Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-20
THE BUILDING REGULATIONS
Commissioner Tfuesdell Thinks They Need
0verhauling.
He Intends to Suggest Some Import
ant ChnnEes-LegislntiOn Needed I'm
Regard to Fire Escapes.

Ever since he has been one of the Dis
trict Commissioners, Col. Truesdel has
been of the opinion that the building reg
rlations that prevail here are sadly de-
fective and in need of revision. Even be-
fore that his business experience in this
city had convinced him that things were
not altogether as they should be, and of
late the matter has been receiving careful
attention at his hands. He has thoroughly
fami]arized himself with the local regu,a-
tions. and has also been>6omparing them
with similar regulations from other cities
in this country, as well as the large cities
of Europe.
All this is a matter that takes considera-
BILE time. and as Col. Truesdell is a busy
man. he has had to do 1t at odd moments
when he had the chance, and has frequent
ly given up an evening at home to the
work. The results of his labors are to be
embodied in certain necessary recommenda-
tons to tho board of Commissioners for
their consideration and adoption, if they
meet with approval. In the course of a
conversation with a Star reporter this
afternoon Commissioner Truesdell said:
1T Is quite true that have been making
such an investigation as you speak of, and
the further / go into the matter the more
convinced / am that not only is there room
for improvement in the building regulations
of the District, but also an imperative de-
n and for change. The regulations as they
stand today are both defective and made
Quate. There are any number of important
matters that should be governed by these
regulations that are not even touched upon
at all. For example. there is nothing at
all about the size Of beams and girders
that are essary in buildings of any par
ticular size or erected Cor any particular
purpose.
"They have to be determined in each par
ticular case by calculating the span, the
weight to be supported and all that. Now
that might just rs well as not all be regu-
lated by law, set out and tabulated I'm regu-
he settled by a mere reference to the tables.
This Is done in other cities and should be
here. This is only one small detail. There
are plenty of places where change would
be desirable. However. i have not reached
any definite conclusions as yet as TO what
changes should be made and, as they are
only ideas of my own and must be reported
In time to the full board for their consid-
Grafton, 1t would hardly be advisable to
say much about them just yet. even IL they
were in a STATE where they could be def
nitely talked about.
q think it would be a good idea to get
recommendations and suggestions from the
leading architects and builders OF the city
and submit any proposed changes to them
for criticism. This is really all that am In
a position to say on the subject at the pres
ent time"
How about the subject Of fire escapes"
1T seems to ME that that is matter
that can hardly come under the huilsling
regulations proper You see. II is a question
as to whether or not they are an essential
part of a building, AMI If they are not N
will necessitate some special legislation be-
fore the Commissioners can compel the
erection of fire escapes on buildings where
they are needed The attention of the
public has been again called of late to the
fact that The existing law as to fire escapes
is SO defective to be imperative, and
what is needed Eow is a law that shall be
satisfactory, and that right away Efforts
have been made before to have the law
iemedied, but they have always fallen
through for some reason or other But You
can say that the next Commissioners re-
port will contain a Recommendation on the
subject and that Ii will be pressed without
further delay, If possible If Congress had
been in session last Monday when that big
fire occurred / think there would have been
no DIFFICULTY in getting the necessary law
enacted at once"