Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-11-26
No. 48.
An Inspection Tour.

The Board of Supervisors, together
with a committee of citizens who had
been invited to accor 1any them, visit.
ed some of the modo- court houses OF
J the state last we \, Tor the purpose OF
obtaining ideas and information that
would be of value to them in deter.
mining upon plans, etc. for the erec,
tion of our new court house. First
they went t. Waterloo, where they
spent day au the handsome new court
house in tina. city, which has been
complete nis year. 1t is fine
modern building, built of Cleveland
stone, three stories high, and the in.
terror arrangement and finish is very
fine. The four main Offices are on the
first floor, with large, roomy vaults.
with a sub vault the same size con.
nected by an iron spiral stairway.
The court room is also large, light
and conveniently arranged. 1t is fur.
nish d in marble, tastily decorated
throughout, and is in every sense
modern structure. The total cost was
slOS, 900.
That evening the Board left for Des
Moines, where they remained. over
night, and they next day went out to
Adel, the county seat of Dallas county,
where another of the fine court houses
of Iowa has recently been completed
and occupied. Like the Waterloo
building, this is also a handsome
structure. three stories high, built Of
Bedford stone, and surmounted by an
imposing central tower. 1t is we'll
lighted, has round corner towers, and
is handsome building. The interior
has been finished with view to com.
fort, convenience and safety, and with
it's tile floors. marble wainscoating
and decorated walls is handsome in.
deed. The cost complete was $110, 900,
Returning to Des Moines the after.
noon and evening was spent in seeing
the sights of that city, and inspecting
the foundation of the new $40O. O.00g
court houses. which has just beeH
started. Departing that evening. the
party came to Oelwein. where they
remained over night, and the next
morning inspected the immense rail-.
road shops in that city, while waiting
for the train, which they boarded al
10 40 and arrived home that after.
noon
BY the taking of this trip the boarg
have decided nothing, further thar
to get a general idea of the style and
method of modern court houses, ana
to learn some of the difficulties ex.
perienced in building by talking with
county officers and Boards of Super
visors. They will possibly take an.
other trip before definitely deciding
upon plans, etc However, they will
meet in adjourned session next Mon
day, when plans will probably be sub.
mitted by various architects. We
understand that first they will arrange
to float the bonds, then dispose of the
old court house, then decide upon the
architect and plans for the new build
ing. and then let the contract The
Board hopes to dispose of the old
building by Jan. 1st., and have the
ground clear for commencing work
ON the new structure by March 1st.
From conversation with different.
members of the Board. we learn that
they are giving this matter much care.
full consideration, aud that they will
erect for the people of Winnesheik
county court house that we may he
proud of for years to come, and that
will be credit to the wealthy county
it represents. They have seen two Of
the newest buildings in the state, and
they will endeavor to make our court
house excel both of them, if possible,