Wichita eagle., 1889-12-15
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
wichita Making More Public Improvements
Than Any Other City Of Her Size-Pro-
gress Of the Work.

gress Of the Work.
Some gentlemen were talking yesterday
about the great amount of public improve
ments being made in the city and when
they concluded came to the conclusion
that there was more work being done in
that line than they had imagined or
thought before figuring on it little. The
conclusion was to the effect that not city
in the world was at present spending as
much money for public improvements and
having as much done as Wichita. This
added to the much work in the line o. pri-
vate improvements made the city quite
interesting to strangers. The government
building, it was observed, was about plas-
tered. Work was being done on the court
room and week more would practically
complete that department.. The wood
work was getting along nicely and being
rushed as rapidly as possible. but the draw
back on plans for heating apparatus was
ever present. The last heard of the matter
from the slow department was four or five
weeks ago and in that communication it
would be five or six weeks before they
would arrive and according to rapidity in
the past on that feature it Is estimated
that it may be five or six months before
the plans arrive. In the meantime all the
work will be completed as nearly as posi-
BILE. 1t is estimated by Mr. Sternberg, who
is government superintendent, that the
building will be completed by the time the
spring roses fade.
The county building, as estimated by Mr..
Sternberg, will probably be completed by
the first of next August. The work is 60
ing bravely on, and on receiving the last
touches the $500 court house would be
the finest in the state.
The paving business was also referred to
in the line of public improvements and
employing much labor and at the same
time giving the streets quite city like
appearance. 1t is thought Market street
will receive the finishing touches by the
last of this week surely. The Riverside g.
Suburban will soon have track set and fol-
lowed closely with the asphalt paving on
either side. The electric people to follow
again very soon with something be.
tween the rails, making the street
one of the finest in the state. Paving
on Main street coming" but whether it
will arrive before spring yet an unsettled
question. The paving company before
commencing work expects to seek an ex-
preston from the property owners on the
question whether or not they are favorable
to commencing work before spring and
take the chances Of billiards resulting in
the street being hlockaded for a time.
In the line of public improvements was
also mentioned the city building on which
work it is thought will commence in a few
ie, hot ha
ton can be commenced in a short time
and work rushed along quite rapidly on it
no matter what the signal office registers.
The fireproof question was also mentioned
and considered quite seriously. The fact
that the new county building was fire
proof was regarded as showing wisdom on
the part of the people of the county saying
Eyes" in forcible language when the ques
ton was submitted The criticism OH the
government building, as result of its not
being fireproof was also referred to and
the wish expressed that some arrange
ment could be made that the city building
could be made praiseworthy in every par
ticular. An insurance agent was present
and objected. He in a business like way
suggested that he thought he had a
building for insurance and the question
submitted in way to include personal in
terest he would not favor fire proof propo-
sition. He, however, added that if he was
in any other business he might take more
kindly to the suggestion could the build
ing be made so at reasonable cost. A
member of the council who has shown con-
interest in the city building was
heard speak of the fire proof question and
said he has been thinking seriously of the
question but had no idea how it would be
received by the people. He thought the
matter ought to be suggested and seek an
expression from the people and whatever
the verdict let it stand good and obeyed
Thought there was plenty of time for the
matter TO be considered in its many feat
ures by the time an opinion necessary.
Their present plans for basement would
not be changed and while that work was
being done there would be an abundance |
Of time and opportunity to consider the |
matter. The question also had been pre-
sented to the architects but no mathemati- |
cal consideration made as there was much |
work to get details ready for contractors
to prepare bids. Whenever the time comes |
he thought it quite probable the architects |
would be called upon to submit detailed |
estimate of the cost of making the build
ing fire proof when the whole question |
could be considered in possession of all |
The facts from which to draw a conclusion. |