Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1914-12-18
NEVADA De
TEkT|ON HOME
Splendid Structure Nearing Compile.
ton. Brief History of Estabment
OF Structure and Short De- ,
scription of Building

nearing completion, is n OF the most
beautiful and substantial of all our
state institutions. Situated as 1t is on
the brow of a hill, it has the general
appearance of a private mansion, and
in truth is a home from every point
of view. The Board in charge of the
work consisting of George Russell, Sr.,
Senator Frank Fernald, and Governor
Oddie are to be highly complimented
in their choice of plans, location of
the site, and in matters generally,
concerned with the building. 1t is a
tribute to their executive ability, to
their patriotism, and to their loyalty,
for be it known that their services
were rendered free. of charge. Con-
tractors McGinty and Son and archi.
tects Ware & Treganza also come in
for great credit, for the building is
pronounced to be one of the best con
structed in the state.
Surrounding the building is approx
mately N hundred acres of land to
which the Board has acquired title for
the state. A very large part of this
can easily be placed under cultivation,
and 1T is all rich and highly produc-
tive This land will go a long ways
In making the institution self-support.
ing. Forty acres of this land is the
gift of Senator Frank Fernald. The
balance was purchased from the S. P.
railroad company.
There Is an interesting story con
nected with the establishing of this
home and its location at Elko.
When the bill was introduced in the
last session of the legislature provid-
ing for an appropriation for its con-
"struction, at least half a dozen towns
bid for it. The fight continued for a
number Of days and for sever hours
past h constitutional time for ad.
journment. Finally, however, about
four o'clock in the morning, when the
assembly was deadlocked over anoth-
er Dill, by a piece of stratigem the Ell
ko delegation landed the prize.
Plans for the building, submitted in
competition by Ware C Treganza of
Salt Lake City we're accepted by the
commission, Feb. Is, 1914.
On the 4th of June following, the
contract for the plumbing and heat
ing was awarded to the w. T. Smith
Co. of Elko and the contract for the
remainder of the building to w. G..
McGinty & Son of Reno and Elko.
Later on the contract for the water
supply and sewage disposal system
was awarded to the w. It. Smith Co.
of Elko.
The water supply for the building
is provided by means of what is known
as the Kewanee Pneumatic Water Sup
ply system. This consists of a steel
tank, 6 feet in diameter and "a feet
long placed underground near the
well. An electric pump forces the
water into the tank and congresses
the air in the tank until the pressure
reaches 100 pounds pei square inch
when the pump stops automatically.
The air pressure in the tank forces
the water through the building giving
a pressure of 70 pounds on the Sec
ond floor. As the water Is drawn off
In the building, the pressure in the
tank Is slightly reduced and the pump
starts up automatically, thus preserv-
Ing nearly an equal pressure of water
at all times without requiring any at
tention.
The sewage from the building is
discharged into a concrete septic tank,
the object of which is to liquify the
sewage. After being held in the tank
for about "a hours the sewage passes
out In an odorless and liquid form to
a large gravel filter bed where the
action OF the sun and air destroys all
germs and leaves the sewage abso.
lutely pure, %odorless, clear and free
from any germs.
Construction.
The building is fire-proof.
The foundation walls are of con.
crete and the first and second story
exterior walls OF brick, faced with
pressed brick.
Stairs and floors of reinforced con.
crete.
Bearing partitions of brick or con
crete and all other partitions of Sui
Ivan hollow partition blocks.
Height of ceilings as follows:
Basement 0 feet.
First story 10 feet.
Second story Q feet.
FIRST FLOOR
Living Room.
The Idea was to make of this build.
ing a home In every sense OF the word,
and with this idea In view the main
hall way is made a loungiDg hall just