Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-29
REPORTS COMING IN
Answers to Questions Propounded by Chair
man Dockery.
Condition of the Departments of the
orally Well In Hand.

The Commissioners today received a num-
ber of reports from heads of different de-
partments of the District government in
answer to the communication from the
Dcckery commission asking as to the con-
dition of office work in each.
Col. Tracey, superintendent of charities,
reports that the clerical work of mis- office
Is not In arrears. Two matters Of refer
ence requiring report are not yet acted
upon, but will be disposed of in few days.
OF the twenty-nine quarterly reports OF
charitable and reformatory institutions fer
the quarter ended December 81, 1894, twen-
ty-seven have been received. In general,
there is no business in arrears beyond the
time necessary to complete ordinary cur
rent transactions.
The report of Property Clerk Beckett is
to the effect that with his present clerical
force. he is able to keep up with routine
work only. The work of the office Is very
heavy and increases with the yearly in
crease of appropriations. He recommends
the appointment of an additional clerk, as
then he would be able to keep his work up
to date.
The fntendent Of the Washington Asy-
lum. the market master of the Western
market, the superintendent of the street
and alley cleaning department, the active
superintendent of public schools. the mar
ket master of the Eastern market, all re-
port that the work in their various de-
partments is all complete up to date.
building Inspector.
The report of Inspector of Buildings
Brady is one of the longest and most COM
prehensive that has been submitted and
goes at some length into the matter of the
duties of the inspector and his assistants.
The jurisdiction of the office comprises the
entire District of Columbia, the incidents
of which are stated thus: Population, 27U-
re mil ,i,ar of
habitable buildings assessed for taxation,
exclusive OF stables, outbuildngs and
sheds, $4,000. AS to the general condition
OF the office, reference is made to the an
nual report of the inspector for the last
fiscal year. The situation is the same, eX-
cept that the work upon new municipal
buildings and alterations to old ones, COM
menced subsequent to that time, is being
vigorously and effectively prosecuted.
The inspector submits comparison of
the building department of Washington and
the District of Columbia with that OF
London, Vienna and New York city. In
the first two cities the number of field in
spectors Is unlimited. In New York city,
with an area less than twO-thirds that of
the District, and with less than three times
the number of buildings, and less than
five times the population, there are eighty
five field inspectors, while the District las
but two. In view of these facts, Mr..
Brady says he thinks no comments are
needed
In matters relating to the administra-
ton of the office details. irrespective CT
field work, it is possible to keep the work
well in hand with seldom more than the
accumulation of a weeks arrears. This,
however, is due to the fact that the build
ing Industries OF the District have during
the past eighteen months, subsidized to
state of staSnation.
Area Covered.
The range of the two assistant inspectors
extends over 69.22 square miles Of terri
tory. During the last fiscal year, in ad-
dition to this general territory, there was
for their particular inspection the follow
ing new work: New buildings, Oh; altera-
tions and repairs, 1,G96; sheds, 421: rail-
ings, 406; awnings, 124.. A total of 1851
cases.
In conclusion, the Inspector says: 1.-THE
extent OF the arrearage is purely 81 mat
ter fer conjecture. The element of duty
cannot enter into 1t. This office Is con-
fronted by a condition for which it is not
responsible, ard which 1t cannot alter.
Given the limit of human possibility as
exemplfied by the united exertions of the
employees of this office, to be subtracted
from the province assigned them by the
building regulations, and the difference
gible to be measured ard computed. but 1t
Is evidenced from time to time by ap-
palling disasters which supply hos
pitals and cemeteries with mangled and
charred humanity"