Wichita eagle., 1889-06-02
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
THE IMMENSELY OF WI0HITA'S
WORK.
More Improvements Than any City
Double Its Size---Over Seven
Hundred Thousand Dollars
in Public Improvements
- Adding Whitaker
and Over Million
Dollars.

One of the leading contractors of the
city yesterday remarked that few people
ever took time to think Of the amount of
work being done in the city in the line of
public improvement. He seemed to think
that the Improvements as result of
private enterprise and general business
activity had caused many to overlook the
extensive improvements of public char
acter that are being made and in process
of construction. He referred to the sewer
system, government building and court
house, the contract price for the three be-
ing about six hundred thousand dollars
and the various changes and additions
would call for an expenditure of not less
than seven hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. Having sgiven special attention
to this class of information he was pre-
pared to say that there is not city in the
United States with eighty thousand people
that is having as much done in the line of
public improvement. This he cited as an
individuality on the part of the city that
should be set up as evidence of growth
against the wind assertions of envious
cities who are made so by the fact that
they are growing less rapidly than Wichita.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
Some time ago Mr.. Sternburg, who has
charge of the govt building was instruct
ed by the department to prepare plans and
give estimate of the cost Of changing the
tower of the government building. The
department seemed to think the tower,
according to the original plans was out of
proportion and the attempt at something
- 4
little Objectionable, and that the tower
in height somewhat out of proportion
according to the best rules on that propo-
sition. The plans were drawn and esti-
mate made which would according to the
general estimates call for an additional
expenditure of about six thousand dollars.
The estimate was semitic the department
and in answer 4 letter was received in
quiring how much the contractor, Mr..
Jobst, would make the change for in con-
formity with the new plans. 1t is thought
from the letter that should the contractor
agree to do it for a reasonable amount the
change will be made. The tower, accord
ing to the late plan, would be one hun
dred and thirty-eight feet high and orna-
mented with carvings of tasty designs,
and said to be much more costly and
desirable than the original designs
call for. The building will have
an east front Of one hundred and seventeen
feet and south front of one hundred and
four feet; four stories including basement
and main building eighty feet high. The
contract price is SI29, 900 but it is thought
the various changes and additions will
call for building costing little less than
$500, 900. The material used, Bedford, In
diana, limestone, is referred to by con-
tractors as being a superior quality of
building stone. The building has reached
the third story and should the new plans
for the tower be adopted about thirty feet
of it will be torn down, which will bring
it within ten feet of the ground.
Aside from the contract price on super
structure the foundation cost $50, coo while
the steam heating will cost 200. The
latter is being figured upon now and con-
tract will be awarded in a few weeks. The
many changes are said to be the result of
the building passing through so many ad-
ministrations. Commenced in President
Arthur's time under Supervising Archi-
tect W. Z. Bell, and changed by the
Cleveland administration by W.
\. Freret, and then the present
Supervising Architect j. H. Windram
comes III with some more changes.
The contractor stated yesterday that he
was rushing the work as rapidly as advis-
able, having employed on the building be-
tween forty and fifty hands regularly. He
seems to think few months will find the
stone work completed, provided too many
changes are not flashed at him.
THE COURT HOUSE.
Superintending Architect Mcpherson
stated yesterday that the plans and speci-
fcations for steam heating in the new
county building are ready for the con-
tractors to figure on, and before many
days the contract for that feature of the
work would be awarded. This is another
one of the imposing public improvements
which Is gradually going skyward, and
will be the finest building of the kind in
the state. Over one hundred men are en-
ployed on the building and III the
stone yard where the stone is
being prepared for the walls.
With an east and west front of 191 feet.
and north and south front of ninety feet,
and spire from grade line reaching 1S9 feet.
The floors will be terra Gotta tile and the
DulluluS absolutely uTeprCOi. lue Wills
are now fifty feet high and one more story
TO be added. While the contract price is
S197, 900 it is thought the extra cost neces-
sary will be little less than $4,000.
SEWER SYSTEM.
The eighty-four mile of sewer main be-
ing put down is another branch of public
of itself, enough to cause
the average city as large as Wich-
tia to boast in heavy head lines.
This gives employment to about
three hundred men and as soon as the
weather will permit the working force
will be increased. While the contract
price calls for S264 600 it is thought some
extras will come in for the flushing sys-
tenn and many other things which will
call for an additional expenditure of
several thousand dollars.
To the three branches of public i'm
provements add single private enter
prise, the Whitaker packing house, and
in the Quartette improvements the ex-
penditures will be over one million dollars.
This may enable the reader to certain ex-
tent TO understand what Wichita is doing
in the way of extensive improvements.