The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-05-22

consultation, decided 10 secure the SER
vices of J. J. Egan, of Chicago, ILL.,, to
make the examination of the Court
House. The services of Mr.. Egan were
secured, and he came to Kenosha May
8, 1885, and in connection with your
committee proceeded to make an ex-
animation of the Court House, the result
of which will more clearly appear in the
experts report to the committee on
County buildings.
Your committee desire to state that In
Mr.. Egan we find his examination can
did and impartial, and are satisfied that
his report of the condition of the said
Court House to be in accordance with
his conviction, and that his statement is
in accordance with the facts in the case.
J. d. FOWLER, 8a
JOHN HOVE, Committee.
S. S. SMITH, Is
The following is copy of report of ].
J. Egan: y
To the Chairman of the Committee on
County Buildings Of Kersosha County, Wiis.
SIR: In compliance with the instruc-
ton fyour committee, have examined
the Court House building of Kenosha
County, and beg leave to report as fol-
lows:
First. That the external wall is
bulged badly, leaning outwards at the
level of main floor, or water table, and
inwards from that level to the top, the
variation from the true vertical line being
about s inches.
Second. The internal west wall and
the front wall are both seriously cracked
in several places.
Third. All the floors inside are very
seriously depressed out of the true level
and much weakened, so that I discover
ed depressions in these floors amounting
to as much as six inches in length Of
ten feet.
Fourth. The internal partitions are
evidently inadequate to the support of
these floors, and are torn and bent to an
unusual degree, under the strain imposed
on them by the floors.
Fifth. The floors are constructed on
the principle known as framed" floors,
three or four girder pieces only resting
on the main side walls, and the floor
joists proper being laid on these girders
lengthwise with the building so that
the building was thus originally deprived
of the lateral ties requisite for sound con-
struction, except the few Orders or
cross-pieces into which the floor joists
are framed. There is evidence to my
mind that these cross Orders are even
now drawing away from their bearings
on the main walls, owing to the " sagging''
or settling of the floors in the center.
Under these circumstances consider
the building unsafe, and until made
secure I advise that no meetings or
public assemblies of any kind be held in
it.
/ would estimate that to take out all
the floors, to rebuild the central partition
walls, and to practically reconstruct the
interior, which reconstruction is aa i'm
perative condition to safety, would cost
not less than nine thousand dollars.
Respectfully submitted.
J. J. EGAN, Architect.
Supervisor Huetter moved that the re-
port Of committee on selection of expert,
and that the report of J. J. Egan, archi-
tect, relative to condition of Court House,
be accepted and adopted.
Seconded by Supervisor Jordan and
carried.
Supervisor Hoye moved that the
Board now consider the question as to
whether we will, or will not, repair the
old Court House.
Seconded by Supervisor Engel and
carried.
The chair instructed the members as
their names were called to vote either
for repairs or against repairs, resulting
as follows:
For repairs-Supervisors Lavey, Stan
ton, Bloss, Slade and Morin.-5. m
Against repairs supervisors Dowse,
Spartz, Jordan, Hoye, Huetter, Engel
and Head.-7.
The question of city lookup was
fully discussed by the members of the
Board, in which all seemed to concur in
opinion that some arrangement should
be made by the city. -
Mr.. 2. G. Simmons was present at the
meeting of the Board, and, upon request
by the Board, gave his ideas as to the
needs of the County, relative to the
County buildings, and after a free dis
cussion of the best plans for said build
lngs Mr.. Simmons made proposition
to the Board, whereupon the Board re-
quested that the same be reduced to
writing, that the matter be fully under
stood and discussed by the members of
the Board.
The following is copy of Mr.. SIM
mons proposition
First. / will sell to the county EIGHT
rods square on the northwest corner of
what is known as the Fisk property.
Second. On this ground the county
shall cause to be erected, under the con-
troll and direction of q committee con-
sisting of Messrs. Bloss and Dowse, Of the1
county, and myself, in the year 1885, al
County building or Court House,; theIl
foundation of this building to be of stone,
he superstructure to be of brick. with |
stone trimmings, well seasoned wood and |
ron: The workmanship to be first
lass. The style modern and adapted
o the place or site. The whole to be
substantial and reasonably
Third. The county shall cause the old
Jourt House and jail to be taken down
md on the site thereof shall erect a new
all and sheriffs residence, combined
his structure shall equal in all respects
0 the jail and sheriffs residence of Wal
forth county. All the material of the old
'ourt House suitable for the new build
ngs shall be used in their construction.
Fourth. In the new Court House the
rst floor shall be divided into suitable
ooms for the use of the city -of Keno
IA. In one of these rooms vault flor |
afekeeping of books and papers) shall I