The Evening critic., 1882-06-07

AMONG the incidental fixtures of the
present local government is an aged relic
known as Entwisle, and entitled Inspector
of Buildings" He is understood to be the
especial protege of Dent. His duties are to
see that the regulations are observed by
architects and builders in the construction
of the numerous edifices that mark the un-
exampled growth of our beautiful city.
The peculiar system upon which the city
Of Washington is laid out, that is to say,
the width of its streets, its peculiar insti-
tuition of parking" and the irregular con.
formation of its building space by reason
of its bisecting avenues, afford illimitable
opportunity for the exercise of inge-
unity and the display of taste in producing
rare and picturesque effects in architecture.
But all these advantages are carefully neu-
tralized by set of arbitrary rules termed
building regulations" which consist partly
of traditions handed down from the pre-
architectural period, and partly of the
whims and caprices of the mediocrity or
imbecility by which we have been gov.
eTned of late.
These building regulations are ex-
actly suited to the genius of Entwisle.
They afford him unbounded scope for the
exercise Of his distinguishing traits of self
importance, mulishness and meddling, and
his chief occupation is that of throwing
small annoyances and petty obstacles in
the way of persons desiring to build
houses-unless certain pet architects are
employed. The particular bete noir of Ent-
wisle is that clause of the regulations
which provides for the construction of bay
windows beyond the proper building line.
On this clause Entwistle exercises an
ingenuity worthy of better cause. The
regulations prescribe that bay-windows
must be of a certain width in front, that
they must not project beyond certain
distance from the proper building line and
that there must be certain length of wall
ON the line on each side of them.
Ofcourse such rule must have been
framed on the theory that Washington was
to be built like Philadelphia, OF a single
type Of architecture and one style Of con
struction. But thus far the Philadelphia
system has never found favor here. On
the contrary the genius of the architect
has been exhausted in quaint and curious
designs, gradually making Washington one
ofthe most picturesque cities in the world
But all this has to be done in spite of En-
twisle and his regulations.
While Twining lived there was always
an opportunity of appeal; for Twining was
not only skillful engineer, but gentle
man of cultivated taste, and whenever the
absurd regulations OF the preposterous En-
twisle stood in the way of neat bit of ar
chitecture the Major was always ready 20
suspend the one and oyerrule the other.
Thus upon examination of the records
it will be found that nearly
if not quite all the beautiful and unique
edifees which mark the present period
have been built under Especial permits -
issued by express order Of Major Twining,
regardless alike of the arbitrary nonsense
OF the regulations and the absurd protests
of Entwisle. But now that Twining is no
more, Entwisle and his regulations have
resumed sway. 1t Is probably idle to hope
fof any relief so long as the present Board
remains in power. But while that tsm-
porary evil is being submitted TO- we pro-
pose to call public attention to the need Of
a change not only in the office Of Inspector
but in the system Of the regulations them
selves,