The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-01-29
THE COURT HOUSE.
Tho Board Tackles the Subject.

Tho Board Tackles the Subject.
The special meeting Of the Board Of Supcrvi.
sors to consider the question OF the erection OF u
new court house and Jail met on Wednesday
afternoon last, all the members being present.
After roll call in Judge Millers office the Board
adjourned TO Lynch's Hall, when, on coming to
order, Armstrong, chairman, presented the fol-
lowing report:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the board Of
Supervisors: Your committee appointed to build
court house and Jail having had the same under
consideration, would beg leave to submit the
following report:
That In obedience to the action Of this Board at
its December session. authorizing this committee
To proceed and perfect plans for court house in
such manner AS TO them would seem for the best
interests of the county, and submit such plans
when so prepared to this Board at its next meet
ing; and in pursuance of such instructions your
committee took under consideration the plans
heretofore submitted to them by the six invited
architects; and the committee not being fully
satisfied with any OF said plans, on motion all Of
said plans were rejected. ThereupOn the com
mttec agreed to consult Mr. Beers an architect
Of Chicago, who being notified by telegraph
responded and met the committee, and after
negotiation and consultation and calling to our
aid the assistance Of the county attorney, a con-
tract was entered into between Mr.. Beers and
the county, which contract is made part Of this
report.
The contract is that Mr.. Beers shall furnish
all plans and specifications for the court house
with any notifications .he committee may make,
for which the county agrees to pay him one per
cent. on the estimatcd!cost, provided that it not
exceed 100000 In case the Board adopts his
plan and proceed to erect the building, his fee
shall be per cent. in addition TO the Der cent.
above allowed in case his plan Gor building to
cost 100000 or Less is not accepted His fee is
h,ti1 l.,
less the committee choose to pay him before that
time. However, he is to be held responsible for
any damage through neglect of any Kind to the
extent of his commissions, minus the per cent.
for his plans. His travelling expenses are to be
paid incurred; and in case he cannot himself
superintend the work he shall employ at his own
expense n substitute All the committee sign
contract except Armstrong.
After the execution Of the above contract the
committee required Mr.. Beers to draw designs
and plans for a court house, and prepare specit
cations according to the views and instructions
Of the committee; and also as to the situation,
size and locality of the various offices, together
with the arrangements Of the entire building
and the materials to be used in its construction,
and TO submit the same to the committee for
consideration. Mr.. Beers was further instructed
to draw fullsdetails of the plans and elevations,
together with specifications of all work and ma.
terials necessary to complete the same, with
responsible bidders for all work and materials
said specifications.
Your committee met Mr. Beers, presented a
more elaborate set of drawings of all designs,
with elevations and specification which met the
views OF the committee. Mr.. Beers also pre-.
sented bids from eleven whom he deemed re.
sponsibe bidders, whose highest bids amounted
to the sum Of 1892 Al 10, and whose lowest AZ.
gregated bid amounted to the sum Of 1923 $50
The bids and the amount bid on each of the
eleven items are NV in the hands of the COM
mittee
Your committee would further represent unto
your honorable body that they have taken great
pains to 20 through all details in every part of
he building SO far as 1t was possible for them to
do, endeavoring to economize everywhere and
lsp off all unnecessary cost at the same time
keeping in mind the absolute necessities Of the
county wants. In no part of the building will
there be any room that could be dispensed with,
In the judgment OF the committee The design
will be as follows: $50 #. from north to south :;
81 II. wide, and will be three stories high. The
first story or basement will be II IT. high, second
story, officers rooms, 10 #. high; third story, a
court room, % IT, high. The basement and
Office stories of the building to be absolutely
fire proof All outside walls will be built Of rock
faced lime.ston masonry, with dorc margins
and sand stone, bush. hammered trimmings .
and all inside walls will be of brick.
Your committee believe that the present plan
will be as plain and contain as little ornamental
work as is consistent with the architectural sur
roundings. And your committee believe that
sharp competition, which we have right to be.
leve will be received from various bidders, may
reduce the cost even below the lowest bids a.
heretofore mentioned We have also received a
communication from Mr.. Beers, representing
that he has received bid from responsible
party to erect the building heretofore mentioned,
using, in lieu Of rock.faced masonry, Indiana
pressed brick, with the same facings heretofore
mentioned, and emitting all the fire. proof quail.
ties, for the sum OF $95, 600. Yet your committee
would not recommend the adoption of the pres.
ent plans for tre.proof building for the reason
that the present bids exceed the amount con-
templated by this Board at the September SEES
sion.
Hence YOUR committee herewith most respect
fully present to this Board the plans. drawings
and perspective views as prepared by Mr.. Beers
under instruction, OF your committee, and
would most respectfully ask the deliberate and
careful consideration Of the same.
nsYour committee would respectfully ask for
further instruction In the premises.
All of which 10 respectfully submitted.
Gro. w. ARMSTRONG,
A. Z. BEACH,
NATH. MCINTYRE,
MARTIN FLAH.RTY,
3. s. BURGESS,
HENRY BRLLINGHAUsES.
Armstrong, in speaking to the question, merely
said the plans met his appreciation: and followed
with a general explanation Of them as they hung
on the wall. THE plan Includes the following
features: The Basement, one foot aboye the
WALTON the east sids beginning at the south
end, treasurer's main Office, 2Ox27-6, private
Office, I2xi6-6: vault, 17xi4; general water clos
ct, 9x26-6; county agents office, iSx266: hail,
ST and west; committee room, 26-6x27-8; jani-