The castings for the stairways were furnished by F. Megow, of Independence. The slate steps for said stairs, also the floor tiles and base for the bath rooms and water closets, were purchased of the Burlington Manufacturing Company, Chicago.

A contract was made with R. C. Hyde to ground and otherwise prepare the walls for plastering. Also with W. L. Barton to put in the deafening boards. This work was completed by the time the roofs were on. The plastering was then commenced, and was finished by the 22d of December, the weather having been unusually fine and warm. The floor tiles are laid and the wash-basins set, which completes the mason work.

A contract was awarded to George Netcott to excavate for and build a cistern one hundred feet long by ten feet interior diameter, cylindrical in shape, which was completed late in the fall of 1882, and connections were made to the same with the down spouts from the roof of the building at several points. The cistern was also connected with the pump in the boiler-house. An air duct connecting with the main air duct has been constructed of stone, with a brick arch covering, to supply the fifth and sixth sections with fresh air, and through which the condense return pipes run to the boiler

room.

The main steam pipes as well as a large proportion of the steam adiators are in place and connected to each other, so the building is supplied with some heat; the rest will be put up as fast as possible.

The outside sewer pipes have been laid, to which the soil and waste pipes to the bath rooms and water closets will be connected as soon as the plumbing is done.

A contract for completing the inside carpenter work, such as laying the floors, setting the door jambs and hanging the doors, putting down the base, fixing up the closets and clothes rooms, etc., has been given to R. C. Hyde.

The heating and plumbing is being done by the day, finding that to be the most economical manner of doing that kind of work.

The radiators have been purchased from A. Y. McDonald, of Dubuque; Runce, Spencer & Co., of Milwaukee; and F. Megow, of Independence. The most of the pipe, fittings and brass work have been furnished by A. Y. McDonald. The supplies for plumbing were bought of the J. L. Mott Iron Works, of New York.

We hope, if the weather permits, to have the work all completed by the first of April, so the building can be occupied at that time.

Respectfully yours,

GEORGE JOSSELYN,

Superintendent of Construction.

Independence, Iowa, January 2, 1884.