The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-01-21
Many Architects Want To Have
Chance To Bid on Plans for
the New County Jail
FAIR PLAY TO BE ASSURED
Chairman Jordan of the Committee on
Buildings and Grounds Will Ar
range to Secure Bids at Meet
ing to be Held Soon

Architects from all parts of the state
are beginning to make inquiries in re-
gard to the plans for the new Jail which
is to be erected by the county and some
Of them are asking if the county will
permit a competition for the plans for
the building with any assurance that
the competition will be on the square
Seven architects, many Of them promi-
nent in the west and northwest, have
just been stung in Kenosha by the
Board Of Education and these men are
not anxious to get the same deal from
the building committee of the County
Board.
A number Of the men who recently
bid for the plans for the proposed
Third ward school are willing to take
one more try for job in Kenosha, but
they are asking for an assurance that
they will be given the same considera-
ton as other architects. Henry F.
Jordan, who is chairman of the com
mittee, stated today that he had not as
yet asked for plans for the new Jail,
but that when the committee made such
a request it would be in good faith
and that every competing architect
would be given fair show. The mem
bers of the committee are Mr.. Jordan,
Charles Kline of Randall and John
Betting of the Eighth ward.
Mr.. Betting is one Of the best known
contractors in the city and for this rea-
son it is expected that his services will
be Of greatest value to the committee.
The matter of securing the plans and
specifications for the Jail is left to this
committee practically without recon-
mepdation, but it was the desire of the
Board that the committee arrange for
the building of a Jail that will be mod
ern and up-to-date in every way. The
committee will hold it's first meeting the
latter part Of this month at which time
the matter will be thoroughly discussed
and some decision reached as to the
size of the building to be built and the
materials. After that has been decided
the architects will be invited to sub
nit plans and specifications to the com
mittee. It is PROBABLE that all Of the
plans submitted will be sent to the
State Board of Control for considera-
tion and the action of the Board will
undoubtedly in a measure be guided
by the action Of the State Board of
Control Several of the local architects
have already started to make some pre-
liminary sketches for the jail and these
will probably be ready by the first
meeting of the committee There has
been considerable argument among the
members of the Board as to the cost
of a new jail and the cost has been
variously estimated from fifty to
seventy-fve thousand dollars Only
five thousand dollars has been raised
for the purpose at this time and it is
probable that the County Board will
arrange to raise at least half the cost
Of the new jail at the next session OF
the Board. Tt is thought that a, plan
can be found by which the cost of the
building can be spread over at least
two tax levies. The greatest proper
ton of the cost of the new Jail will of
course be paid by the city and it is
probable that the city will be forced
to appropriate about $4,000 in each
of the next two years in order to meet
its share of the cost of the new build
ing.
While the committee has set no time
for the reception of plans it is certain
that it will set a time which will
give them chance to submit the plans
| to the State Board of Control early in
the summer and this will make it posi-
BILE for the State Board to send the
plans back with an approval before the
next session Of the Board.