The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-08-21
TIE CONTRACT LET.
Power Plant and Barns For New
Electric Road.

Inc contract for the building of the
power house, electric light plant and
car barns OF the oskaloosa Light. Heat
and Traction Company has been let
ana w =. Richie win see that the
work Is showed along toward a finish
with a dispatch that marks all Of his
work. The contract was secured by
r. Richie after thoroughly going
over the plans with Messrs. o'Neil and
Springfield, and work win be com
menced upon the buildings as soon as
the lots Of the site can be cleared and
the material for the building can be
placed on the ground.
Mr.. Richie had his first conference
with Messrs. o'Neil and Springfield in
the city Friday. They told what would
be required, gave plans and specifca-
lions regarding foundations Of con
crete for engines, dynamos and pumps.
etc. Mr.. Richie went to ottumwa
Saturday and was in consultation with
--e company management concerning
the material and prices, etc. When
Mr.. Rltchie came home he had the con-
tract in his pocket and was ordered to
proceed with the work in hand as rap
idly as possible.
the company has at its disposal lots
that measure 1861 feet on A street by
12O feet on Sixth avenue. The build
ing will front both on Sixth avenue
and A street. The present building
will measure 100 feet by 100 feet, be-
ing square with space 161s feet open
space on the Sixth avenue side: The
chimney viii have footing and foun-
dation 20 feet square. It position has
not yet been fully determined.
The building will be of brick and
will be single story structure twenty
feet above the water table on the
Sixth avenue side The height of the
south wall will be about thirty feet on
account OF the slope of the lots toward
the south.
The boiler rooms, fuel rooms and
ash rooms will be on the south side
across the entire width of the building,
and the dimensions will be something
like 120x50. The engine and dynamo
room will measure TOKYO and will oc-
cupy the northwest corner. The car
house will be 40x70 feet and will have
the northeast corner of the building.
Preliminary operations were COM
menced this Monday afternoon when
Mr.. Richie sent man to the lots to
cut away the growth of weeds and
grass that covers parts of the prop
erty. The removal of the buildings
that now stand upon the lots will re-
quire probably the greater part of the
week. The recent rains have render
ed the ground here somewhat unstable
and some little delay may be caused
on this account but IL is thought that
the end of the week will witness the
property clear Of all Instructions, so
that work upon the foundations may
be commenced early mkt week. From
the time the foundations are in the
work will be showed along as rapidly
as the condition of the building will
accommodate workmen. The greatest
number of workmen will be employed
that can be worked to advantage.
Oskaloosa material and labor will be
employed wherever it is possible to do
so. Three hundred thousand brick
have been contracted for with the Os-
kaloosa Paving Brick company and all
other material that can be secured
here will be put into the buildings. Os-
kaloosa labor viii also be employed as
far as possible. The foremen on the
work will be experienced men now en-
ployed by the company elsewhere, but
every dollar that can be kept in the
city of Oskaloosa will be offered here.
Arrangements have been made with
the b &. w. people for the immediate
building of a switch from the main line
of the road to the south end of the
property, so that the material can be
placed on the ground with the least
possible expense and labor in moving.
1t is understood that the end of the
week will witness the completion OF
this switch and the delivery of the ma
terial will be commenced "instanter.'
Mr.. O'Neu and Mr.. Springfield de
| parted Saturday right for Chicago and
| the east TO care for business affairs in
connection with the property. They
| viii return to the city the latter part
Oh the week and viii give the details
| of the work their personal attention.
Matters are moving and things viii
be lively in the vicinity of the new
building now within very few days
Il