Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-30
MISSION OF HOME
IS SOON TO END
ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS n
COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION
WILL MEET DEMANDS
Big Wing to the Hospital at the State
Soldiers Home-Future Is Expected
to Find This the Most Important
Part of the Building.

new buildings and additions now under
course OF construction at the Iowa
soldiers Home are completed, that
well conducted institution will have
practically reached the end of its ma
terlal growth. The improvements and
engagements now under way are most
extensive and, as Commandant Horton
SAID IN his annual report the erection
OF quartermaster's building, a green.
mouse addition and new coal house
VIII place the Home in a condition to
meet the requirements of it's purposes
1or the few remaining years of life to
civil war veterans.
There are under construction at the
present time a large addition to the
hospital, and additions to the women s
uormitory, the nurses dormitory and
the heating and lighting plant The
boiler house addition is now under
roof and nearing completion. The
walls of the addition to the women's
dormitory are up to the second story.
Ihls addition is 40x65 feet, three stor-
les In height above the basement, and
the architecture corresponds with that
OF the old dormitory.
The addition to the nurses cottage
which stands to the north of the hos
p1tal, will be 27x4B feet. This will be
brick veneered structure, and the
foundations are in and the carpenter
work commenced.
Hospital Demands Increase.
To meet the increasing demands
upon the hospital which is growing
more and more to be an important
part Of the home large addition is
being erected. This Is wing on the
east Of the main structure, 113 feet in
length, and is a duplicate of the west
wing Of the building 1t will extend
to the north and south of the east end
of the main portion of the hospital, as
semi-circular wing, and will COM
plete the original architectural design
of the building. The only difference
In the addition under construction and
the west wing is that there will be an
entrance on the east
The hospital addition will be two
stories and basement in height. 1t
will be more substantial than any of
other of the many structures constitut-
ing the home, and will be fireproof.
The floors throughout will be Of con-
u wv oiAu IllC LII 81 llOOl, VI ILLS ludLGT-
ial has been laid. Because of the
scarcity Of labor, Contractor G. F.
Reimer recently purchased the latest
and most improved concrete mixing
machine, and this has enabled him to
make better progress. He can not Sc
cure enough common labor, however,
to handle the concrete at the capacity
of the mixer. These concrete floors
and ceilings are self-supporting the
material being laid on wire netting
and iron rods Five inches of concrete
is being laid for the floors. The total
contract price of the building under
exclusive Of the plumb
ing and heating, is S42,500. Mr. REIN
er says he will have all the work under
roof within short time
Average Age SO Years.
With advancing years the greatest
demand In the future will come from
veterans who arc in need of hospital ,
treatment, and as the average age of
hose now seeking admission Is IS and
l fraction years, it is apparent that
The time is not far distant when the
Soldiers Home, as such, will have /
llled its mission. Almost the last ap-
required for engagements
las been asked and given and the pres
mt extensive improvements will mark
is completion