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V-3P3SB. 38, 1871.of- tr^h ;wbntovor. Tho bid of tlio Messrs. Mathea’ of this county, was;, much below that of the successful competitor, and the qarry ia much easier of access, besides the stone ’ has boon thoroughly tested jp buildings and found to 8tan’tf all kind* of weather and under all oircumstancos. We had intimations before !!tho matter was decided, tfmt a “ring” existed,1 but supposingTt /to bo a mistake, wo refrained from making any mention of it. at tho time, well knowing that such reports 'are very common under - such circumstances, hut tho more tho mkt-terjs diicuesed, the more wetare ^i^t,.iboHcYO that thero was some truth in Ricropoi’t.In speaking of this matter a Into number of tho Cedar Rapids Times makes tho following remarks.In addition to this, wo are crod-ibljinfov^^i yj in on or-undoubt-od voracity, that in several instances where this atono 1ms been used for foundations it had to bo removed in a short timo and replacod by something more durable. — Since this matter has como hofore thopublio, wo lmvo oursoivos examined spocimens of this oolitio limostono from tho immediate vicinity of the quarry favored with tho contract, and it is identical with it, as all the oolitio formations in Tama and Marshal counties can bo shown by undoubted nuthori fcy to bo.While wo make no claimB to scionco in geology, wo do claim that wheu wo see stone orumblo as this docs after an oxposuro of loss than two years, we oannot avoid the conviction that it is not suitable, for building purposes. The Oxford stone when first lakon ' out is, to .all appearances, hard and durable,, but we have seonlt so much disintegrated by oxposuro, that you ’could pick off the surface with nails, .and pulverize it between your fingors. Wo bavo no doairo to impeach Prof.' Hittridhs’ testimony irv.this matter, nprr tq -|uai ___piled by thoTr^ofeMor,.' a^lsc® ing'; updn h is‘ so'icntide decisiop-tho Commissioners may haVo accepted it, but'from 'the foregoing adverso testimony, togother with tlio practical oxporionco with this stone, of men of unquestionable judgment, aa also what wo havo soon ourselves, we are inclined to the opinion that thero may. ho aomo mistake in tho matter, and that now is tho timo to investigato it thorougJily. Wo havo no “axe to grind,” : in this question of “stone for tho Capitol,” nor. have we any stone quarry ourselyos, nor in our locality which wo do-siro to aeo immortalized by being placed in tho Capitol ” building costing tho people of Iowa a million of dollars, placed upon an insccuro foundation. We have good stone in Iowa for building purposes, us tho stono in the olcl Capitol at Iowa City, which has stood for more than 25 years fully demonstrates. This stono Prof. Ilinrichs oondomns by classing it with a worthless stono, thus giving ua additional reason for fearing that, ho haB inudo a mistake.If tlio Commissioners desire further testimony on this matter, wo can furnish them with tho names of good rclinblo men who have liveef in tho vicinity of tho Orford quarries from the earliest settlement of tho country,—mon who avo well and prominently known throughout tho Stato, who will give their testimony against them. Bvidcnco nood not he wanting when desired.This,now Capitol is going to cost tho people of tho Stato millions of dollars, and-they ahould and will demand of tboso having charga of tho work a faithful performance of their duty. If it should oyor trnnspiro that a single member of tho Commission was in any manner concerned in any game to defraud tho State to tho amount of a single dollar, their chances for political oloya-tion in the future would bo slim indeed. Whether thero bo any grounds for all this, talk throughout tho Stato or not, tho peoplo are beginning to think thero is, and have their eyei upon thoso who have their hands in tho coffers of tho State, and will hold them to a strict account for tho manner in which they dischargo tho duties assigned them. We shall watch this matter more cloio-ly hereafter, and keop our readers posted as to tho turn affairs may take.
Newspaper Details
Pella Blade
Pella, Iowa, US
Tue, Feb 28, 1871
Page 4
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 22 Oct 2024
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