The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 455
616 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Texas State House
ing work on the interior had been accomplished.0 The details of
the work were tedious and multitudinous, and the commissioners
and superintendent of construction performed their duties with
commendable diligence. Contractors Taylor and Wilke were pa-
tient and highly accommodating in incorporating improvements-
electric lighting, for example-as they went along.
The building was not to be completed without further difficul-
ties, however, for as construction progressed, it became apparent
that the dome was becoming too heavy, and that its construction
was inherently dangerous.9? The original plans called for the
dome to be constructed of rubble masonry, but were later changed
to dimension stone and finally to brick.92
On October 1, 1887, W. C. Walsh, a former member of the
Capitol Board, wrote to Governor L. S. Ross, saying:
from my figuring ... there will be a pressure on the foundation [of
the dome] of fifteen tons per square foot, when six tons would be of
maximum allowed by any competent engineer for such construction."3
R. L. Walker estimated that by proper elimination and substitu-
tion, over two and one-quarter million pounds could be elim-
inated from the weight of the dome without impairing its strength
or appearance.9? Abner Taylor regarded the brick lining being
placed in the dome "of no use to the building and ... absolutely
unsafe if put in ..." and urged that "an expert architect of in-
tegrity, competent to thoroughly investigate the work ..." be
procured.9 In accordance with Taylor's recommendation, Archi-
tects B. M. Harrod of New Orleans, N. J. Clayton of Galveston,
and Eugene T. Heiner of Houston were employed to investigate
the construction of the dome and recommend remedial meas-
ures.96 The architects generally concurred in the conclusions
regarding the dome that had been reached by the commissioners,
superintendent, and contractor, and recommended that the brick
9oReport of the Capitol Building Commissioners upon the Completion of the
New Capitol, April z6, r888 (Austin, 1888), 99-1oo.
91lbid., 61-62.
92Ibid., 61.
98Ibid., 62.
94Ibid., 63.
95Ibid., 67.
96Ibid.455
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957, periodical, 1957; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101163/m1/490/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.