The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-23

the bond of Tleo Ray, tax assessor of
Midland COUNT.
DEPAgTstRSr OF EDUCATION.
superintendent Baker was busy yester-
day sending ont his annual report to
members of the legislature.
BOARD OF REGENIs.
The board of University regents was in
session yesterday, dicussing and prepar-
ing the report to be made TO the legisla-
ture.
CAPITOL COMMISSIONERS.
The following is from the report of the
capitol commissioners issued yesterday.
After referring TO the detailed statements
of Secretary Dickinson the report sayr:
"In reference TO the character and con
ditlon of the work done upon the build
lug, we would say that every portion of
has been done strictly in accordance with
the plans and specifications as amended
10 date, and is first class in every par
.ticular. At the date of the closing of this
report, November 1, 1856, the interior and
dome walls of limestone and the granite
superstructure have been completed
above the second story, and the iron work
of both stories placed in positions; the
boiler house of the building has been fin
ished, and the sewerage work completed,
and all the work is going rapidly forward
in satisfactory and workmanlike man
ner. If the same rate of progress in the
construction of the building is maintained
during the next two years as has been
made since last January, when the work
of constructing a granite capitol was
begun, and we see no reason why it should
not, it is confidently believed that our
new capitol building,with all its eppurten-
ances, viii be completed and perfected in
all its parts IN every particular according
10 contract in 1889. The contractor, how
ever, has until January l, 1890, in which
60 complete the building, and the work has
not been, and neither will it in any re- |
spect be, pushed faster than safe, solid,
durable and first class workmanship and |
construction will admit"
Having constantly in view an earnest
desire to secure for this building every
improved appliance TO be found in the
most modern public buildings--state or
national--the introduction of which in
our capitol would add TO its convenience
and usefulness, and at the same time les
sen the cost TO the state hereafter, of TAX
ing care of the building, We have ON sew
eral occasions, as will be shown by our
TO the board, which are
embodied in The secretary's report, pro.
cured, without any additional cost to the
state, many Improvements over the ocigi-
nal plans and specifications, that have
been introduced into the building, and :
the contractor has been compensated
therefor by the omission of different ma ,
hot L., ~
with. But there are yet several modern {
andapphances, recently per {
feet, d, that are now being extensively /
nsed in all monumental public structures,
which should be placed in our capitol be-
fore its construction advances much fur. =
ther; but which we are unable to procure
without some appropriation from the leg
islature. Among the number, and some .
thing most urgently needed, il the intro
duction throughout the building of a first !.
class system of incandesceut electric
lighting. Under the present specifica- Y
lions gas alone is to be used, with few !,
of the chandeliers and other gas Jets to :
be lit 10y meals of electric wires, and when !,
in operation the annual gas bill of the :
new capitol will be something enormous, y
leaving the state at the mercy of the
gas company or companies with
The only alternative of binding its own
gas works The amount of the gas bill
for few years would be sufficient for the
state 10 purchase, own and operate what
is known rs an isolated plant of some
frst-class system of incandoscent electric !,
lighting, including all the apparatus com 7
plete, with the requisite number of lights ,
for the whole building, giving, in our !
opinion, a far more beautiful and safer ,
light than gas, add the entire plant would ;
be a permanent improvement, tho annual !
cost of maintaining which would be but II,
slight, as the same engineer in charge of =,
i, with but little assistance could also y
manage the boilers connected with the :
steam heating of the building. =
Article 27S of the original specifications i.
provides thar "if the legislature should
determine 10 reopen the artesian well be-
'ore the same will interfere with the ex-
AVIATION or construction OF the walls, then
when the basement construction is reach r
ID, the contractor shall provide by inser- /
ion of sufficient pipe, at the point of dis '
'herge, for conveying outside the walls
my water which the well shall yield, the
lost of said pipe and its insertion in
place to be paid for by the state"
This provision became O part of the
original specifications at She suggestion
# the first president of the capitol board
Governor o. NJ. Roberts. The artesian [
veil referred to did not interfere with the
for the foundation of the
building, as it is located within aud be- {
leath the basement rotunda I
# the dome walls some distance
rom their foundation, and it could Z
'e opened at small expense by the aid of q
he machinery now being used to do the ,
work upon the building. Before this well
,ecame INSTRUCTED several years ago, she
gatcr which flowed from il steadily,
vas aighly regarded for its medicinal ,
and as the state has in the /, /,
last spent very large sum 1t money
lp0n this well, We think the expenditure
4 nominal sum now in opening it again
gill prove benefit to the new capitol, for
his well could supply much of the water :
Ised in the building, aud more than pay
or its being opened by lessening the cost
o the state of procuring water from other
0Hrces.
lhSss aFe some OF tbs inproyal ents :
hat ought to be considered at an early