The morning times., 1896-10-28

Building Inspector Brady in his annual
report submitted to the Commissioners
yesterday makes what appears to be an
disaster. He compares the work de-
mandcd of his office and the force furnished
To do 1t with similar work in London,
Vienna aud New York.
He says the force OF building inspectors
i'll the two European cities is without
limit, while i'll New York there are eighty
five inspectors TO attend 10 II 800 build
lngS located in an area OF Al o square
miles, while in this District two inspectors
are required To look after 90, 900 buildings
III G9.2 square miles.
In view uI these facts" says 1nspeC-
tor Brady, 'and the well known statistics
OF other cities in the United States and
Europe, the capita! OF the United States,
The nIuSi enlgnlenc or nations. suffers such
huInlla,ing disparagement that the tess
said about IL the better.
The extent OF the arrcaragc of the work
is purely u matter of conjecture. The
element of duty cannot enter into it. This
office is confronted by "a condition for
which it is not responsible and which il
cannot altar.
AN INCREASED FORCE.
Given the limit of human possibility
as cXeInpiifl.d by the united eXcrtiuns of
the employees vi TINS office, To bc suhtraCtcd
from the province assigned to them by the
building regulations, and the difference
VIII show the arredrage. 1t is too irl-
tangible to hc measured and computed, but
IL - evidenced from Time To time by ap-
paling disasters which supply our hospitals
and cemeteries with niangled and charred
humanity"
In view of this state OF affairs Mr.. Brady
renrws his request for an increase of as
si>tant inspectors 10 seven. and that the
salaries b. Increased to 81 200 each. He
also asks for an additional clerk. at 81 200.
Another reason for this additional force
exists, he says, because of the constantly
increasing amount of work of misccl-
laneOus character that his department must
attend to- He notes also that with the
additional force his department could in
spcct new District buildings and effect a
saving Tor the government.
Mr.. Brady notes with much qualification
the increasing interest manifested by the
District in the question of the proper equip
ment of his department and the recent dis
cuSsiOu OF This subject in the meetings Of
Some of tn" citizens associations is in part
responsible for his appeal for additional as
slStIntS He expresses the hope that the
citizens of the District will Continue to
favorable action.
Mr.. Brady again asks that the salary of
the engineer at the District building be in
creased.
COMPETITION IN CONSTRUCTION,
There is Increased competition, he says,
for the work of constructing the public
work provided for by current legislation.
As is provided by law in such cases the
awards are made To the lowest responsible
bidders. Much friction has been cngen-
dercd by the failure of contractors to live
up 10 the requirements of their obligations
and too frequently have claims for wages
and materials been presented which the
contractor has failed to satisfy. His re-
| sponsbility To the District us well as that
of his bundsmen ends with the completion
and delivery of the building, and in the set
| tIement of such claims this department can
| render no relief in the premises.
1t, therefore, happens that labor and ma
] terial have been furnished in the District
| for which the iaburer or mechanic or ma
| terial man has not been pcnsated.
The inspector recommends that Congress
| be asked to legislate for the erection OF
| District buildings by day labor or by con
| tract at the discretion of the Commission
| erS.
Inspector Brady refers to the revised
| building regulations, which were submit ed
| to tie Commissioners. and gives them q
| gentle hint in the following words:
HIS WORK SUMMED UP.
The work of this commission is now
| before you, and is awaited with mucl
interest by the building world. AT the
| convention of building inspectors held in
Buffalo last September numerous inquiries
| III regard TO this matter We're addressed
| TO me by the representatives of the fif.
| teen cities there assembled ~
The statistics submitted show the total
estimated value of buildings and repairs
| for which permits were issued during the
| year was 4,192,162. There were SIa
| new brick dwellings, valued at S2,S4I
| u95; 81 stores and s combination stores
| and dwellings, $40, $50. There were 5G
| stables, s storage warehouses, 8 churches
| 3 halls, u offices, 3 apartment houses anC
| 293 sheds. Tie total number of buildings
| was lo4 more than in the previous year
but of dwellings G1 fewer. The total
| estimated value of new buildings was
| S195,90o less than for the year before.
The Improvements were distributed a
follows Northwest, ST .S27 $50: county
$1.199,395; Northeast, S591, ,795: Soutf