Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-04
IMPROVEMENTS
HAVE Been MANY
NEW ELks AND MASONIC LODGE
HALLS ARE MONUMENTS OF
BUILDING ACTIVITIES.
ALL ARE K EP BUSY
Year just Closed Has Been Unusual
for the Glass Of Buildings Erect
ed-Down Town Is
improved.

ner year for Ottumwa in the amount of
building Improvement that has been
done. While others years may have
rivaled this in number of structures,
this year will show In the aggregate
OF money expended and in the quality
OF improvements made, as we'll as In
the work afforded laborers a great IN
crease over previous years. The class
and quality of the structures either
built or remodeled has been such as
to make the streets upon which they
| are located assume q city tone and
show up we'll for the enterprise of the
| people. While all Of the Improvement
is not necessarily In buildings erected,
In this alone considerable substantial
improvement has been made by the
erection of such structures as the UT
building on East Second street and
the remodeled Elks' building on Green
street. This beautiful structure and
the portion of 1t that Is remodeling
of the old produce house and the Elks'
lodge, will reach the sum of 100000,
and when completed will have the
most striking appearance of any build
Ing Of its kind in the city. Then, too,
the Masonic temple on West Second
street near Court will serve as one OF
few excellent structures that grace
that block. Some $4,000 will be ex-
pended In completing this beautiful
lodge home. The Douglas school, at
the cost of about $4,000 is another adj
dition to the handsome structures that
grace this street. Few if any of the
business streets but were in some
manner improved in the buildings that
adorn them. Numerous store fronts
were radically changed and in some
cases transformed from the antique
type common twenty years ago. to the
modern structure of the present age.
Many Improvements.
The resident districts witnessed as
great improvement at least in number
If not in cost, as did the business CEN
ings OF superior class have been
erected. The better and later designs
of architecture are seen in their make
UP and the best of appointments is
given their construction. Plumbing
and the most approved methods OF
lighting and heating form elements in
their erection. The cheaper house for
renting purposes was not as common
among the residence buildings of 1909
as was the better or home type. This
latter kind was in most cases built by
persons who had been waiting until
they were able to do something per-
manent and of high standard in dwell
ings and the results speak more elo-
quently for the city and it's spirit of
enterprise. A number of dwellings
were remodeled and made into much
better and more costly structures. Al
SO were number of fat buildings at
an average cost that would range be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000, constructed
during the past year.
Reaches Over $25o,oCO.
OF the buildings erected in 1909 in
which local architects had part
either as designers or superintendent
there were forty-one structures that
will approximate S255,800. Of these
thirty-two buildings were residences
and flats, at cost Of $4,000. The bust
ness and public buildings consisted of
nine structures at cost of S167,500.
These figures, however, do not take
into account the various buildings
planned and erected during the year
in which the local architects had no
part. A great number Of dwellings
and houses of various worth were
erected during the year by contracting
carpenters without having plans
drawn by the local architects. These
improvements were not confined to
any particular part of the city and the
south as we'll as north side prospered.
Coupled with the building improve
ments in the resident districts, con-
siderable amount of street paving with
the making of much parking between
the lawns and curb has added to he
pretty appearance of the city as a
place of nice homes
Tower Clock.
The clock recently placed in the
tower Of Wapello countys court
house. is another of the local improve
preciated by the people as a whole.
An elaborate new pipe organ was add
ed to the already pretty Swedish Luth-
eran church furnishings. A chapel
erected by the Presbyterian church on
Benton street at the cost of $4,000 and
the purchase of a pastors home for
the Main Street M. E. church were
among the church improvements
made.
Aside from all of this, there has
never been year when men seeking |
work had better opportunity to OBJ
tain It, All through the year from
spring until late fall, contractors on
public as we'll as private and corpora
ton work, have been short of men /
and the work on many jobs was run in
two shifts, of night and day. Nineteen |
hundred and nine was record year
for Ottumwa.
the year designing buildings for other
The above list of buildings and |
their cost were kindly furnished by
the local architects. G. M. Kerns, E.
Koch and Harry e. Throne, all Of
whom have been very busy during
cities, both of public and private types.
Waterloo Manufacturer WEEDS.
Waterloo, Jan. Especial -F. E.
rracfAant ,S the