The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1906-10-25
THE TEXAS CAPITOL.


Represents Cost Three Times Lar2-
or Than the Public Estimate.
The numerous scandals which
have grown out of the construction
of State capitol buildings throughout
the country give OCCASION to Texans
to congratulate themselves upon the
fact that their own capitol is free
of the faint of corruption which af-
feCted the cost of the building
1t is an interesting fact, not wide
ly known. that the Texas capitol cost
over three times as much as the pub
lie estimate at the time the contract
was let. The contract price was g.
600, 900 acres of land situated in the
upper Panhandle. The popular no
ton was that this land was worth
80 cents an acre, and upon that basis
the public estimate was that the
State paid $500, 600 for the build
ing. The capitol syndicate composed
mainly of the two Farwells, John V.
and Charles, Abner Taylor and Colo
mel Babcock, all of Chicago, were
not the original contractors, but took
the contract by assignment What
they expected the building to cost was
never made known, and the actual
cost was never published as far as
the writer knows After the build
ing was completed a statement was
prepared for the eyes of the
contractors, which showed an ex
penditure exceeding $4,000. 1000
the exact amount | do not recall
Texas owes a debt of gratitude tc
one man connected with the construc-
tion of the capitol, which. up to the
hour has been unacknowledged.
General Lindsey K. Walker, supervis-
ing architect on behalf of the state,
won his spurs as one of Lees engi-
neers in the hard fighting about
Richmond. He was Southern gent
leman of the old school and leaned
back, like an Indian, upon every ques-
ton of official duty
With unflagging zeal he watched
every detail of the work Not a
granite block went into the walls un-
inspected There was much COntro-
versy from time to time touching the
construction, and particularly the
material to be used. The capitol
board, composed of the governor and
the heads of the principal depart
ments of state. was divided three 10
two-and for a time it seemed that
work would be suspended and the
whole question would be carried TO
the legislature In all of this contrO-
yersy Gen. Walker played an inn
porjaut part. representing with scru-
pulous zeal the interests of the state.
II Is but simple Justice TO say chat to
him and TO three members of the
board w. {. Walsh. land commits.
IL EDHUln nfrftFTIlIsT
John ID Templeton. attorney genera.
was due the abandonment of the
chimerical plan 20 construct the build
ing of Oatmanvue limestone, Che
walls of which, by scientific demon.
strJfiou. would have been insuthri
Duf fU have supported tine ma,st',
dome. reaching upward ot 800 Zee.
toward fhy skt. AL of these details
however involved uu issue of mfeE
rity The material fact of lni'rrs.
now BIS IhHt tb, capitol was butlt
NOT 4D,1rdIus fU contract because 'h.
contract V.e Hu unWI-, uur which
could haN, eiN,u thv state a build
ug CHAT NHuId buy, hN fhia im.
have bsDam. disgrace Bnd a state
wide suuda. Hut ng better than fh'
original contract provided Ih'
.ute t1r....I IH H.t n $1,000. '.tN'
UuUiul Be- au. U t..UUu.Uu" IH.
uulmUUH expected 'H reir ~.
.t.sIH. UFH.. uuI Hi .HU HItn.'I'
HHd Hsm.lu .Hs. resolved 'hHu iH.
raI If. |"HH. H.r. Wu|.. W"I
lhau .ar UHN.I. .Huueb. ltrF N.H
Hu..J f... marketable. .fww
Ii. ..tH ... contractor. .NPrr.
500. .H.u. .... .t. HH,s ffua