St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-23

ton of good class of permanent buildings,
coupled with every security against accident,
fire or disease. This, believe. the ordinance
is accomplishing as rapidly as time. and the
force at my command will admit of.
My acknowledgements are due the archltec-
tural profession of the city for their courtesy
and general hearty cooperation with this de
partment of the city government, and in
some instances their aid has been invalua-
BILE.
would recommend that power be given
the Inspector Of Buildings to condemn any
structure or thing that, in his judgment, is
extra hazardous for fire, and to give the
party notice to yacate the condemned
premises within given time, subject TO APP
peal to the Chief Engineer of the FIRE
Department, or to the Fire Commissioners or
TO the Common Council.
In the matter of plumbing considerable
trouble has been experienced in getting good
work done. Many Of the wOrkmen, l am
compelled to say, are incompetent and uu-
reliable. Plumbing is the most important
branch in the art of building construction,
AID none but competent, faithful and honest
workmen should be permitted to practice a
trade where so much depends on the health
and life of the citizen.
would recommend that the Inspector
have power to increase his force of deputies,
in order to have at least one or two mpe-
tent on the outside whose duty it would be
mainly to make examinations, report any
violations of the law, aud carefully look after
the construction Of buildings.
lam advised that in the Building Inspec-
tors Office. in the city OF Boston, there are
twelve deputies, and last year Boston did
not put up as many buildings as
this city did during the same time by one
half In the city of Chicago they have
force of thirteen deputies in the Building In
spector's Office. Upon a mparison of the
latter city and st. Paul as to population, the
ratio of deputies for this city would be al
least four.
Considerable difficulty has been met in the
matter Of applications to change the interior
of old buildings, not so much where only
ordinary and unimportant changes are in
tended, but in many cases where the parties
desire to put in some kind of machinery to
generate steam for power, or heating pur
poses, which in city of this size and popu-
lation renders it extremely difficult tn super
wise and keep posted as TO the character of
the changes being made, and its relation as
to the security of adjoining property. Own
ers of property DESTROYS Of making such
changes owe duty TO the public by notify
ing this Office of their desire to do so, in Or
der that proper supervision over the changes
proposed may be had so as to prevent the
erection of fire traps in any of the old build
ings.
Additional power should be given the Office
TO condemn old aud dangerous buildings,
and old fire traps.
In the matter of granting special permits
sion to build or fix up any frame or wooden
structure within the fire limits, l would re-
spectfully urge upon the Common Council
the precaution to first cause any and all ap-
plication Of that character to be referred 10
this office for examination and report thereon
before final action is had.
1t is subject of congratulation to notice
that no fires have occurred in any building
built this year, C9S4, for which permits
were issued; a proof that greater care is be-
Ing taken in the construction of chimneys,
and the proper protection of woodwork from
steam aud other heating arrangements of
buildings.
hardly need say TO your honorable body
that in order to more fully carry out the re-
quirements of the ordinance some additional
help is indispensable. With the present force
it cannot be done. Two more deputies would
90 far toward making this department what
it should be, public good.
| would also recommend that in all brick
or stone buildings intended for business or
dwelling purposes, or both. the interior divi-
sion or party walls, serving as fire walls
should be carried up to the full height of the
building. and above the roof In cases Of fat
roofs at distances OF not more than twenty
five feet apart, unless otherwise determined
bv the Inspector of Buildings
Should this Office be allowed an increase
Of force, they could be employed during the
building season in the supervision OF build
ing construction, and during the winter
months whep the absolute necessity of the
use Of fires and heating apparatus is general
all over the city, they could be employed in
a constant surveillance and In spection of all
chimneys, smoke stacks, and other devices
as smoke conductors, with a view 70 the
construction and maintenance of a better
class of those very important parts Of every
building where heat is required, thus in n
measure relieving the Fire Department Of
somewhat divided authority and
responsibility in the matter, as
well as resulting in better security
against fires arising from defects of con
struction or decay; and TO this end would
respectfully suggest that this office have the
control aud supervision Of all chimueys,
smoke stacks and other smoke conductors
now In the city, or that may hereafter be con
s:ructed, upon the grounds that such control
and supervision would seem 10 more properly
belong To this department from its very ma
ture. The Inspector should also have power
to condemn any defective chimney, smoke
stack or smoke conductor which be may
deem dangerous and unsafe, and order the
same torn down and rebuilt in a safe snd
substantial manner; any failure TO do which
should subject the owner, lessee or tenant "
severe penalty.
In consequence of my limited Office force
regret not having been able 10 make such
an examination of elevators now in use,
as its Importance demands and the ordinance
requires.
The receipts OF this office during the year
have been in excess of It's expenses, conse-
queutly has not been any charge on the tax
payers.
The rapidly increasing number Of public
halls aud places OF public amusement In the
city. as well as the construction Of churches
and schools demands a careful and critical
examination OF the manner OF construction
and the facilities afforded therein for the
protection Of the patrons and freeuenters Of
those institutions foremost Of Nhieh shOulu
be proper ventilation, the erection OF FIRE
escapes and ladders, with plenty OF eapacous
openings for exits, Railways aud stairwavs Of
such dimensions as to provide for the rapid
aud safe exit Of the audience IN cases OF Ore
or panic. Il is 20 be regretted that 10 most
OF the buildings Of the above mentioned
character that we're constructed before the
passage Of the building ordinance there is a
sad deficiency in providing those necessary
safeguards against DIRE aud accident
In some there is not q sufficient
number Of egress openiugs-some mana
gers are late in the maintenance Of exit signs
and keeping the doors unlocked aud the
Railways uuObstructed during occupancy by
The public. | have endeaynrcd % make some