The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-12-13
]. A. Wettmore Of Supervising
Architects Office Here to Look
Over Sites For Postoffice
NEW BIDS HAVE BEEN SENT IN
Wattles Property at the Corner of
Main and South Streets offered
to the Government as Site for
New Postoffice Building


partment of the office of the Super
Government, came TO Kenosha today
to look over the sites proposed for the
new government building in Kenosha.
In companyswith POSTMASTER John B.
Maloney Mr.. Wettmore made trip
about the city and looked over the
different sites which have been offered
to the government by Kenosha peo-
pie. Mr.. lWettmore expressed no
opinion on the sites, but stated that
he would return to the city on Mon
day and at'sthat time he will be at the
parlors of the Hotel Eichelman be-
tween andR 5 o'clock toShear the ar
guments of 'thespeople of the city and
the property sowners for and against
the differeutss
AS soon as he completes his work in
Kenosha $Mr.s Wettmore will go to
Waukesha to look over sites there,
and after that trip he will return at
once to Washington and make his re-
port to the architect.
In an interview this morning Mr..
Wettmore stated that he did not think
that there would be any great delay
in the completionsof the building IN
Kenosha, and that it:was the custom
of the government to complete these
buildingssw year after the op-
erations were started. OHe stated that
it was the plan to begin work in Ke-
nosha with the early spring and that
it was Cpossible that the postofice
would be in it's new quarters within
the next twelve months.
AS soon as the report is presented
to the government agents, notice will
be sent to the KenoshaEbidders allow
ing them 80 days in which to make
statements in regard to sites to the
time the Jselection of site will be
made and the Secretary of the Treas
ury will notify Ethe property owner
that the selection hassbeen made. AS
soon as possible the transfer will be
concluoed.bysthe Department of Just
ice.
AccordingEto the rules of the de-
partment, noswork on the plans can
be done until the site has been select
ed, but the architects have a general
plan for buildings in cities the size of
Kenosha SO that the matter of making
the plans will be minor detail. Mr..
Wettmore stated that the building to
be erected herewith be of c1assicde-
sign of architecture, one story in
height, planned to suit the site select
ed. 1t will be made of the material that
can be secured to the best advantage
in this part of the state.
There is one site which was pro-
posed to the government that has been
eliminated and that is the Meyers
block on market street, the present
J home of the postoffice. This building
was offered to the government for $685.
600, butsMr. Wettmore states that the
department will not permit the pnr-
chase of old buildings where small ap-
preparations are made.
Since the announcement of the bids
for the Kenosha sites, two more
bids haveasbeen received. One was
from John Wattles, offering the big
property at the corner of South and
Main streets. This piece of property
is well located but it is not as large as
the specifications.cal for and for this
reason it will be handicapped when the
selection is made. r. Griffith has Of
fered site 132x132 feet at the corner
of Ashland and Wisconsin streets at
price of $4,000. The site. offered by
Margaret King Grant has been sold
since the kbids were opened. The
other sites now being considered are
one offered by z. G.. Simmons at the
corner of Market and Chicago streets;
one by Thomas Hansen at the corner
of Main and South streets; one by j.
A. Killeen on Elizabeth street, and the
VanIngen property on Park avenue.
Mr.. Wettmore comes with authority
to accept any new bids that may be
made or to receive any notifications
Of bids already before the department.
Mr.. Wettmore states that there will
be no delay in the erection of the Ke-
nosha building for while the appropri-
alton ordered for Kenosha this year
was but $4,000, the architect will be
able to draw on the whole appropria-
ton of $4,000 just as rapidly as the
money is needed for the work on the
Kenosha building. This appropria-
ton became due just as soon as the
bill was passed at the last session of
congress and it is now in the hands of
the United States treasurer.
There is little chance that there
will be any trouble in securing site
in Kenosha but Mr.. Wettmore stated
this morning that the government had
the right to condemn land for public
building if it becomes evident that
any effort was made to charge impos-
sible prices for sites offered.
Work on the new ice house at Twin