Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-07-18
AN AlR-CASTLE SPOILED.
Something More Subtantial Than a
House Of Glass Wanted for
State Capitol.
Some of the consequences to be En-
countered If the Tender Of Indiana
Stone Is Refused.

puDilC VIII SOlho rchtihichtoi bNih "h
the subject OF Texas and Indiana
stone for the capitol building. The
assertion is made by the contractor
that after an expenditure of over
S26, 900 the syndicate has failed to find
stone liz Texas which Is accessible to
the state for her capitol building.
This assertion Is corroborated by the
capitol building commissioners to the
extent that OF all the many samples
of Texas limestone sent to their Office
from almost every section OF the state,
which can be procured in sufficient
quantities, quality and dimensions,
they have seen none which they
would advice being used In this grand
edlfice FOR external work. This con-
clnsion in many Instances Is founded
upon an actual chemical analysis of
the stone, when from its gen.
eral appearance Its true value
could not be definitely arrived at.
Doubtless the contractor aud every
member Of the capitol board believe
that Texas has buried In some portion
vi utE Mlut lluitdIOu0
adapted In every way for constructing
her state capitol, but II Is wanted now,
and where can IL be obtained Is the
question both tho state officials and
the contractor would much desire an.
swered. 1t would he saving to the
contractor II y. A. Il. has really found
it right here in Texas, and 30 &C.
cessible.
~ Ia md 20. 10 - Il
geologist, but we fail entirely to sec in
what manner either his practicability
or geological resources have awaited
him In his Investigations OF Texas
stone. We quote from his communi.
cation:
Between Garlic Pass and Sierra
Blanco the Texas Pacific runs over
vast bed OF observation-disclosures lime
stone. as durable IA adamsnt and very
beautiful. 1t Is OF q rich, velvety, dark.
blue color, filled with sea-shells and
Cofals OF the venerable eub-carbonif.
erous world, converted for the most
part into pure crystalllzed limestone,
which spsrkles like diamonds. Ii
polishes AS smooth and shining ~ Ice,
and when 30 treated 1t Is wondrously
beautiful, with its corals and shells
sparkling from the rich, velvety, dark
blue ground. Have you anything in
Indiana so beautiful as that? Think
what u grand capitol house 1t would
makep
AS the material to he used In the
construction or the state capitol has
already been selected and
contract duly entered into between
ha OF A
ting by sample the said material
which Is limestone-- we will not dis.
Cuss n. a. TBS imperial phosphorus,
heaven are paved, or the great col
thousand feet high and sparkling with
crystals OF pyr0Xene, but we will re-
turn to the limestone which he so
beautifully describes above. Sab.
carbonlterOus linn sstone filled with sea-
shells and corals, which polishes like
ice and spsrkes like diamonds, as du.
rable as adamant and so beautiful.
No, there Is nothing like this in In
diana or ahy other known land.
Think what q grand capitol house it
would maken Our ideas cease to re.
volve, for we would indeed add an
build such house with such material,
for there is no limestone of the oolitic
order or sub-carb oniferous period
which will show TO the eye any evi.
dence OF animal life. Nor IL there any
of this order that polishes like Ice.
Numerous fossiliferous limestones pos.
sessing these qualities are often found,
but, IA evidenced from their period OF
formation, they are not sub .cafbonif.
erous, but Of more recent formation,
and therefore not classed rs the most
durable building material.
sample No. 4, originally selected for
the exterior OF the capitol building,
waa OF this order, and Commissioners
Walsh has already explained To the
public the necessity OF rejecting 1t,
The order OF stone now described Is
seen 10 many buildings now standing,
but not without some evidences of dc.
composition Ii IL has been In use for a
period of forty or fifty years. Numer-
Gus instances could be cited If our
space permitted. N. A. T. in
describing this remarkable
deposit of stone has either drawn
largely upon his Imagination or failed
to properly classify the stone. Sam.
pies OF the limestone referred to can
now be found on file with the capitol
commissioners, and that which is OF a
chalky or magnetism formation ha.
pyrites OF iron aud other mineral de
posits which render 1t unfit for ,Xte.
rior work.
IL could be asserted, and perhaps not
without grounds OF defense, that
the bed OF Colorado river has pearls
enough hidden beneath its placid wa
ters to build the capitol, but the Nine.
teenth legislature failed to make the
necessary appropriations to ascertain
this fact, "a signally as the state did
in requiring solely the use OF Texas
mat erial in her contract, and the at
tempt OF either one or the other car
but result In the forfeiture on the par
of the atate of all chance OF collecting
uusrter-of-a million dollar bond
which the contractor has given 10 car
ry out the contract in good faith and
In accordance with the agreement &C
Cepted by the state. III the people o
Texas wish to forfeit all claims FOL
damages against the contractor arc
pay $3.50, 900 for the sentiment OF hav
Ing only Texas stone in our capitol
render themselves liable for imaginary
profits which would be claimed by
the contractor should the an
nullment of the contract be forced
by the state, and then finally, but no
least, undertake. the construction o