National Republican., 1875-12-02

o. MrLtt OF uQ4u4a VI lou4o VI t.t1t
tie little Of which believe be 10 the District OF
Columbia. authority should be given TO Ar. Wm.
forsyth 20 run out the lines and deseruioe
sbecs found eperoaching upon said streets should
bepmoved.
During the past year the sevcn,ecath-ssrcet
wharf has been repoesessed by the Government,
and the arrearages Of rent paid into the Dissric.
treasury. believe.
The value Of our water line around the city. has
yearly grown into notice and Importance; its coin
meree has grown and ifs property value largely
increased. New lines Of steamers are being or
CANNED for local and distant trc, and the time Is
not far distant when the whole river front will be
needed for the demands Of trade.
That portion Of the river front from the mouth
Of Rock creek to the Arsenal, and from the cast
side of the Arsenal to the mouth of the newly-cut
James creek canal TO the Navy Yard. is valuable
to the future commercial and manufacturing In
terests Of our city; and when disputed rights shall
have been determined by the courts improvements
OF a permanent character will be made, and wit
ness the removal of the unsightly whRryes and
sheds of the present.
GENERAL BUILDING INTERESTS OF THE CITY.
By reference to my last report Il viii be seen
that there was issued from November, 1873, to
July "a sI4 4oI permits and from July Is to No
and l51 frame buildings and repairs, making q
total of 4l6 s53 permits issued for the year 1874
ThiSyear the number of permits issued (i,74i)
is more than double those Of last year. This may
be accounted for in part by assuming that ma,,y
buildings were erected without permits prior 70
the present year.. but 1t is evident that several
hundred buildings have been erected in the past
year in excess of any year previous.
The estimate Of cost, sS65S.5OO is based upon
These improvements have been distributed
almost equally over the entire length and breadth
of the city, The western and northwestern sec
tons have kept pace in Improvements with their
= usual activity, while in the eastern and SOUTH
eastern portions there has been erected greater
number OF buildings than in any previous year in
the history ofthe city; an unmistakable evidence
of prosperity and the confidence of our citizens in
the government and their Endorsement OF the i'm
DrO nj mn IN QNfoOHfno
streets and avenues end Identifying the same.
The prospect for the coming year, from the best
Information can obtain, bids fair to excel the
past. This may be attributed to the fact that tho
prices OF material are low and labor abundant at
reduced prices, in each approximating to a solid
basis and certainty, as to ensure reduction in
cost over previous year of from Is to 20 per cent.
Another fact that may be considered as having
salutory influence on building enterprises Is the
easy and pleasant access to more remote portions
the city by horse railroads.
That buildings heretofore the homes Of two or
more families, thrown together in unhealthy and
tllyentilated rooms, are being rapidly converted
into business places, and their occupants enabled
to obtain houses with all the comforts
Of home, at figures within their means, are facts
not heretofore realized but to q limited extent.
T. 1t lie apparent that 1t becomes the duty OF the
Government to procure enactments and adopt
regulations Of q liberal character TO facilitate and
give encouragement to private building interests.
To accomplish this the honorable Commissioners
ommenO such regulations as they may thiak the
the District.
The existing building regulations, though very
deficient in many respects, have been very gener-
ally complied with by a large majority of our
builders and citizens, and TO them your inspector
is indebted in the decided improvement in the
construction of buildings during the past year;
for il is an indisputable fact that the style and
mechanical construction Of our buildings have
wonderfully improved during the past year, and
in this respect we are rivallng our sister cities.
Any changes in the building regulations should
be given TO- our citizens at least three months
DrfOr TO the building season. ADriI
The experience Of the past year has evinced the
fact that the fire limits should be extended SO as
to include the whole Of the cities of Washington
and Georgetown. There will, doubtless, be argu-
ments both for and against this proposition.
lt.is fact that the frame, or so-called frame,
buildings Tor WhiehlpeImits have been issued In
localities permitted BY the regulations, can
scarcely be considered frame dwellings, but are
simply enclosed sheds so poorly constructed rs 10
and money expended In this direction is simply
thrown away. In these poorly constructed tene-
ments the laboring mar defeats the object he has
in view, that OF providing home for himself and
family, or investing the savings Of years. Its q
fact that cannot be controverted that wherever
frame buildings Of the class indicated erected
the value Of the property adjoining the same and
sometimes the whole square deteriorates in value
from to 20 per cent.
Should this character OF buildings be prohibited
by law, with the comparative chcapness of bricks
and mortar, We would find neat and comfortable
tenements Of limited proportions arise in their
stead, for this class OF buildings can be con-
strueted at very small percentage over the cost
of frame.
This leads us 10 notice the responsibility and
mechanical ability of persons applying for per-
mits for the erection and construction of build
ings. In other departments of the Government
while no fafeguards of this character are thrown
around the erection of buildings, wherein, neces-
sarily, the lives of our citizens are jeoparized
secured by secure or insecure construction.
This is q matter in which our citizens one and
all, are deeply interested, and our Government to
some extent responsible for its practice, and
pointed for the revision of the building regula-
tions to this important matter.
During the past year the duties OF the Inspector
have been arduous, difficult and uncertain. While
this Is true, It has been my endeavor to discharge
my duty with fidelity to the government and i'm
partiality to our citizens. How far 1 have sue
ceeded lie best known to my superior, and to you
am indebted for counsel and assistance on oil
occasions.
conduct the business Of tho once OF Inspector
there will be required for the ensuing year two
assistant inspectors OF buildings and one inspee-
tor of boilers furnaces, ranges, &C., his duty to
supervise the setting up Of all character Of fire.
works; also permit clerk. further respect
fully recommend that the office Of Inspector be an
Office Of record.
ESTIMATES FOR NEW BUILDINGS, &c, AND FOR
REPAIRS FOR ESsUING YEAR.
SCHOOLS.
For school buildings and sites in Washington and
Georgetown twhite and colored). ......s2s ,0oo
Repairs ditto fssnS snd ;n:de blind. ai the
Berret school building. 5000
school % m @ 1900
county school property, 22JO
The erection Of a two-room brick school
building at Mt Pleasant, including Site, 4.Ooo
The erection Of q four-room brick school
building at Tennallytown, including site, 600
The repairs of school buildings i'm the
county, about.-...- ...-......................- so
sssi,25O
ESTIMATES FOR MARKETS.
For the completion of the Northern Liberty
market Seventh and o and Pstreets. -. slo9 900
For fitting up stalls, terraclng and terrace
steps, retaining wall and fencing Of court
yard, at western market. o,40O
Cutting away forty feet Of the south side
Of Georgetown market, arching over cell
lar and constructing fish Market and re-
fitting of market hall. $500
For the purchase of Northeastern market
site, about. t.................. 24,ooo
Total. gsa2, 800
sTATIoS-HoUsEs.
For the purchase of station house, Tenth street
northwest, treccntly asedl......-;;..... $1,000
For the purchase of property on Massa-
chusetts avenue, (recently leased) )....... 1900
For the erection of new station-house,
northeast, on market site. 10000
For the purchase Of site and erection of
station house in First precinct. .......... 1900
F6rthe erection of station-housc at Union
For S the y purchase Of site and erection Of
station-house at Brightwood. ............ 1000
There will be required an additional sta
Of districts be increased. Cd. 1900
For incidental repairs to station houses,
including the painting Of the interiors. 1,eOo
Total. SO coo
HAY SCALES.
For the replacing Of hay scales at George
town. .-................-...-. szlO
ExeISE-HoUsEs.
For erection Of additional engIne-housc on North
eastern market site. te....<.-....-.......... 5000
For additional engine-h house in northwest
ern portion of tho city, including site.... 1900
Ior con -uctfnQ west wall and remodel