Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-22
Bull DING Will.
Be FIRE-p20OF
NEW posToFFIcE AND UNITED
STATES COURTHOUSE TO
BE MODERN. ,..
LITTLE !, WOOD USED {:
Cer.ent. Iron, Stone and Brick are the
e Chief Materials Used in the Con-
struction Of the Handsome
Structure.

Among the features that are promi
nent in the erection Of the new poster
Efice and federal court house, is thu
firenroof character Of the structure
Wood is used only where it is almos
Indispensable and where nothing cls'
viii! give quite the same results. u
course, there will be number OF wooc
floors in offices and court rooms, but
this is laid over concrete flooring
that prevails on ever story OF the
building. Then too one may point out
the fact that wood forms the sheathine
of the roof. Here. however, one finds
that the only wood used near the roof
ing in any way is this sheathing, Tor
iron and cement with, of course, the
tile covering of the roof are the only
materials close to the wood.
Modern In Make Up.
Cement. stone, IRON ETC., all OF fire
proof nature, form the major part or
the materials used in the construction
of the new building Electric wires
are all laid in conduits and these make
quite spider web of work through
out the roomy interior Of the struc-
ture, and likewise give the ordinary
observer an idea Of how construction
work Of the modern type is carried on.
The piping for plumbing work
is all Of special type and
is lined with lead and is gar
vani2ed. The outer walls are lined
with. and the partitions are made OF
hollow brick or tile. Even the look
out through which the inspector can
watch the workmen is suspended by
metal from the ceiling and laid In &C.
ment with walls plastered. except, OF
course, where it is established in a
dead wall of it's own All the chance
afforded fire in the make up Of the
new building is very slim and would
prevent any disastrous effects from a
blaze.
All Kept Busy.
The force of workmen under Super
intendent Hoppe may be seen as so
many busy bees. flying hither and
shither about the building at various
tons all of which blend in the
general scheme as outlined by the ar
:hitects of the treasury department. A
gang of men may be seen on the SEC
md floor placing the firing Of one
ncl "T'' iron straps to which the wire
athing (for the lath used 10 not the
ordinary kind, but metal screen). IL
made fast for the plasterers to begin
their work. The third floor has most
Of the wire lath in place and here, too.
The masons are nearly through with
The brick partitions that divide the
third floor into numerous rooms. The
courtroom will soon be fired and lath-
ed as we'll as the remainder Of the sec
ond floor. From thence this branch OF
the construction will move its field OF
operations to the post office or first
floor Everything is SO arranged that
one bunch of workmen blaze the way
for another set. and thus the work
from attic to cellar progresses without
a hitch or delay Plumbers and cleo
tricians, as well as carpenters and ma
sons are all busy at some work, some
where in the building. On the outside
a crew may be seen building a we'll In
front Of the Fourth street entrance
and below the huge stone porch. This
well was dug to save the old well
which at the instance Of Postmaster
r. A. Nimocks has been kept In service
by the order Of the chief architect and
Benson Appleyard. Of
Inc government forces had we'll sunk
and will have the new we'll connected
with the old short distance below the
ola well.
The concrete and stone men are at
work on the handsome stone flight and
porch. that dignifies the frontage on
Fourth street. sand connects the prom
enade about the building with tho
handsome entrance to the federal
court house. t''