The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 60, July 1956 - April, 1957 Page: 461
616 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Texas State House
signed. The Board decided to fill these positions again until all
complaints against the building were obviated, but apparently,
only a new secretary, R. S. Harrison, was appointed.124
When the Board met on September 17, 1888, Abner Taylor
presented himself "ready to remedy any defects that may be
pointed out." His offer was accepted and a few days later he
offered to hire disinterested experts to inspect the capitol and
determine whether "the work and material ... are first class in
every respect, and that it has been constructed in accordance
with the contracts. ... "125 In view of Taylor's offers, the Board set
about procuring the services of an expert architect whose opinion
was to be final as to both the state and the contractor.120 Accord-
ingly, Edward C. Miller, an architect of Washington, D. C., was
employed.127
Miller conducted thorough examinations and reported several
discrepancies, the most noticeable being in the cutting and
laying of some of the granite, which was easily remedied. He
found, however, that the defects in the roof "were not of so
serious a character as rumor has suggested," and were the result
of alternate expansion and contraction, and the careless drop-
ping of objects on the roof during construction. The leaks were
pointed out to Wilke, and he was instructed to make repairs
by appropriate applications of solder. Beyond initial repair, Miller
said, periodic inspection and preventive maintenance would be
necessary.128
In his final report, dated on December 7, 1888, Miller said:
I have the honor to say that the defects pointed out ... [in prior
reports] have been promptly cured by the contractor under my
superintendence. Since the completion of each branch of the work I
have made a minute examination of all the work done from the roof
to the basement floor, including the area drainage, and find that it
has been executed to my satisfaction and is now perfect in accordance
with the drawing, specifications, and contract, and changes made by
authority of your Honorable Board and Commissioners. ...
124Ibid., 37-38.
125lbid., 37.
126Final Report of the Secretary of State Capitol Board, December I8, x888
(Austin, 1888), g.
127Ibid., 6.
128Ibid.461
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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/m1/498/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.