Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-15
Regulations in Regard to Filing
Plans for New Buildings.
seize OF TEE ABUSES TO Be CORRECTED
Street Railroad Plans of interest to
the Public.
NEW BUILDINGS ERECTED


qu-rement to the building regulations, that
hereafter with each application for a build
ing permit the applicant should file with
the inspector of building, the plans of the
proposed building to be kept a perma-
nent record This regulation. however, has
never been made. although 1t is understood
the coTnmi ssion. which is row engaged upon
TIE work of revising the building reguIa-
tons, will insert such provision in their
report The need OF q regulation which re-
qJiires applicant for d building permit to
file a full Sc of plans with his application
is apparent every day. and the building IT,
spcctor IS strongly IN favor of it. Since last
January applicants have been required to
fie a ground plan of the building. as well
as 4 Plat of the ground upon which the
building is to be erected. but this. IL is
said does not answer the purpose.
There is nothing, it is claimed, In the
present regulations to prevent a builder
from showing a plan. receiving his permit,
and then substituting another plan. shosv-
ing perhaps something entirely different
from that for which The permit was grant
ed. II fact, it Is done every day, and the
authorities know it. They have no way
now OF catching these people, and have to
rely upon the few inspectors they have TO
guard against dishonest builders 1t is be-
Heyed with a full set OF plans on file in the
siStants VIII have better opportunity of
detecting tricEery and deviations from
original drawings
Case in Point.
No stronger argument in favor Of the
proposed system OF fling for record The
plans of the building to be erected could
possibly be used than those based ON the
case which was brought to the attention Of
the building inspectors Office some time
& hi H.
row Of houses, and the plans showed pro-
jcetions beyond the building line in the
shape OF stone steps. The street was am
PIE to accommodate the steps, and the per-
nit was accordingly granted. Several days
later the builder returned and sought d per-
mat on another street. using the same plans
in the former instance
1t vas seen at a glance that the steps
were toe large for the narrow street upon
which it was Intended to bu:!i this second
70" Of houses The permit clerk called at
t~ftiCn to the matter and insisted that
other plans be furnished. The builder pro-
tested, and nothing was left for the clerk
to DO but issue the permit, after stipu'ating
In the permit that the steps were not to
project beyond certain distance from the
building line. The builder obtained his per-
nit and went to FORK. Some weeks after
the houses were completed an inspector
noticed the projecting steps. and. applying
70 the office, found the man had obta ned
his permit upon the plans presented. but
had not made the changes required. Moth
in2 could be done about the matter. for the
builder ENLISTED his permit.
There are any number of instances where
ilS pectOr5 have discovered builders vio-
Iating tho building regulations in not fol-
loving the pans upon which they obtained
a permit As an illustration, a builder OBJ
tatDs a permit upon a set of plans. showing
building properly supplied with fUes OF
the approved construction, yet when lie
undertakes the building substitutes other
h1es, not only violating the regulations
but increasing the danger of fire hundred
fold.
Urban and Suburban Railroads.
One Of the interesting problems in con-
hection with the street railroads of the
District is a more intimate relation be-
tween the suburban and urban lines, so
that the public can enjoy the benefit of
travelling from their homes In the suburbs
reached by car lines to the center of the
city by the payment of one fare This re-
suit has been achieved in the case of the
Washington and Georgetown, now the Cap
ital Traction Company, in securing control
OF the Chevy Chase road. and carrying pas
sangers on the two roads to the District
line for one fare.
Now 1t IS said that the Georgetown and
Tenleytown road, under it's new manage
ment, is looking forward to bringing it's
patrons nearer to the center OF things than
II does at present, and il is understood that
the management contemplates availing
ftStif or the provision OF the law which
provides that the Metropolitan Railroad
Company Is authorized and required 70 enter
into reciprocal trackage arrangement with
connecting roads, i IS said that when the
new motive power is introduced on the Me-
tropolitan road the Georgetown and TenIey-
town cars equipped with the underground
trolley can be run over the tracks OF the
former road. and il is stated that arrange
ments OF this character VIII be made by the
two companies. A somewhat similar condi-
ton exists in the relations between the
Brishtwood company and the Metropolitan
Company.
An Avenue improvements.
One of-sS-e-0Td landmarks IS to be torn
down on Pennsylvania avenue-12o0 and
Eli. This property belongs to Mr.. VIM
Stone Albert, whose ancestors have owned
IT for a hundred years or more. John Len
thai, one of the clerks of works who had
charge of construction in the Old Capitol.
lived and was buried from there. Robert
King. one of the early surveyors of the
District at one time owned the property.
In making an examination in reference 10
improving one portion of the building. both
buildings were found in such a diIapidated
condition that 1t was necessary 10 pull
them both down.
Mr. Albert will erect a large store, 80 by
about 100 feet and tive stories high. This
will be arranged SO it can be easily divided
into two stores IL tenants should so desire
II. 1t is intended 10 make the building fire.
proof put in elevator. steam heat and all
the most modern Improvements. Glenn
Brown Is the architect
Other improvements.
Another business improvement is the re-
modelling of the old Methodist Church on
eth, near the corner of F, into three stores.
The contract for the work has been award
ed 70 w. Il. Kemp.
The Metropolitan Railroad Company viii
erect a new car house in East Washington.
as heretofore announced in The Star. Wad-
dy &. Brown. architect, is preparing the
plans.
Plans have been prepared by N. T. Halter
architect, for six four-story and basement
dwellings, which are TO be erected at
Florida avenue and 22i street. The fronts
viii be OF buff brick and light stone with
bays, and the roofs will be half mansard
and tiled
George A. King is having plans prepared
by James c. Hill, archte t, for a residence
Which he proposes to cree in Georgetown.