Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-11
CAPITOL BUILDING
It's Completion and acceptance By the State
Recie,ced at Length

It's Completion and acceptance By the State
/ Reoie1ced at Length
When I came into office the walls of the
third story, including the dome were
erected. Frem its very foundation it
had been constructed under the super
vision of three agents employed by the
state whose duty it was to inspect every
part of the material and work
manship and as they were gem
tlemen of unquestioned probity and
acknowledged ability, and the pre-exist-
ing capitol board had given the work in
its progressive stages such careful atten-
ton as their respective duties would per-
nit, Just confidence was felt IN the
satisfactory character of the building
The attention of the incoming board
however, was soon called by the superin-
tendant and commissioners to a defect in
the original plans and specifications for
the dome work, which in their judgment
would impose a weight upon the building
beyond the point of its safe carrying
capacity. AS the board made no preten-
tions to architectural skill or ability,
as q precautionary measure they deter
mined that the best interests of the state
could be subserved by calling to their
aid competent advisors upon whose iudg-
ment and final decision, in conjunction
with that of the superintendent and COM
missioners, the people could more safely
rely. Accordingly they secured the ser
vices of Messrs. Clayton, Heiner and
Harrod who were men Of well established
regulations as experienced architects and
experts. In addition so the duty of pro-
viding for the alleged trouble connected
with the dome, they were commissioned
and charged to made as complete and
THOROUGH INSPECTION
of the workmanship, plans and speci1ea-
tions of the entire building as was possible
in its existing state of completion, and by
reference to their report it will be OBJ
served that after suggesting the necessary
remedy for the dome structure, and after
thorough examination of the building
they concluded by saying:
1T is our opinion that the building
throughout complies with the plans,
specifications add contracts evincing the
intelligent and conscientious care of those
in charge of the work, and when COM
pleted Will serve as a worthy capitol of
great state.
In fun compliance with every detail
suggested the building was then advanced
to completion, and in May 1883 the state
government occupied it, and the closing
sessions of the Twentieth legislature were
held in their appropriate halls On the
goth of September, 1888, the capitol COM
missioners made their final report in which
they pronounced the building completed
according to contract, and recommended
its acceptance. But as there were well
recognized defects IN the roof, and some
other detects were believed to exist which
were considered departures from the con-
tract, and the board believing that the
state was entitled TO perfect building in
every respect, they declined to receive it
until these matters were more satisfae-
torily adjusted.
1t is but due the commissioners and the
superintendent TO say that they did not
believe that a perfect roof could be con-
structed of copper IN this climate on so
large an area, because of the great expan-
siye power of the copper, and this opin-
ion was shared By the contractors, as is
evidenced by the records of the Office.
Their report as to the satisfactory com
pletion OF the building was based upon
what they deemed a perfect compliance
with the FERNS of the contract on the
part Of the contractors. To obviate
the difficulty and bring the mat
ter to an amicable and fair set
Element, Colonel Abner Taylor on
part OF the contractors. proposed