The Oskaloosa herald., 1899-12-14
A YEARS RECORD.
5000, 900 Worth of Improve
ments in Oskaloosa.


up In the neighborhood of 5000, 10000.
Oskaloosa's Improvements Tor the past
year nave been quite general and there
has been advancement along all lines.
There has been improvement both in
business and resident portions of the
city. There have been a number of new
business blocks erected and homes have
been built in all portions OF, the town.
There has been a very noticeable growth
toward a larger city, but while there
have been many homes erected in sub
urban places, there have been many of
the vacant lots about the streets and
avenues occupied by a better class of
residences.
The sum total of the Improvements
OF the season fails a little below what it
was last year, but there are good rea-
sons for the falling off, Last season
there were quite number OF large i'm
provements completed and there was
more paving and public work than there
has been FOR this year. There were also
more residences of greater value erected,
but Will the sum-total of the improve
ment was more than it is for this sea-
son, The general improvement was not
nearly so great as it was this year
Every property owner had some
work to be done this season. some
had more and others less, but the de-
mand for labor in the city has never
been so great as it was this season. Con-
tractors and builders have been occupied
all the season and have been short of la
borerS at all times. There had been the
greatest demand in the line of new
work, and there seems to have been
very few to do the odd Jobs" that call
for skilled labor.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
There has been some public improv-
ing done during the season, but the
amount has not been so great as in some
former years. A mile of street paving
was put in and a number of the street
intersections were paved along the
streets that have been previously paved.
There was some work in the line of
building and the placing of laterals, but
the work was not carried on to any great
extent. Several miles of permanent side
walk was put in, but this work was cut
short on account of the inability of the
cement workers to procure the cement
at the busiest time of the season. Many
walks ordered in by the council could
NOT be put down on this account, and so
there were temporary walla built that
viii be replaced next season. Some
of the walks had been condemned and
there was necessity for the temporary
walks. In the line of street grading
there has been considerable work done
and it has been we'll done Quite a lit
tie grading was done for the new walks
and the Improvement in this direction is
very marked.
The paving on d street was. with the
exception of the block between High and
First avenues and on the east of the
Burnside lumber yard, from the north
end of g avenue to the south end where
the street turns into the Green Addition.
There was 1924 feet of the work or To-
ga square yards. There were o,6I6
lineal feet of curbing in cement and 10
feet of oak work. The iron corners and
croSsin~ plates cost the city $4I7.42. and
there were street intersections paved to
the amount of $7I7.62. making the total
OF the paving work done by the city for
the year amount to ...-..... SIS, 3S7. 81 |
Sewer improvement has been made |
during the year to the extent of about
1920 feet and is worth about ST., 500. 90 |
The street grading and sidewalk work |
has cost the city in the neighborhood of
....... ................. S., 900. 90
The street grading includes the open
ing of Eighth avenue between Market |
and First streets and the extension of |
First avenue East.
The permanent sidewalks that have |
been put in during the past season would |
measure between five and six miles |
There have been two contractors at |
work, Geo. Carlo n& Son and Ed Mat |
thews, and they have had several gangs |
of laborers at work during the season. |
The amount of sidewalks laid during thei
season, brick and cement will be worth /
about ..... ............$Ioooooo |
There has been other cement work in
che line of cement cellars and basement
floors and steps and residence walks and /
the like that will amount to as much /
more or another ..........$ SIC, ooo. 90
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT.
There has been less Improvements in
the business quarters of the city than for
a number of years and yet there has
been very fair showing made as will
be seen by an examination of the fol-
lowing summary.
Armour Packing Company-Changed
location in office and erected build
lng....,. .,............. ..-.. $4,000
Asher. Perry-Improved restaurant
and CONNECTION shop during year to the
extent of ............. $4,000
Adlon, John-Repaired and improved
business room on High avenue for the
ID. and w. Tea store. .,....... $4,000
Acme Manufacturing Company
repaired and made Improvements in the
old power house buildings Have built
a new brick office at the northeast cor
ner of the shops and in all, including
in the way of new ma
chinery have spent about. . 81, 10000
Adlon, Nick-Removed stock to the
Beechler room on the north side
changes and refurnishing .. 10000
Arnold, John-Took old Asher house,
and refurnished the same at
a cost of about $4,000 90
Mr. Arnold also in connection with
Carrie WOODWARD took the old VanVliet
place on the west of the Baldauf house
and made extensive repairs and addi-
tons for a cafe. ..............$ ST. 10000