Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-06
OLD BUILDING GIVES WAY 70
ERECTION OF BETTER AND
MODERN STRUCTURE.
TO MEET ALL DEMANDS
Growing Needs for Federal Purposes
in ottumWaso Re Supplied by =
New unksd states Court
House; Complete in 1912.

postoffice building since the work OF
| razing the old building began July B.,
will have reason to change their ex'
| preston as to the regret Of the pro-
cedure when the new structure be-
! gins to loom up In the beauty OF Its
architecture. Those who cling to the
old with the tenacity that hates to let
| go, will be given an opportunity to ad-
mire the new and become quite as
DESTROYS of retaining 1t. It is the trend
Of life to remove the old and that
which Is no longer capable OF serving
must be replaced with something that
can and will supply the present and
future needs. Such was the object of
those whose foresight brought pres
sure to bear on the powers ruling at
Washington and caused the purchase
Of the old Hawley homestead In order
that Ottumwa might be ready, when
the time arrived, to suppiant the then
present federal building with one that
must take care Of the wants OF the
communities as the wants grew, and
were not be supplied with the more
limited facilities. There were some
then who could and did say and won
der why that place was bought. Why
such an old landmark that had always
been so we'll kept up should be torn
down and leave vacant lot to be an
eyesore for years. The place was
bought, but 1t did not become an eye
sore because the old was removed
+ to give way to the new. On the con-
trary the site OF the Hawley home
stead was made pretty spot and kept
in order while awaiting the time that
the old post office would demand ex-
pansion in order to meet the demands
! made upon It, The federal court soon
came to Ottumwa because all such
cases from this city had to be taken
to Des Moines, Keokul- or elsewhere
and this was deemed unnecessary.
Secure Appropriation.
For time the sessions of the
United States court we're held in the
federal building, but the room wss not
to be had In sufficient quantity to meet
the requirements, and then too the
pension board and the postonice IN
spector must need be accommodated
with offices. Thus the cry for more
room became less OF q mumur ana
more of q loud demand. The SEES
sions OF the federal court had Z, be
accommodated In the county court
house, for this branch Of COURT must
| not be lost to Ottumwa Il possible to
retain it, and etill the demand for
| room increased. The United States
marshal and the clerk were without
Office room and they must be accom-.
Imodated II the court would exist as
| it should. Finally tho foresight OF
those who diligentl--v worked to p'r'
chase the Haw'ey homestead WAS pro.
ven to be wise and almost before they
knew 1t the postoffice was found to be
Inadequate to meet the demands made
upon It for space to accommodate the
ever growing business, for Ottumwa
would not and did not stand still, but
kept on growing gradually and Its
mail business kept apace with all other
advances. More room had to be had
and during the past few years persons
seeing the need for these things for
| Ottumwa, have been keeping busy
looking toward the securing OF ap-
preparations that would enable OF
tumwa to meet these demands made
upon It. The elimination Of their CT.
.orts was the Anal appropriation wi.ch
with previous helps given by congress
brought to C.tumwans the news tnat
the city should have federal build
ing costin upwarCs OF $2S5, 900.
| Complete In March UP.
| When on. will but look at TIE con-
tractorc razing the old structure to re-
place It with a modern and beautiful
new building, the thought OF such
we'll built structure being torn asun-
Ger fades away in childish sentiment
and the sense Of the practical replaces
the thought. Ottnmwans' pride IN
having the best obtainable for their
city makes them look forward to the
time which has been set FOR March i,
/ 1912. when the new building will be
completed.
Work Going Forward.
The work of excayating for the new
structure has been prosecuted with
yipor since the old building was
rcd and it is expected to get to the
concrete work within the next two
weeks. H. j. Bishop, general super
intendent for Bartlett & Killing, who
have the contract for the job, will prob
ABLY remain with the work until the
last of this week or the first OF nc-'t
when he will look after other work in
charge of the firm. Local superin-
tendent Frank D. Scharle of Dubuque
who has charge Of the work in OF.
tumwa since July 4, will be aided in
the care of the large force of employees
| by the arrival Of Superintendent w.
lie. Crossley Of Des Moines who ar
rived today aid will look after the car.
penters. The erection Of the huge
derrick is now being carried on under
the direction of Dennis Reardon, and
when done will stand at d height OF
several feet above the ground on the
Fourth street side OF the building
The office Of the superintendent is
located on Fourth street within the
enclosure about The building site.
Appieyard Supervisor.
! Supervising Architect Benson Apple
yard Of washington, D. c., is acting
for the treasury department on the
works and will probably remain over
seeing the job for the government until
| it is finished. A visit to the office oil
Mr.. Appleyard disclosed some three
dozen sheets of plans dealing with the
Il