Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-20
WORK MAKES
Good PROGRESS
LARGE FORCE NOW EMPLOYED
ON NEW FEDERAL BUILDING
AND SHOWING Is MADE.
NINETY ON THE ROLLS
Start Made With Two Men July and
Now Work Progresses on the
Roof-Biq Variety Of Artl-
sans Employed.

With force of ninety men at work,
the largest number of men to be en-
ployed on the building since the work
of erection began, the work OF build
ing the new federal court and post
office is progressing at good rate al
though much still remains to be done.
The magnitude Of the job that Super
intendent Hoppe has on his hands Is
not easily appreciated from a mere
casual glance at the handsome struc-
ture in passing, but a trip through the
building and a glance at the varied
Jobs at which groups Of men are en-
gagged in the construction Of the build
ing, will readily acquaint one with the
size of the job.
Began Last July.
The start of the work was made
when on July 5, 1910, two men were
put to work on the tearing down OF
the old building, and since then the
force at work has averaged about for
ty men. At present the work has
progressed to the point where large
number of men can find plenty to do
and the force is nearly 100 men, Ev-
cry floor of the building has Its busy
forces, and out on the roof and on the
outside Of the building on the ground.
there are also forces at work. The
work of enclosing the huge structure
will probably be completed by the
first of July. At present there is but
one man setting the tile roof. but ad-
ditional tile settlers will be placed on
the job. Yesterday the pouring Of the
concrete for the third floor was done
and by early in the next week all OF
the floors will have been poured. A
force is busy getting the floor forms
in shape for the remainder of the
third floor in order to be ready for the
balance of the pouring.
All Kept Busy.
While the gang was engaged in put
ing in the floor on the third landing,
another force might have been seen !
riveted some of the iron work on
he roof and on the sky light that will !
add to the illumination of the work |
Dom in the postoffice. Still another |
Ind a rather diversified force or forces |
night have been seen engaged on the
.oof. There one finds timers. car
penters, tile settlers and roustabouts. !
The masonry there is completed ex-
,ept for the placing of the huge stone
zap on the chimney or fue. This
,tone is of immense proportions and
will probably be hoisted to the roof
his afternoon, where it will be skid
led along heavy false work to the fiue
Ind set in place.
Building Partitions.
The masons and stone settlers are
Kept busy within the structure now
md on the first floor OK in the post
,fflce proper, force of these men |
lay Re seen setting foe hollow lilo
hat is used for partitions, and as q |
means Of keeping out 6a:a cess along |
he oNter walls. The varl.s excel: !
ma on the third floor have been pour
ID for these too, are of concrete and |
he huge derrick on Fourth street has |
,eeb kept busy hosting the mixed con-
crete from the ground 10 the top OF
he building during the making of tho
doors and the vaults.
Arch Ceiling.
Another force of mon arc kept busy
erecting the iron forms for the arched
,roined ceiling of tho postcffice lobby.
he plaster,ng of the lobby IN tive post
office will be over iron frames in arch
shapes to which are made fast wire
athing by means Of wire ties. Wire
S also used by the tile setter on the
'oof who fastens the tile to the roof |
~ ties of copper wire. The force now
1t work on the structure includes the |
artisans:
Stone settlers, masons, carpenters, |
timers, electricians. iron
workers, painters, tile roofers.