The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-03-18
THE NEW CAPITOL.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK ON
THE BUILDING.
GEN ERAL WALKERS OFFICIAL
REPORT ON THE SAME.

CONSTRUCTION VI lne
NEW STATE HOUSE,
and CLEANED the following interesting
facts:
The time embraced from the compile
ton of the basement walls of the building
and of the granite water table, to the sign
ing of the supplemental contract of July
20, 1885, the chief feature of which was
CHANGING THE EXTERIOR
walls of the superstructure from limestone
to red Texas granite, was busily employed
by the capitol commission in the arduous
labors of preparing and presenting to the
ca pitol board large amount of data and
information of which this change to gran
tie was effected without the expenditure of
any money on the part of the state, (no
appropriation tor that purpose having been
made by the 10Th legislature) but by
making certain
NOTIFICATIONS
in the original plans and specifications in
the ornamentation and construction of
the building, which were embodied In
such supplemental contract, and which do
not in any respect mar the original de-
sign or finish of the building. From the
estimate on file with the secretary it will
be seen what the
DIFFERENCE IN COST
was between granite and limestone for
the outside walls, and all the details of
these changes are a matter of record with
the secretary"
INV written recommendation of these
changes and certain other changes in its
plans and specifications, embraced in lat
ter supplemental contracts, and memoir
anda of agreement which have been found
necessary for
SAFE, PROPER AND IMPROVED
! construction have been endorsed by the
commissioners and are on file with the
} secretary"
, after the execution of the granite con
tract July 20, 1885, various other con-
t tracts and arrangements had to be entered
f into by the capitol contractor, and extern
| sive preparations inaugurated before work
) directly upon the building could be re-
sumed."
A contract was entered into between the
state penitentiary authorities and the
capitol contractor, whereby the state
furnishes 500 convicts to do the granite
and stonework for the building at the
GRANITE AND LIMESTONE
uuar1ies, and to assist in constructing
fourteen miles of railroad from Burnet
to the granite quarries at Roseville
Surveys had to be made and right
of way for this railroad obtained
and the road constructed and equipped
A full and explicit grant from the owners
of the granite quarries for sufficient gran
tie for the. capitol building was secured
The six miles of railroad to the Oatman
vile quarries and the railroad from thu
depot to the capitol grounds in this cit.
had to be put in good order, and a thirC
rail laid on this latter branch. All tn
improved facilities in the way of ma
chinery, derricks, engines, tramways an,
other appliances for the rapid and efficien
handling and using of material upon tn
building, had to be erected and put il
place, and to-day there is no building il
the United States in course of construc
ton of the
" of our capitol, which has as thorough ant
{. complete a building plant as is now IL
n operation on the capitol.
J. Steam travellers for two granite yards
e one at Bulnet and the other at the granit
y ouarries, have been ected. and boil
re Yards otherwise extensively and eficientl,
IA equipped in every respect for the expedi
y tious qnarrying and dressing of the gran
l. lite. Suitable appliances have also beef
+, furnished at the Oatmanville quar-
70 ries for quarrying and dressing
n the limestone for the interior and dome
1t walls. Substantial quarters have also
- been constructed at both the granite anC
s limestone quarries for the accommods
e ton of 500 convicts. Numerous and va
rious contracts and sub-contracts, for fur
nishing material for and doing all tn
work, upon the building have been con
summated by the contractor, and a
3 present every portion of this great under
taking has been carefully systematized ant
: perfected, so that its work its now pro
r cesding as rapidly as safety and prope
r, and tirst-class construction will admit of
Among the many contracts that have
e been made for material. one especially
is worthy of note, viz: The contract be
t, tween the state penitentlary authoritie
S. and the capitol contractor, whereby thu
l. Rusk penitentiary is to furnish nearly al
d the cast iron work for the building, includ
ing all the cast iron cOlumns-said con
$, tract amounting to upwards of $1,000.
i. Work was directly resumed upon tn
D bidding by the delivery on the grounds
on the 9Th of January, 1886, of severa
N Thousand rubble stone, as per sample Nc
2, from the Oatmanville quarries, for thu
d, interior walls, and for the backing of thu
lie granite exterior, and the stone is beinl
received daily in such quantity as requires
L in construction.
=, Sand, lime, cement and brick have beef
delivered as the demand for the same II
1t progress of the construction
IL of the building necessitatini
o. son January IT, 1886, the
. WORK OF SETTING
40 the rubbIestone for the interior walls wa
h. begun, and for the week ending Januar
a. 25, $50 perch had been set. On Januar
IS, several carloads of dimension ston'
ID from the Oatmanville quarries, TO be use
m in the construction of the dome wall
we're received, and are received almof
daily since, and the work of setting tn
same was commenced on the 18th of jar
uary.
"The two cisterns required by the plan
to furnish drinking water, located on tn
north side of the buildinp have been eJ