Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-23

One Of the great charms OF Partisan arch
itecture Is the conformation Of the style and
height OF buildings to each other and to the
width of the streets upon which they sit
uated This is OF course the result of munich
pal law, which is rigidly enforced in all cases
Nothing is left to the judgment or taste OF sub
ordinate officials. The ordnance requires that
the height Of chimneys and the height and pitch
of roofs shall be within certain prescribed limits
according to the width of the street and the
height of the building itself. and it does not
permit a man to Hut up a structure after his
own fancy alone and without regard to the
character and purpose of other buildings in
the neighborhood. Neither may he build it Of
any material or in any style he may choose,
regardless of its effect upon the market value
of adjoining property. French law recognizes
the principle that the rights Of the community
are affected by every act Of the citizen, and
these rights are jealously guarded at every
point. Thus the detailed plans and elevations
Of every building proposed to be erected in
Paris must be submitted to the proper desig-
mated authorities, who are both competent for
their duties and vested with needed powers,
and they see to 1t that it shall be in height
arrangement and general appearance suitable
to its surroundings and the purpose for which
il is intended,-not too high and ornate, nor
yet too low and Insignificant in treatment OF
course, durability and safety against fire are
the primary objects in view, but symmetry and
proper architectural effects are looked after
quite As carefully. The result every visitor to
Paris sees, without perhaps understanding Just
how it Is secured.
As matter Of some interest to readers OF
The STAR the substance of some of the legal
requirements above referred to are given. Re-
ducing the French metre of measurement to
our feet and inches, building in the French
capital may not exceed 1891 feet in height on
street less than Is. So feet wide; not 7.S8
feet on a street between 25.5S and 81. 90 feet
wide; not over 57.56 on a street 81 90 feet wide
and over. On streets 65. so feet wide and over
the height may be carried to $3.50 feet but in
no case shall private building contain more
than six stories, including the entresol. The
minimum height of a story shall be $50 feet,
and the projection of a cornice shall not ex-
coed the thickness of the wall at its summit.
From the American point of view, which
practically accords to every body the right to
do pretty much he or she pleases, without
regard to the effect upon Others some of these
regulations seem to be arbitrary and unneces-
lie existing in this country. 1t will not be pre-
tended that, as whole, they would be appli-
cable to Washington, with her broad avenues
and her numerous parks, squares, circles, tri-
angles, and other open spaces. But surely the
ends they have In view are worthy the early
and serious consideration Of those who are re-
sponsible for the future welfare and archi-
tectural appearance of the national capital
The time is at hand, for example. for the adop-
ton of a more comprehensive. intelligent and
exact system of building regulations than the
slip-shod sliding-scale code hitherto in oper-
alton here, and they should be interpreted
and enforced by an authority which has
both the technical knowledge and taste
and the official power to secure the very
best results in the directions above Indicated
One step forward ought to be taken at once.
Spectators and others DESTROYS of immediate
and enormous incomes from slight investments
should be prevented from putting up low and
unsightly shanties alongside of or between
well-built blocks on wide and desirable streets
and avenues. Not only are those who have
made large investments in handsome buildings
calculated to improve and benefit the city, en-
titled to this protection against assaults upon
the value of their property, but the welfare
and prosperity of the whole community would
be vastly promoted thereby. In this as in other
matters affecting the public good, the tastes
aud desires OF the individual should be held
secondary to the rights and interests of the
MANY.