Evening star., 1896-10-24
Method in Vogue Of Erecting Build
ings for Public Uses.
CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM PROPOSED
What is Expected When the Pres
idential Election is Over.
SOME IMPROV VEMENTS

preparations to get all the work under
way, and complete 1t soon as possible
An extra set of craftsmen was put to work
and the plans for the new buildings hur-
ried along. Up to the present time all
the plans have been completed with the
exception of a small two-room school house
at Chevy Chase. near the line of Connecti-
cut avenue extended. While there is only
5000 available for the purchase of ground
and the construction of the building an
extra effort is being put forth to make it
one of the most picturesque. 1t will be
fashioned after the colonial style of archi-
lecture. and when completed will be one
of the most attractive suburban school
buildings in the country.
Frfghtef ed by the lesson recently from
the fate of bidders who bid low for work
contractors have run up prices for public
buildings. The effect of this has been
TO necessitate a change in several in
stances Of the plans. in order to bring
the work within the amount of the
appropriation The building inspector
looks with favor on these higher prices
Not that he believes in extortion, but be-
cause he realizes that the craze of cheap
builders is passing away. and the Dis
worry that has always characterized the
award of contracts to these very low bid
ders.
Hurry to Get the Money.
Several failures mark their way, and
the gay hairs that have been added TO
the heads of the Commissioners, the au-
ditor and the building Inspector, not TO
mention the wrinkles that have formed
In the foreheads of the material men and
the workmen. bear evidence of the trials
they nave undergone In compelling these
low bidders to carry out their contracts
Try as they might this has been In many
respects an herculean task and of the
several buildings now under construction
not one 1t is said is free of obligations.
Much tine has been taken up by laborers
and material men appealing to the Com
missioners to see that they received their
just dues, and even with official interfer-
enee. in the way of stopping payments,
oenciencies occur. Every one agrees
that the system of letting bids is wrong.
Ihey say because a man happens to be
sufficient bondsman 1t is no reason why he
should receive contract that not only in
wolves the disbursement of a large amount
OF money but more important still, the
that the children Of this great city may
have an opportunity of attending school.
A Case In Point.
A case happened within the past few
months. where contractor, after figuring
on contract for several weeks, and get
ting estimates from Subcontractors ac-
tually put In bid for the entire Job, lower
by several thousand dollars than the ag-
gregate bids of the subcontractors for the
work He did not plead a mistake when
the contract was awarded him, but went
right ahead with the work. The result
was the material men and laborers suf-
fered.
1t has been urged in favor of the present
system that the District is protected by The
bond exacted- But, 1t is claimed, the bond
only insures the completion of the build
irg, and makes no provision for the pay
ment of the material men and laborers
whose material and labor have been used
in the construction of the building. Again,
the mere assurance that the building will
be completed, it is asserted, is not enough.
What the District wants, and what In
spector Brady is fighting for now, is the
completion of District buildings on time,
thus saving loss of time to the Children
who are deprived of school facilities by the
failure OF a contractor to complete his con-
tract, or, further. the delays which neces-
sarily arise when the bondsmen have to
complete the contract. What Is proposed Is
a change in system Building Inspector
Brady wants the work done by days labor,
under the supervision of the District. Then
he can see to 1t that all bills are satisfied,
all work is satisfactory and the buildings
completed when the specified time is up.
Expected Business Activity.
All classes of business men are looking
forward to election day, which is now some
ten days of, as they expect 1t will probably
mark the beginning of an epoch of renewed
activity and prosperity. This Is especially
the case with men who are interested d.
rectly or Indirectly in real estate. which. as
every one knows. includes the large class
engaged in the building trade and in fur
n.sh.ng material for building. With the
agitation Of the money question brought TO
an end and the certainty that there will be
a sufficient revenue supplied for the needs
OF the government II is believed that there
he a NJ hot
the money which Is now lying idle in banks
and safe deposit boxes will be brought out
end invested. In fact. one business man
freely states that the insurance companies
which he represents have s5OOOOO to loan
on real estate, and that he has received in
structions from them to place this money
en- Washington property as as the
election Is decided on the lines above indi-
Gated. 1t is said that this Is only one case
of many. and that a good deal of money will,
be invested here which will do much toward
stimulating business in all directions.
Storage Warehouse Addition.
Plans have been prepared by ]. G. Hill,
architect. for addition to the storage
warehouse Of the American Security and
Trust Company on 18th street between L
and VI streets northwest. The new addi-
tion is to have frontage of nineteen feet
and depth of 1O5 feet. and is to be con-
structed of fre-proof material throughout,
IN a style similar to that of the main build
ing. and is to be six stories in height to
correspond to that of the main building
When this addition is completed the total
frontage of the building will be sixty-one
feet
Some improvements.
Plans have teen prepared by George s.
Cooper. architect. for three houses to be
erected for himself by ]. H. Hunt. builder,
on 9TH street between G and H streets
southeast. The houses will be two stories
In height, with cellar. and will have fronts
~ buff brick, trimmed in light stone and
II off by square bay windows
Plans for the residence to be erected on
G street between Dist and I'D streets north
west for Mrs NJ. NJ. McAllster have been
prepared by Waddy 3. Wood architect
The structure will be three stories in
height. with basement, and have a front
of selected red brick and Hummelstown
brown stone. There will be an octa gon bay
window, and the roof is to be of the man
sard variety. The interior is to be finished
In the colonial style.
G. A Didden, architect, has prepared
plans for a three-story storage warehouse
OF modern freproof construction.
Sketch plans are being prepared by VIM.
"A Poindexter, architect, for an addition to
the Austrian legation on Connecticut ave-
Rue near N street.
Three brick dwellings will be erected on
1lth street between F and G streets south
east by ]. T. Moxley. They will each be
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