The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-06
THE CAPITOL MIDDLE.

AAO AOeNoOhS pI0SdEIOO ny bu6 ulG-
jority of the capitol board for their re-
cent action in voting to permit the uso
of Indiana stone ore very strong, and
If their statements be correct will
doubtless be generally approved. Gov
ERNoR IRELAND's paper wss an equally
strong and patriotic presentation of
the other side Of the case, and the
question Is now more complicated
than ever, such prominent officials and
good men being directly antsgonistic
In statements of fact.
The matter appears to DO reduced,
however, to single fact; whether
there Is sufliciency Of good Texas
stone TO complete the building. Upon
the final and satisfactory answer to
this question will stand the iustifica-
ton Of one or the other divisions of
the capitol board.
II there is sufliciency Of the right
kind of Texas stone, the building
ought TO be pushed to completion with
1t and the contractors held strictly to
account for the entire performance of
the contract. This the people uudoubt-
eddy want, and tho Governor would
be not only justified, but applauded
for his position.
II, ss MEssRs. SWAIN and tho others
say, the Texas quarries have been ex.
hausted, and that it is impossible to
perform the contract as it now stands,
that such being the case, the State
could not obtain dollar of damages
nor an acre OF land back from the sym
dictate should they throw up the work
and the building DO left a huge mass to
drain the treasury Tor years; then, I'M
questionsbly, those latter gentlemen
Of tho board are right, and will DO sus-
tsinod.
The case has gotten at issue,
and there Is but one way to settle.
Competent experts should DO employed
to determine the extent and durability
Of the Texas stone, and upon their re-
port the issue be decided They should
be not only thoroughly competent, but
wholly DISTINGUISHED. 1t is a matter
possible OF solution, and so important
to Texas that it should DO speedily de-
termined.
We do know that there are large
numbers OF most superior structures
in several cities OF this State built
with Texas stone; they are In Dallas,
in Austin, In San Antonio, Ia Calves
ton and elsewhere. Whether that so
used would suitfos tho capitol building
or not is u question easy of solution by
experts. One other thing we DO also
know, and that Is that no finer granite
In tho United States Is 10 be found
than that which is in Burnett County.
Not only as superb In It's
Notwithstanding ability, but in the
rare beauty Of the polish OF which il is
80 readily acceptable. With this fact
in our very midst, and so very conven-
ient to Austin, together with the pos.
sibility Of obtaining other good stone.
We would prefer to await the re.asseul-
bling Of the Legislature, or even the
calling OF an extra session, for the do.
termination Of the matter rather than
so to some distant state for ihe
material The governor says wo.
have the necessary stone, and no must
have spoken advisodly, anS even
since his first assertion to this effect
no has confirmed his opinion by a de-
terminod action. Tho case i8 worthy
of prompt solution, however, and
should have it. II tho proper mate
rial is not in tho State thcn tho cues
ton settles itself; tit is here, thon
lot as insist on having Ii. Perhaps
ono Of these days our Legislators win
the value Of what TIN
HERALD has SO frequently urged,
A Geological Survey of our State.