Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-05-19
BELTON.
Bright Outlook for the Farmer-The
Town After Baylor University
and Female College.
A Description Of Bell Oounty's New
Court House-An Imposing and
0apaciouS Structure.


Ah1-@ADNff AA%<A AAtJ AOs VIC nan u
very heavy rain here Saturday even
ing and another yesterday evening,
both Of which were accompanied by
high winds. 1t is feared that the crops
have been somewhat damaged by the
wind and water.
Farmers say they never were as well
up with their work as now, and never
had better prospects for crops. If we
can only have q few weeks of dry
weather now, all will be well. 1t Is
clear and bright to-day.
Our people are working as industri-
ously as bees to raise funds to secure
Baylor university and Bay
Tor female college. Some
Of our public spirited business
men have subscribed $1,000 while Others
have subscribed $500. The town Is be-
ing vigorously canvassed with reason
able success. We hope to be able to
raise enough to secure both institu-
tons.
BELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
Among the many new court-houses
that have been built in the state dur
ing the past few years, rs we'll as those
now In course OF construction, 1t seems
to be universally agreed that the Bell
county court-house, just now be
ing completed, surpasses them
all in beauty of design
ana elegance of finish. 1t attracts
the attention and claims the admira-
tlon OF every one that visits our city.
Such being the case, u brief descrip-
tion OF 1t may prove of interest to
the readers Of THE GAZETTE.
Tho ufrgIn 81 l..
me size OF the building at the base is
loo feet by 76s feet. II is three stories
hlgh. IL has classic porticoes on each
OF the four sides, supported by cut
stone columns, mounted on nicely
wrought pedestals, having finely
carved capitals. The entire cornice is
carved Off with pilasters. having
nodded caps and pedestals. The tower
has splsyed base, thirty-six feet
square, falling back TO eighteen feet
square, and is surrounded by a col
onade OF four feet projection, which
has tiuted columns and carved cant
tails, and fine balustrade of spun
zinc. On the top of the tower. which
Is 10 feet high, is an image of the
goddess OF justice, with her sword and
scales. The roof is OF tin, put on to
look like slate. Around each one of
the porticoes are elegant balustrades
Of zinc.
There are two halls crossing each
other Mt right angles. There are
twenty-five offices and the district and
county court-rooms. There are five
nre-proof vaults in which TO keep the
county records. The corridors and
porticoes are all laid in marble thing.
me cornlces, pedestals, at tower aud
roof, handrailing, bslusters, urns, shell
ornaments, at apex Of roof and pedi.
ment windows, are all of galvanized
iron and spun zinc. The internal
woodwork is finished in natural colors
and looks well.
The district court room has paneled
ceiling, supported by fiuted pilasters
with moulded and paneled pedestals,
with carved capitals and BASES at the
intersection of the panels. The house
Is buiit OF cut stone, every bit of which
was obtained from quarry near town,
Inc house was designed by J. n,
Preston IL Sons of Austin. who have
superintendent its construction. The
contractor was Mr.. Ben b. Lee of this
city, who has done an honest and
faithful job OF work. The building
was begun ia May, 1884, and accord.
lhS to contract was not to have been
completed before the lst Of August
next However, the contrac-
tor has nushed hia ,,n,'I
rom the beginning, and
now says he will have il completed bv
the first OF June.
The roofing and all the zinc and gall
vanized iron work on the building was
done by w. j. Burt & Co. OF Fort
Worth. Their. work is well done; it
reflects credit upon their firm and the
city from which they came. The
house must be seen to be appreciated.
The building when completed will
cost the county $4,000. Considering
us style character and general finish
u ls said to be the cheapest building
IN the state. We doubt il anyone ex-
cept Ben Lee could have built II for IN
small an amount Of money.