Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-19
PLANS ASYLUM PARK
Board Of Control Secures Com.
prehensive Scheme for Parks
It Cherokee.
Preliminary Sketches Received
fromLandscape Artists Com.
petinf For the Work.
Contract For Completion Of the
Main Buildings Finally
Closed Up.
pecial to Times-Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March 19.-The final clos
Ling up of the contract on the Cherokee
hospital, so far as 1T relates to the com
pletion OF the main buildings and the
interior finishing thereof. was done in
1.-THE office of the board Of control today,
George A. Grant, of st. Paul, the sue
cessful bidder having come to the city
for that purpose. Actual work will be
begun just as soon as he gets his mate
rial on the ground.
The plans for the parking of the hos
rital grounds have been practically
agreed upon by the board. Two pre-
l.liminary sketches were submitted-one
l.by Frank NJ. Nutter. Minneapolis, and
the other by Swan Nelson & Sons, Chs
lscago. The plans differ greatly. That
by Nutter provides for a row of cot
main building. in the direction Of Chero-
Iskee, with roads on both Sides leading
from Cherry street to the front of the
hospital. The plan also contemplates
cottages on the north hill. The plan by
1 the Nelson's places the cottage section to
the rear of the main buildings and
northwest of them, near to which Is a
recreation park. The high ridge be-
tween the city and the hospital is to be
covered With trees. There is to be a
lake in the hollow in the northeast part
of the grounds. This plan is so much
superior to the others in all respects
THAT it will undoubtedly be adopted. The
description filed with the board by the
/ Nelson's is as follows
In the first place the character OF
1.-The surrounding country and the form OF
1.-the buildings seemed tous to demand the
broad treatment shown in our design.
| We have provided breadth to the views
land distant examinations, and the wood
land effects are prepared on large
scale SO as to be in keeping with the
Ixtyle of the landscape. We have se-
llected the head of Cedar street as the
proper place for the entrance for three
lleasons: l. The grade is here the most
/ favorable: @ 1t is the most direct line
from the city; and g. it will be more APP
propriate to have the entrance at the
Ihead of wide street like Cedar than
Ion narrow street like Cherry, which Is
4 the only other we have seriously con-
sidered. The gate lodge which is shown
will add to the dignity and Impressive
lness of the entrance and serve a practi-
Ical use. From its position 1t commands
both the main drive and the service
road. AS we proceed on the main drive
4 we will observe the woodland covering
4 the top of the knoll on the left and vii
not be able to see the roofs of the build
4 ings as may now be seen. From the
4 main drive the first view of the build
/ ings will be had at a point about ] ,00l
feet south and 900 feet east from the
front OF the administration building
4 This in our opinion is where where they
lshow to the most advantage. From the
lsentrance to this point is a rise of about
4 twenty-five feet in a distance of lest
4 feet. which is a 2 per cent grade. From
there the road sweeps in a graceful
curve, still gradually ascending at
5lsIer cent grade to the carriage steps Of
4 the administration building.
I'm order to secure the even and easy
SlEerades indicated and to have the drive
rise steadily turnout the entire course
from the entrance to the carriage steps
we have planned to make two cuts II
the high land thru which II passes. Al
about 500 feet from the entrance the
j greatest depth of cut will be about -four
fleet. and at about 1000 feet about Ave
feet From this point in the directionso OF
!. the buildings slight fall will be neces.
sary. These cuts can be made in such. 6
manner that they will not appear arti
4 fetal. and will add much to the appear
. ance of the height of the knobs OF
8, either side. which appearance will bs
4 still further strengthened by the tai
. growing trees planted on them.
The service road winds around ths
IIiidges (southward). steadily ascending
at an easy grade made possible by few
J. Islight cuts and fills when necessary un.
u Hi 1t reaches the coal chutes at the pow.
!, Ell houses. This viii affTfoIu also i, pleas.
ling and picturesque drive for the pa
Itients. We have located this road ii
!. such a manner in order to avoid the ne.
loessity OF bridges which are expensive
to build and maintain, and are liable t.
get out Of order. This road is about 8,
600 feet long and rises twenty two ane
i one half feet from the entrance to tn.
grade Of the power house on an averag.
of less than one foot per hundred. TIL,
ether roads to the cottage section con
. meet in the rear OF the buildings Will
the service road and also connect witt
the present farm road running YES
from the center of the buildings. Thi.
latter can also be used as road to th,
proposed cemetery.
4 I'VE have also planned extenaiv,
j plantations in those places which we be
l.eve will be most benefited by suct
Treatment. On the knobs they vii
rcreen off premature view OF til,
buildings and at the same time will In
crease the height OF the ground as ~,
approach along the main drive. Tn,
. planting near the buildings tends I,
soften their angles and support thei
height as we'll as to afford shade. Th,
plantations at distance will aid in. de
fining the views and will add objects o
Interest to look at; this Will special!
!. noticeable in the planting around til,
ARTIFICIAL lake. In general these wood
land scenes will be OF great use in thei
soothing effect upon patients, In shell
tering the winds, thus decreasing evap
Grafton from the soil and to "a certain
{, extent Improving the climatic condition
i of the country. AS an exhibition o
practical forestry 1t will prove beneAcia
lfto int mart of the state The exrsAnc