Permits Issued for Barracks

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, September 30: Permits were taken out yesterday for the construction of four buildings to house the Student Army Training Corps at Butler College in Irvington. The new structures, designed by Butler alumnus Lee Burns, will be erected on college ground, south of University Avenue between Ohmer and Butler Avenues, at a total cost of $20,000 (2017: $331,842). The main buildings will be two barracks, each 42 x 172 feet in size, of northern construction, heated and double-lined with double floors, costing $7,000 (2017: $116,145) each. A mess hall, equipped with a complete kitchen, will accommodate 300 men. There also will be a fully equipped bathhouse. Army officials have approved the plans and material needed for the construction has been ordered. The project will be under the supervision of the Burns Realty Company.

“Permits Issued for Barracks,” The Indianapolis Star, 30 September 1918, p. 13:8

“To Start at Once on Barracks at Butler,” The Indianapolis News, 25 September 1918, p. 10:7

#worldwarone #StudentArmyTrainingCorps #ButlerCollege #Irvington #barracks

Phone Merger Undetermined

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, September 29: Negotiations toward unifying the two Indianapolis telephone companies have begun in response to the order from the director of telegraph and telephones, U. S. Postmaster General Albert Burleson. The Central Union Telephone Co has made a formal proposal to purchase the Indianapolis Telephone Co. In a merger, the automatic system of the Indianapolis company will be favored over the type now being used by the Central Union company. “Inasmuch as an automatic system is about to be adopted in Washington, it is safe to say that the United States government in its management of the telephones will take no backward step in its determination of the kind of service. There is no indication that the authorities at Washington will favor a return to obsolete telephone service,” observed William Fortune, Indianapolis Telephone Co president.

“Phone Merger Undetermined,” The Indianapolis Star, 29 September 1918, p. 10:4

Advertisement:

#onehundredyearsago #telephone #CentralUnionTelephoneCompany #IndianapolisTelephoneCo #merger #automaticsystem

Protective Steps Taken by Mayor

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, September 27: Mayor Charles Jewett has taken steps to prevent a Spanish influenza epidemic in Indianapolis. He has directed Dr. Herman Morgan of the city board of health to order the fumigation and cleansing of all public places - hotel lobbies, theaters, railway stations and street cars. The Mayor has also directed the chief of police to rigidly enforce the ordinance against spitting on the sidewalks and in street cars. “Fortunately, Indianapolis has not yet been infected with Spanish influenza. In recent days we have had an unusual amount of colds and grip among people, and Indianapolis stands in a dangerous and critical position. We must all work together now to avoid a serious situation that may come if we are negligent in this matter,” the Mayor said. Ft. Harrison reports ninety-seven cases of influenza.

“Protective Steps Taken by Mayor,” The Indianapolis News, 27 September 1918, p. 1:3

Advertisement:

#onehundredyearsago #MayorJewett #SpanishFlu #influenzaepidemic #BoardofHealth #publichealth #FortHarrison