Need A State Capitol? Let's Make A Deal.
What do you do if your state capital building burns down and you can’t afford to rebuild? If you’re the state of Texas in 1881, you barter with what you have, land, lots of land. You find partners who will build you a new capitol building in return for three million acres in west Texas. Finished, construction cost comes in at about $1.07 an acre. It’s an interesting story.
Planning to replace the capitol building began in 1879. The Texas State Legislature appropriated a three million acre land grant to pay for a new capital along with creating a Capitol Board to oversee the project. A national design contest was held and in 1881 the Capitol Board awarded Detroit architect Elijah E. Myers $12,000 for his winning entry. Fate intervened when the existing capitol burned to the ground later that year. Fortunately the plans were saved when the fire broke out. With state government homeless things moved faster.
In 1882 a man from Rock Island Illinois accepted a contract to build the capitol in exchange for the land. He in turn contracted with Taylor, Babcock & Co. of Chicago to build the capitol in exchange for three-fourths interest in the land. The Rock Islander may have been beneficiary of something less than ethical practices in the grant award. He subsequently assigned his remaining interest in the contract to his Chicago partners to avoid accusations of impropriety in the contract award.
Construction of the new capitol began early in 1882. Difficulties arose almost from the start over the type, durability and cost of stone for the exterior. The project suffered fits and starts for two years until the issue was ironed out. Meanwhile the architect, a chronic hypochondriac, proved difficult to deal with and was fired in 1883. A labor dispute arose when the stone cutters union objected to the state’s use of convict labor to quarry the stone ultimately selected for the exterior. The project was eventually completed by stone cutters imported from Scotland.
With capitol construction underway, Amos Babcock and Abner Taylor principals in the construction company holding the land grant, organized the Capitol Syndicate along with Illinois Congressman Charles Farwell and his brother John. John Farwell then organized the Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company of London for the purpose of raising $15.0 million to establish ranching operations on the land in west Texas until it could be sold. The Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company stocked the range with cattle and commenced a ranching operation that grew into the legendary XIT Ranch.
The Goddess of Liberty crowned the capitol dome in early 1888 and the new Texas State Capitol was dedicated in April. The building stood three hundred ten feet tall, completed at a cost of $3,744,600, $500,000 of which was born by the state.
Next Week: The XIT Ranch
https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt
Ride easy,
Paul
Planning to replace the capitol building began in 1879. The Texas State Legislature appropriated a three million acre land grant to pay for a new capital along with creating a Capitol Board to oversee the project. A national design contest was held and in 1881 the Capitol Board awarded Detroit architect Elijah E. Myers $12,000 for his winning entry. Fate intervened when the existing capitol burned to the ground later that year. Fortunately the plans were saved when the fire broke out. With state government homeless things moved faster.
In 1882 a man from Rock Island Illinois accepted a contract to build the capitol in exchange for the land. He in turn contracted with Taylor, Babcock & Co. of Chicago to build the capitol in exchange for three-fourths interest in the land. The Rock Islander may have been beneficiary of something less than ethical practices in the grant award. He subsequently assigned his remaining interest in the contract to his Chicago partners to avoid accusations of impropriety in the contract award.
Construction of the new capitol began early in 1882. Difficulties arose almost from the start over the type, durability and cost of stone for the exterior. The project suffered fits and starts for two years until the issue was ironed out. Meanwhile the architect, a chronic hypochondriac, proved difficult to deal with and was fired in 1883. A labor dispute arose when the stone cutters union objected to the state’s use of convict labor to quarry the stone ultimately selected for the exterior. The project was eventually completed by stone cutters imported from Scotland.
With capitol construction underway, Amos Babcock and Abner Taylor principals in the construction company holding the land grant, organized the Capitol Syndicate along with Illinois Congressman Charles Farwell and his brother John. John Farwell then organized the Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company of London for the purpose of raising $15.0 million to establish ranching operations on the land in west Texas until it could be sold. The Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company stocked the range with cattle and commenced a ranching operation that grew into the legendary XIT Ranch.
The Goddess of Liberty crowned the capitol dome in early 1888 and the new Texas State Capitol was dedicated in April. The building stood three hundred ten feet tall, completed at a cost of $3,744,600, $500,000 of which was born by the state.
Next Week: The XIT Ranch
https://www.amazon.com/author/paulcolt
Ride easy,
Paul
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