Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-23
Determining the Value of the Hun
dreds of Houses Erected in Pitts
burg Since Last Year.
GIVING THE OWNERS ONE CHANCE.
How Permit to Put Up New Structure
is Obtained From the City and
What 1t Costs.
ENFORCING TIE WOODEN BUILDIEGLAW
Foundations Weakened by Digging Sewer Trenches in
Cellars


taxes Of 1891. Every third year all real es-
tate and Improvements are re-assessed, but
that will not occur until next year for the
taxes of 1892. The boards work is now
confined to the assessment of new buildings,
and, from a preliminary skirmish, they are
led to expect that the value of the improve
ments made this year will largely exceed that
of any previous year. In placing a value
upon a new building the assessors have to
rely upon their own Judgment, but are al
ways careful to place it high enough. Some
times they make it little too steep, but the
owner has the privilege Of making an
affidavit as to its actual cost and it goes at
that
1t takes more than money to build a
house. There are several forms to be gone
through before citizen can commence the
erection of dwelling. In the first place a
building permit must be obtained from the
Building Inspector. A failure to do this
renders the owner of the building liable to
ine of $50, and a similar penalty i'm
posed upon a contractor who commences
work without first knowing that permit
has been issued.
A DESCRIPTIVE ARTICLE.
An application for building permit
must contain a very full description of the
proposed erection. 1t must set forth the
street and between what cross-streets the
building is to be located; number of stories;
dimensions of main building and rear build
ing, if any; height ofstories; depth of cellar;
thickness of foundations; thickness of walls,
If of brick; materials to be used in the con-
struction; character of building, whether
dwelling, business house, Office building,
ETC.; names of owner and contractor, and
estimated cost of the building. The word
of the contractor is generally accepted on
the last item, but the officials know their
business and are not often fooled on this
point The fee for permit varies with the
cost Of the work, as follows: Less than
$1,000, So; between 1000 and 5000, S5;
above 5000, S. for the first s., 600 and so
cents for every 81, 900 or fraction of 81 900
beyond.
man is limited in his choice of build
ing materials in some parts of the city, no
frame or iron-clad structures being permit
ted within the fire limits. This territory
embraces the first u wards and that portion
of the Southside lying between the Pitts
burg, Virginia and Charleston and the Pan
handle tracks and the Monongahela river.
A RIGID INSPECTION.
Under certain conditions frame and iron
clad buildings are allowed within the fire
limits Before the enactment of the new
charter Councils had the power to grant
permission for the erection of such struc-
lures within the prohibited districts. Now
this authority is vested in the Board of
Wooden Buildings, to which all such ap-
plications are referred. The board consists
of the Building Inspectors. the Superin-
tendent of the Fire Bureau and his three
assistants. This board meets once week.
A person desiring to erect such build
ing in the prescribed district files in the Of
fee of the Building Inspector written ap-
plication, describing in full the location
and the character of the building he desires
to put up. The Building Inspector of the
district from which the application comes
visits the place and reports to the Board of
Wooden Buildings. IT the report is in the
affirmative the application is referred to the
Assistant Fire Superintendent of the proper
district. If this report is also favorable the
board votes upon it, and finally sends it to
the Chief of the Department of Public
Safety for his approval. If, on the other
hand, the Building Inspector disapproves
the application, the board Will also reject it.
MAKING ANOTHER BLUFF.
Some people refuse to be snubbed and
very often an application for a wooden
building permit is renewed. In that case it
is reported to the Assistant Fire Superin-
tendent OF the district in which the struct-
ure is to be located, and the Building In
spector Of the other district. If they are
divided in opinion the chairman of the
board is added to the committee and casts
the deciding vote. If. however, they report
favorably the application takes the usual
course, and if the report is unfavorable a
majority of the board may reverse the re-
port
The erection of q structure is closely
watched by the building inspectors, and
when it is finished, If the work is properly
done, a certificate to that effect is given.
One practice which causes considerable |
trouble, says Inspector j. A. A. Brown, is |
that of digging trenches in cellars to put in |
sewers after the walls are up. This often
unsettles the foundations and leads to disas-
trous results. Captain Brown was looking |
after case of this kind yesterday. The |
course of erection, had ~ foot trench dug |
in the cellar for a sewer, and as a result the |
walls twisted ana the building leaned out of |
plumb Is inches. The building was straight |
ened up however, and is now in good |
shape. The Building Inspector mas called |
the attention of Chief Brown to the matter, |
in order that the practice may be stopped.
GETTING WATER CONNECTION.
If man is building brick house about |
thefhrst thing necessary is supply of water |
with which to mix the mortar. This is OBJ |
tanned by the plumber who is to make the |
connection. He files an application, giving |
q description of the projected building and |
its location, with the Superintendent of the |
Bureau of Water Supply and Distribution. |
A payment of s. 80 is made, for which the |
bureau furnishes a ferrule and connects it |
with the main pipe, the plumber doing the |
rest When the building is finished the |
owner or contractor pays Tor the water in |
proportion to the amount of brickwork and |
plastering in the structure. The regular
water rent does not commence until the |
house is occupied.
All plumbing work must be done under /
the supervision of the Plumbing Inspector,
with whom plans must be filed. He sees
that all joints are well made, and that there
is no danger from leaking OF water or sewer
gas. La case of defects in the plumbing the
inspector directs how they shall be RENE
died. Before the plumbing is covered up /
from sight permit must be obtained from
the inspector. A failure to obtain this re-
gults in a fine of $40