, provided IL was the best. Tn,
columns In the portico, tho wains
coting In the rotunda aud oihol
portions OF the building are TO DO o
Texas marble and granite, but where
ever Texas material has been men
toned, there has been heretofore NJ
trouble, except to agree upon change
where IL was necessary.
"The water table of tho building wa,
not required 10 be Texas granite, bu
by q concession on the part OF th,
Board in dividing the sizes of the
blocks called for by the plans, 80 that
they could be hauled on wagons from
tie quarry to Burnett, tho contractor
agreed to use the Texas product.
"The contract calls fer limestone anC
the Board did submit to the Legisla
turo plans for granite and estimates
bas.d upon the change from limestone
to granite, and the Legislature failed
70 pass anyac that would permit thu
Board 10 change the contract or givl
power to them 10 secure the desired
change.
"The change from limeston,
TO granite was net recommended by
= tho executive TO the Legislature. /
soon became known that the lime
stone at Oatmanville aud adiacon