Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-12
New Building Regulations Have
Been Completed.
PROTECTION FOR TEE VoRKMEN
Commissioners Lacking in Author
'ity Over Railroads.
OTHER LOCAL NEW S

SlOHeTS TO amend the DCllQlnS FeSuidtIJ.lS
has completed its labors and will shortly
submit them for adoption.
A clause is recommended which provides
that all hotels irrespective of their height
will be compelled to put up fire escapes
and provide suitable lights and signals in
their halls. Heretofore buildings under
fifty feet were exempt from the provisions
of the law in relation to fire escapes and
umber of hotels when in the prescribed
limit were not compelled to comply with
the law The new regula tions also provi lie
that every building occupied as tene-
ment house, boarding house, college, SEM
mary, academy, hospital, asylum, hall or
place of amusement shall be provided with
fire escapes if over three stories high.
Then the general subject of elevators is
treated at length and amendments recon-
mended that will insure their safe con-
struct!cn and inspection.
carefully prepared schedule showing
the different strengths of material to be
used IN the construction of buildings is
added This is considered an important
amendment to the regulations, as the great
difficulty heretofore has been that the au-
thorities had no scale to go by, and build
ers taking advantage of this used inferior
material
A light and vent:lating clause is ON
mended with the object of insur:ng to each
new building this prime requisite to health
and comfort. The places which are set
aside for the purposes of providing suit
able light and ventilation it is stipulated
shall never be built upon. The regulation
is also intended to apply to existing build
ngs that to be added to enlarged.
The foundation CT buildings has also re-
cefved the atteI.tion of the committee. and
the recommendations are considered wise
and necessary. Heretofore the only reStric-
ton upon foundations was that they should
be incCmbustjble. The amendments recon-
mended are important in this connection.
The nature of the ground is to be taken into
El,ar. in nd rnap.a fha lot TOW tC
piling will be insisted upon. Other restric-
lions in this line of minor Importance are
also recommended.
A great deal of trouble has been caused in
the past by the operation of that portion of
the building regulations relating to excaVa-
tiCiis for foundations. Heretofore when
| builder desired TO dig a foundation the
owner of the adjacent house was compelled
| 20 take care of his property by underpin-
| ming the same, ard was required to go as
| deep as the excavation on the side. A clause
| in tie new regulations provides that an
owner OF adjacent property will only he re-
ouired to take care of his property to the
extent of ten feet below the surface of the
ground, and'all excavations below that point
ter's risk
The f,ew regulations will divide buildings
INTO three classes namely buildings that
are llreprcof throughout, those buildings OF
trick and stone, and those built of wood or
frame buildings.
All buildings that use hoists will be re-
CURED to provide railing about five feet
high on each floor for the openings as well
| as doors to ciose the latter for the safety of
employees and the general public.
The Introduction of electric wires into al
buildings is also made part of the new reg
ulationS. and no building viii be allowed to
| use electricity until the insulation of the
wires and Their method of introduction have
heen proved
Perhaps the most important amendment
| TO the regulations IS that clause provided
safety gDlDlOVeE q
| ton of buildings.
| The new regulation provides that all build
-ngs over three stories high must be provid-
| Cd with a floor over the joists during con-
struction to prevent the workmen engaged
| thereon from falling. Also that all scaTold-
| ing must be constructed strong enough. net
| only to support the men It carries. hut the
| material likely to be placed upon the same.
Tie protection Of the public during the
! construction of the buildings is also care
! fully provided for. Hereafter when a
| new building is being erected a business
| street the owner Of the same viii be re-
| quiled to build she'd over the sidewalk to
| protect the passing public from falling
material. This regulation was copied from
| the one in use in Chicago and other large
| cities, and is believed to fill ions-felt
| necessity.
| Hereafter. according to another rev legu-
| lation Uf adopted, prospective builders will
| not be permitted to store matefi2r on ad-
| jacent lots unless they Obtain tn. consent
| of the property owners to Sucn use The
custom has been in the past to allow huild-
| erS to utilize twenty feet on each side of
| the site upon which the building vas being
| erected.
| According to another section, no frame
| buildings will be allowed TO be removed
| within the ire limits, as the committee
believes such permission would perpetuate
| frame houses
| Tie thickness Of walls for his., buildings
| are not defined according to a regular
| scale.
Other minor amendments are presented,
| but those given above are the most i'm
| portart.
| Have No Power.
| While TIE authority Of the Commissioners
| over street railroads is complete in many
respects, they are totally deficient in others,
and an effort it is understood, will be made
| at the next session OF Congress to correct
| the deficiencies, and legislation sought that
| will place the entire control Of street rail-
roads in the hands of the Commissioners.
| An Instance n point occurred today when
| the Commissioners agreed that they had no
| power to compel the Georgetown and Ten
| leytown Railroad Company 20 comply with
| the terms of its charter.
| Several days ago delegation of citizens
| from Georgetown appeared before the Com
| n:issiuners, with counsel, for the purpose Of
| protesting against the Tenleytown railroad
| using its road for freight purposes.
1t was rep1 esentea that gravel trains
| were hauled over the tracks for supplyin Z
| the contractor with material for the cor
|
| use of the railroad for this purpose, it vas
| represented, was menace TO the lives Of
| the citizens for should one of the heavily
| loaded trains break away on one of the
| steep grades it would go crashing down
! hill, incapable of being controlled nd LA
| Bile to jump the track and smash Up every
| thing i'll its way. Then the teamsters who
! had been employed by the contractor TO
| haul the material objected to the unequal
| competition OF the railroad, and set forth
| that ever stree the latter had been engaged
| in hauling freight they had been without
| work.
| But this matter is wholly without the
| Jurisdiction Of the Commissioners Any in
| fraction of the charter must be dealt with
by the Attorney General through long,
| Ora awn-out proceedings, and it is well known
| that the forfeiture of charter is one OF
! the very few things that come to pass. The
| Commissioners, however have the right to
prevent the railroad company from causing
| nuisance to the streets, by wasting gravel
and Dirt a!ong tie same and these things
| will be looked into. But the Commissioners
| are without power to compel the railroad
| company to observe its charter.
| 1t IS understood that the citizens who oh
ject to the Of the railroad as a freight
road will bring the matter to the attention
| of ba Attorney General