Evening star., 1896-01-11
REAL ESTATE GOSSIP
New Buildings and the Preparation
of Plans.
HOUSES ADAPTED TO TEE CLIMATE
Some Views Of the Building In
spector, Mr.. Brady.
THE COMING ASON

In conversa ion with a reporter of The
| Star, Building Inspector Brady said:
ut is impossible to overestimate the good
accomplished by daily inspection OF con-
| strUctions. Since 1 came into Office 1 have
| required the three assistant inspectors to
make a weekly report Of the work done in
| their respective districts, and 1 hold them
responsible as far as I I'm able for all di-
gressions of the building regulations dis
covered IN the sections under their charge.
Each inspector reports fully upon the work
| intruSted 20 his cace, reporting all defects
| and noting the progress made from Cay to
| day with the work. This report is sent to
the Commissioners for their inspection and
approval. and then placed on file in order
that complaint may be traced at once and
| the error discovered.
1T has been most beneficial system, and
| the construction all over the city has ma
| terialiy improved. Builders are more care
| ful, for now they know that any Infraction
| Of the building regulations will be reported,
ard If not Immediately corrected, they will
be taken into the Police Court. But my
| force is altogether too small 20 warrant
complete supervision of the city, and every
now and then cases are brought to my at
| tention of faulty construction. which would
| not have existed If this office had been prop
erly equipped with inspectors.
In my annual report 1 asked for three
additional inspectors and If this request is
granted l will feel much safer. An in
stance Of the inability Of the small force
to cover the field occurred several days
ago, when a builder finished row of
houses without lining the flues. The result
| was when the first house was occupied and
a fire built in tine furnace the people were
nearly sdffocated with smoke. Investiga-
ton disclosed faulty construction, and the
whole fiue had 10 be rebuilt. The builder.
by the way, will nave to explain himself in
the Police Court later.
Yes l look for first-claSs spring busi-
ness. Times are getting better, and there
are several big projects being talked about.
While do not expect anything phenomenal,
| l believe the showing will be vast i'm
| provement upon last years record"
Building Preparations.
1t often happens at this season of the
year that people are interested in planning
for houses which are to be erected as soon
as the weather permits. For this reason
the statement is commonly seen especially
in the trade papers, at this time of the year
that The offices Of architects are occupied
by busy corps of craftsmen preparing plans
and that the public is giving this subject
considerable attention. 1t would, however,
be more in harmony with the facts at this
time. instead of saying that many plans
are in contemplation for improvements to
be begun in the spring, to state that this
is the season Of the year when building en-
terpriseS of the coming season ought to be
under conSiderat ton.
That about represents the condition of af-
fairs at present. But it should be remem-
bered that 1t is still early in the year and
that there is time for a great deal to be
done preparatory to the opening of the
season. 1t is not expected that there is go
ing to be any great rush of building here in
the spring, but it is believed that fair pro-
portion of work will be done and that prob
ably larger sum of money will be expend-
ed in improvements of various kinds during
the coming spring than was the case last
year.
This is good time of the year for people
to get practical suggestions in regard to
house construction. 1t may be laid down as
| a general principle that if the house is to
signer must be more or less familiar with
the varying conditions of the Washington
climate. While it is not claimed that an out
side architect cannot design house adapt
ed to life in this city, it still remains true
that a majority of the glaring mistakes
which have been made in this particular
are due either to ignorance or disregard of
local conditions.
Some Solid Advantages.
Their, are many things about the climate
here which can only be learned by a resi-
dence. and the adaptation of house to cli-
matte phases largely determines the ques-
ton whether people are to be warm in win
Eier. 1t certainly seems mistake to sac
rifce to an artistic design the solid ad-
vantages of comfort and convenience, and
yet there are houses where the window
openings are SO occupied that it is impos-
sible to use more than one-tnird of the
space for the free circulation of air.
lE the winter time 1t must be acknowl-
edged that that area is all sufficient, but
during the summer months it stands con-
fessed totally inadequate to cope with
the situation. There is such a thing as de-
signing house to suit the locality, SO that
the living rooms will be on the side where
the sun shines during the greater part of
the day, and there are other ways in which
local knowledge can be used to great ad-
vantage, not only in the designing, but in
the construction OF a house. 1t must be
said, however, that even local architects
disregard these conditions.
Types of Architecture.
In connection with this subject it may not
be unin nteresting to note that there are in
Washington specimens of the skill of some
of the leading architects of the country
For example, the late Mr.. Richardson made
the design of three private residences here,
while the late Richard NJ Hunt designed
the building occupied by the Naval Observ-
atory. In the new building for the Cor
c6ran Art Gallery, which is nearing COM
pletion, may be seen one of the best de-
signs, which has come from the office of
Ernest Flagg. Even with this mention of
the existence here of the work of mas
ters In the profession 1t is still possible to
say that some Of the most admired speci-
mems of. architecture in this city are the
work of local architects.
Record for the Week.
The building record for the week ending
yesterday shows that total of eighteen
permits" were issued at an estimated cost
Of 100000, divided among the several sec
tions of the city as follows: County, three
permits. for $500; southeast, four permits.
for $4,000; northwest, one permit, for 81, 500;
and the northeast, seven permits, for s15.-
600.
Some improvements.
E. E. Gilmore has drawn the plans for
the erection of two-story brick dwelling
for R. B. Donaldson, at No. 1872 10th street
northwest.
A. B. Morgan, architect, has prepared the
plans for the erection of two-story brick
dwelling at No. 500 9th street southeast.
The building will have a frontage of 10
feet inches by a depth Of A feet inches
The front of the building will be of bun
brick.
j. H. Lane will be the owner, architect