Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-12
WHOLESALERS
ARE BUILDING
THREE OF OTTuMWA's JOBeERS
ARE ERECTING NEW BUSI-
E.. NESS HOUSES.
TWO WELL ADVANCED

Edaeriy and Hutchlson Buildings Ar
Up-Harper e. McIntlre Contract
for Structure viii Be Let
| Next Week. ..
BY January or shortly afterwards
there will be two and perhaps three
more large wholesale firms in new
homes at different locations In the
city's business district. All OF these
structures will be larger than the
! preceding locations of the firms they
will house, and each will be more mod
ern and in keeping with their advanc
ed needs over the former buildings
that served these concerns as places
of business. More floor space is al
forded in each Of the new buildings IN
course Of erection and an additional
floor will be provided in each Of them.
J. w. Edgerly wholesale drug firm is
the most advanced in their new home
with the Hutchinson wholesale grocery
a second in the race. Harper &
McIntire Co.. has started the founda-
ton work for its new structure made
necessary because Of the disastrous
fire that ruined its place Of business.
Fhe contract for the building OF the
wholesale hardware house will be the
let next week and the work started as
soon as possible thereafter.
The EdgerIy Block.
The J. w. Edgerly building which
Is the nearest completion, was started
before the Hutchinson building and
for some time past has been
undergoing the interior finishing work.
The massive structure is four stories
in height, has high ceilings and
matches nicely in size with the other
business houses in the same block,
completing block Of four-story bust
ness structures between Court and
Washington on Main street with the
exception of a small structure that
fits in the l. of the Merrill grocery
building.
The brick work has been completed
on this structure for some time and
the plasterers, carpenters, electricians,
steam filters, elevator workers and
sprinkler system mechanics are busy
on the job Noticeable In the con-
struction of the interior is the amount
of cement and metal used for fire pro-
lection The huge elevator and stair
way as we'll as light shaft Is enclosed
in reinforced cement walls and the
the stairway Is of metal. A metal
chute for the dropping Of boxes from
the upper to the lower floors is also
provided with a metal fire door with
q fusible connection that will drop
the door and stop draft in case of
fire. The sprinkler system of fire pro-
lection is being installed and two huge
Haxton boilers will make the heat for
the building
Much the Larger.
No less than $500 feet Of radiation
is needed for the new building and
piping of all sizes and various kinds
is Uttered about the structure in course
of installation. An army of carpenters
Is busy making hundreds Of feet of
shelving and some idea may be CLEAN
ed Of the amount when 1t is known
that two carloads of lumber is needed
for the shelving alone. The hard wood
floors are being laid over the original
flooring and feature of the second
floor where much Of the sundries and
orders will be handled, is the excel
lent lighting effect produced. A white
finish is given the ceiling and walls
and even on a dull day there is a
wonderful light afforded those working
on this floor The greatest depth of
this section is 144 feet and here one
finds an immense amount of shelving
The ceiling Is extra high and prism
glass Is used at the top of the regular
windows to aid in the lighting scheme
The packing room Is located at the
rear on one side of the second floor
and one here sees modern device
for packing room In the metal fire
proof chutes that contain excelsior
sawdust and paper used in packing.
Humidors built stationary on this floor
that will be moist proof and heat proof,
will serve to hold the stocks of cigars
and candles.
Five Floors For Use.
The third floor will be used largely
for the paint stocks and part of the
glass stock, the laboratory, etc. The
fourth floor will be given over to ware
rooms. The first floor at the rear of
the Offices will be given to the receiv-
ing and shipping Of freight, as we'll as
to ware rooms. The offices are to be
located on this floor and they will be
large and spacious. Every conven-
fence for the modern operation of a
big wholesale and johbing house has
been studied In the arrangement of
the new building. The structure is of
brick with stone trimmings and the
entrance Is on the east end of the Main
street front. A huge basement Is pro-
vided beneath the building which will
take two cars of cement to supply it's
floor. There are five floors and the
floor space will reach about $4,000
square feet. "as.o.
Hutchinson Building.
Masons are rapidly nearing the fin
ish of the brick work on the new
Hutchinson wholesale grocery building.
This structure is one that will attract
considerable attention from it's very
prominent location adjoining Balling.
all park near the west end of the I'm.
ion depot at the foot of Marion street
-, WAIST Main This h,1i1dipo is Ave