Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-06
Make PROGRESS
ON POSTOFF|CE
WORK ON THE FEDERAL BUILD
ING GRADUALLY TAKING ON
GREATER PROPORTIONS.
WAITING FOR GRANITE
Material For the Exterior Walls Of
Basement Needed-Safeguard
Against Water in the
Lower Floor.
WAITING FOR GRANITE

The progress on the new federal
| building for Ottumwa is gradually as
Stunning such proportions that while
not very noticeable to the average per-
son who looks on at the workmen each
day, the contractors and the govern
ment supervising architect are quite
satisfied with the showing made. Many
upon looking at the Job are wont to
remark that the work is slow, but
when it is known that there are nearly
half million brick in the basement
walls, pillars, ETC., of the structure,
some allowance is made for the amount
of work accomplished AS fast as
eleven brick layers and as many help
ers under Contractor Dennis Reardon
can do the work, the job continues
The magnitude Of the job and it's I'M
usual character make 1t novelty in
Ottumwa and as the work progresses
much that is interesting In the building
world will be laid bare to the curious
Ottumwan. At present the work has
reached the point where the railroads
must soon deliver the material or the
brick men will be at their wits end to
find something to do. An order sent
the stone firm for the granite to be
used in the basement, has not been
delivered yet and the masons must
have the granite stills before they can
60 much further with the brick work.
The granite will show about two feet
above the grade line to the first floor
line of the building on all sides. The
grade being lower on Third street than
on Fourth and Court streets, this will
be filed to the level fof Court street
grade, and broad promenade will go
about the three sides of the building.
Above the first floor line will be stone
to the roof. The fill on Third street
will make it necessary to climb eight
steps to reach the promenade and
three steps additional will be neces-
sary on both the Third and Court
street entrances to the building.
Brick Beneath Grade.
Many Of those who have watched
the progress Of the building have ex-
pressed some wonder that brick be
the ground. The government, however,
has studied the qualities Of brick and
recommend its use in the capacity in
which, it is used in the new structure.
The brick now visible Is to be hidden
behind clay, and the builder considers
these brick walls as the building
proper and not the foundation, which
Is known as the footings and is COM
posed of concrete. Thus when the
proper level Is struck, or from the
ground line, all that is visible of the
basement wall will be OF granite.
Prevent seipage.
A feature Of the structure is the
means taken by the government archi-
|tects to protect the structure from
water and moisture in the basement
and about the base In manner that
might effect the walls. To guard
against the water three coasts Of
asphalt, or sufficient of the pitch-like
substance to make coating of suitable
thickness, Is applied to the outside of
the wall and four inch course of
brick is then placed outside Of this.
The drain tile is then placed in posi-
ton on the footing and thickness of
hay covers this with broken stone be-
tween the hay and the earth. The
walls are in this manner protected
from the water and the drain title is
protected from clogg1ng by the hay
and broken stone catching all sedi-
ment that might work into the thing.
The building will stand sixty-five
feet high above the grade and being
without any tower, will present
pretty compact bulk when completed.
Supervising Architect B. Appleyard
states that the trouble from surface
water has been remarkably slight, and
practically none was encountered. The
government keeps in touch with the
progress Of the job by means of a
photograph of the work taken each
month which is filed and used to pro-
tect the government with builders
when complaints are made.