The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-01-18
Vol. %, No. 40.

On the 18th day of May, 1871, q
contract was entered into with
Messrs. Tuttle u Robinson of Des
Momes, for furnishing the stone for
the foundation at the price Of Sl0.25
per cubic yard for dimension stone.
and $5.75 per cubic yard for block
rubble. Under the contract the first
car load OF stone was delivered on
the ground, june 15, 1871, but ow-
ing to the delay incident to the open
ing OF q new quarry, and its snbse-
quent failure to yield stone Of size
and quality as required, the contrac
tors were prevented from delivering
stone as fast as needed. Tho first
stone was not laid Id the foundation
until the 17th Of August. On the
23d of November, the formal proceed
ings OF the laying of the corner stone
took place, at which time, in conse
qucnce Of the severity OF tho wealth,
or, the work was suspended for the
season. At this time the contractors
werc furnishing stone from a new
quarry as fast as needed, and the
work was being prosecuted vigor-
ously. Had the season for laying
stone boon protracted, as we usually
have reason to expect, nearly the en-
tiro foundation walls would doubt
less have been laid. As it is. about
three-fourths of the outside founda-
ton walls are laid, on solid concrete
masonry, two feet in thickness.
For full details of the work al
ready done, reference may DO had
to the report Of the Commissioners
soon to be submitted. The report
will show that at the date of Janu-
ary 1, 1872, there had been expend-
cd Of the appropriation, the sum. Of
Il9,997.62, leaving balance on
hand Of s3O,uO2.3e. With the nee
essary buildings, machinery, and .
railway to the capitol grounds, al
ready provided, future operations
on the building may be resumed
without the delay attending the
work heretofore.
In view Of the Importance Of tho
work, and the absolute necessity
that the building be pressed stead
lily forward to completion, or
at least to conditions uitable for oc.
cupancy, / would earnestly recon-
mend that the present General As.
sembly make certain fixed annual
appropriation, say of not less than
$3.50, ,000-the amount to be in
creased as the resources Of the State
may admit, and as the stage of the
work may require, and not to ex-
ceed in tho aggregate the estimated
'eustrof the building. This would
savo. the Commissioners much em-
barrassment in making their ar-
rangements and contracts. qs1
l would suggest that the law crea-
ting this Board be 80 modified ss to
reduce the number of its members to
three or not to exceed five; that
they be selected for their peculiar fit-
Eess for the work without regard to
dyvtts s,l 1ndn- t,4h0-e -eU:rn0,tuvrcSe,s e,s
their office. l also would recommend
that both political parties DO repres-
e6ted upon the Board.
Below I present summary OF the
amounts deemed necessary by the
Boards and officers having charge OF
State institutions and public works,
for new buildings, for repairs, and
for improvements requiring special
appropriations. Some of the OBJ
iects for which the several amounts
are asked, however desirable, may
be delayed until the next General
Assembly shall meet; but most OF
them, think, should receive imme-
diate attention. 1t is for the Gener
al Assembly, whose members arc
just from the people, and familiar
with their views and feelings, to say
bow much shall be expended for
those various objects.
The following are the figures:
| Hospital for the Insane
at Independence. .s200, ,0oV.ot
Hospital for the Insane at
| at Mt. Pleasant im-
provements and con-
| tipgences ...... 27,90O.0t
New Capitol. -. 800, 10000
Asylum for tho Blind, ad-
dition to building. 49,. loo, ,O0O.0'
Institution of Deaf aud
Dumb ........... 100000,
Institution of the Deaf
and Dumb, wing to
| building.................. lUo,OOo.O'
men,s..... ........... 10000
Penitentiary enlarge
ment ...................... 100000
Agricultural College,
| building and improve
ments ..................... ioV,VoV.o
Soldiers Orphans homes,
building and repairs. l5,oOo.o
Soldiers Orphans homes,
Il libraries ................". I0U.o
Reform School. 75,0OO.O
BOARD Of Immigration. 2O,o00.O
j State Historical Society. 10000
sl,OO9.70O.0
The Auditor of State, in a yer
acceptable tablo, estimates the i
come for the two years ending N
yember 2, 1873, at s1,972, 400, on
, the expenditures at 81 "a 300, lea
ing towards meeting the above me-
toned special demands, and au
other for which the legislature ma
deem it advisable to provide, Il
! sum Of only s63O,9oO.
/, RAILROADS.
: On the 3lst of December, lS6
q there were / l,44S miles of railroad
l the State, and the 3lst of Deccmbt
$ 1870, there were 2,7s3 miles, on
: crease OF 1885 miles in the ty
s years. There are now, 5000 mil
Q of railroad in operation in the Sta1
II According to the estimate OF Y
Q Treasurer of State, the value OF =
I property now in railroads may
J, nut at rather more than $50, 600, ,Ot
l. or about one eleventh of the emit
D. value of all the property In t
o State. The magnitude OF this
terest is now SO formidable as in 4
II opinion to demand some measure
@ official supervision. At presel
of railroad companies, upon tho comp
n ton of their lines, are required