Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-16
Work on Extensive Additions
to Soldiers Home Buildings
to Begin at Once
WIDE DIFFERENCE IN FIGURES
Top Bid Was Over $4,000 Higher
Than Figure at Which Contract Was
Let-Huiidihss Must be Turned Over
Completed by January board Sat-
isfied in Inspection.

spent Friday in the city conducting the
semi-annual inspection of the Soldiers
Home, and for the purpose of letting
the contract for the erection of extern
siye additions to the Home buildings,
considers the bid at which the work
was let as reasonable. There was
wide difference in the bids, the highest
being over $4,000 in advance of the
figure on which the contract was let
C. +. Reimer, of this city, the success
full bidder, will begin the work as soon
as he can get the material on the
ground, and according to the contract
the work must be completed, and pos
session given, on January /.
Had the board been able to pick out
different bids In the four additions, and
let four contracts, considerable saw
ing could have been made. The con-
tractors, however, insisted on the bids
being Jumped, which was no more than
fair, as no contractor could have af-
forded to have taken but one of the
buildings. The board considers that
the local contractor had several adj
vantages, because he is on the ground
construction at less expense than i
contractor who was compelled to travel
to and from the city
The bids on the additions do not in
clude the plumbing, heating or light
ing, which the appropriation amply
cares for The board has something
like $50, 900 to spend on the institution,
and Mr.. Reimer's bid on the additions
is only little over St1,500. The Sol
diers' Home was given the most favor
able consideration in the appropria-
lions of any Of the other state institu-
tons.
The bids by the eight different con-
tractors are as follows:
f. X White, Eldora. $1,000. .$52,9S4.oo
Bartlett & King, Cedar Rap
ids ......s. oV,So1.Vu
w. j. Zitterell, Webster City. 49,377.00
w. w. WEIGH, Clarinda $3.50. 4S,119.7c
Eillenherger e, Co. chicago. 46,930.00
John r. Gier. Conrad. $3.50. 45,123.00
C. E. Atkinson, Webster City. 4S.91o.0O
C. f. Reimer, Marshailtown.. 41,639.OO
s Contractor Reimer has been instruct-
ed by the board to complete first the
addition to the boiler house. The
other work, additions to the hospital,
nurses cottage and women's dorml-
tory, will be completed to the best
advantage. The boiler room is needed
in order that the new boilers may be
placed and made ready for operation
before cold weather sets in.
Pleased With Institution.
The members of the board were
greatly pleased with the institution
and the beauty of the grounds at this
season of the year. Mr.. Cownie said
that there was absolutely nothing to
criticise in the least, and that the
board did not hear single complaint
from any source. Chairman Hamil-
ton. of Cedar Rapids, who made his
first visit to the city in an official
sense, was greatly pleased with condl-
lions. Mr. Hamilton likes his work on
the board, but says that it would be
more convenient if he lived in Des
Moines. He does not like being away
away from home SO much of the time.
Cownie Praises Drake.
Mr.. Cownie said that the board,
which visited the boys industrial
school at Eldora before coming here,
was more than pleased with that in
stitution. Mr.. Cownie says that the
institution was never in finer shape
than at present Colonel Drake is
making a great success of his work
with the boys, knows every one by
name. and is zone of the boys" himself.
He gets out with them and plays ball,
in their other sports, SYM
pathizes with them in their troubles,
and shares their joys. In fact he is
a companion to the boys, and better
discipline was never known at the re-
form school. Mr.. Cownie says 1T is
amusing to see the colonel an his
bows" as he calls them. 1t is Hello
there. Bill" or whatever the boys name
may be, and happy response, Hello
colonel" whenever the boys and the
meet. People would be
if they could see what Drake
has taught the boys to do in interesting
them in manual training, and see the
fine building that has been erected by
the boys own hands
Chairman Hamilton and Mr.. CoWnie.
of the board, also State Architect
Liebbe. returned to Des Moines Fri
day evening, and Judge Robinson left
this morning for Sioux City, where
he will spend Sunday.