The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-07-12
Supervising Architect of Treasury
Asks for Proposals for Public
Building Site in Kenosha
BIDS TO BE OPENED AUG. IA
Secretary Of Treasury Shaw Tells of
Methods Used IN Securing Sites
for. Public Building Author
lied by the Government

The supervising architect of the
treasury department of the United
States government has kept his prom
ise IN regard to advertising for bids
for the proposed site for a public
building in Kenosha, and the circu-
lars asking for bids we're issued at
Washington on Monday afternoon. 1t
is expected that they will reach the
local Office some time today or tomor
row. The circulars provide for bids
for sites for public buildings at Keno
sha, Be1oit. Watertown, Platteville,
Manltowoc, Appleton and Waukesha,
and the people are directed to have all
bids IN the hands Of the architects by
the 14th of August.
The proposals will be opened at that
time, and the deals for the purchase
Of the sites will be made as soon as
possible after the bids are opened.
The government will undoubtedly
send some special agent TO Kenosha
to look over the sites proposed for the
building. It should be understood by
prospective bidders that the lowest
bid will not necessarily be accepted
| by the government, and that bids are
asked for simply to get the property
before the proper officials, and the
piece of property best suited for the
purpose will be accepted by the gov
eminent. The government does not
make practice of paying fancy prices
to secure locations, and if any effort
is made to hike the price of property
in the proposals, the government
agents will promptly lay the propos-
ais on the table and wait until the
price of property has touched its nor
NAL place again. While the local
postoffice officials will have nothing
to do with the selection of the site,
the postmaster will probably be able to
furnish data to bidders within a few
days.
The following letter. which has
been sent out by L. M. Shaw, secre-
tary of the United States Treasury,
shows the methods used in securing
sites for government buildings. The
letter follows:
Whenever an act of congress au-
thorizes the acquisition of site for a
proposed public building whether by
purchase or gift-the Treasury de-
partment invites through an adver-
tisement inserted in local news
paper, bids for the sale, or proposi-
tons of donation, and directs that the
same be submitted to the secretary of
the treasury at Washington. This
advertisement gives such information
as to the approximate dimensions of
! the site required and the general con-
I-ditions and requirements as will en-
able Intelligent eparation and sub
mission Of bids or offers.
The bids and offers obtained in this
way are opened at the Treasury de-
partment in Washington at the time
stated in the advertisement, and as
soon thereafter as practicable an
agent Of the department is sent to
| make a personal examination of the
proposition offered, ard upon this re-
port, together with presentations in
writing from other sources, the de-
partment makes selection, condi-
toned, nevertheless, that the title to
the property be approved by the
attorney general. When the land is
thus acquired on which buildings are
situated which are reserved by the
party selling, notice to remove. the
same is given after the land has been
actually acquired and title approved.
Whenever the department is mn
able to obtain an acceptable site at a
reasonable price in the manner above
outlines, it frequently makes selec-
ton and authorizes the department. of
Justice to begin and prosecute CON
domination proceedings, IN which the
price to be paid is judicially deter
mined.
AS soon as practicable after the ac~
QUESTION of the site, plans for the
proposed building are prepared and a
contract let for the construction
thereof. Z. M. SHAW