Evening star., 1898-08-27
DISTRICT lPLUMBING
Annual Report of the Inspector Sub
,nitted.
WORK DURING 1.-THE PAST YEAR
Legislation Accomplished and That
Which IS Needed.
EFFICIENCY OF FORCE

II 4 3 y b N T. Y y Il F'O RC Ii
Mr.. Charles A. Ball, inspector of plumb
ing. through Mr.. D. E. McComb, superin-
tendent Of sewers, has submitted to Captain
Lansing H. Beach, the Engineer Commits
sioner. the annual report Of the operations
OF the division of plumbing inspection.
covering the fiscal year ended June ~,
1898. The report is as follows:
The number Of inspections made and re-
corded comprises a total of 1850 being
material increase over the work of the
previous year. This record comprises
4,S53 examinations of existing plumbing.
5.117 inspections of remodeling, extensions
or repairs; 3,274 inspections OF plumbing
in progress in new buildings, 281 pepper
mint tests, e2S inspections of gas piping or
fixtures. 9S6 inspections Of lead service
pipes, 715 sewer taps for connections. SO1
new terra Gotta sewer connections laid and
4s5 inspections of repairs to existing terra
Gotta house sewers.
Clerical Work on the Increase.
The volume Of clerical work performed
is constantly on the increase. In addition
to entries made in the record of the In
spections above noted, the number of let
ters and Endorsements written and forward
ed amounts to 1853. The distribution OF
this includes, miscellaneous letters, 2S5;
letters to plumbers, 70; orders to repair
plumbing, 436, and Endorsements on COM
munications to the number of 800. The let
tiers to the Engineer Commissioner origi-
mating in this office number SO in addition
to reports of special character, such as
detailed statement of plumbing repairs re-
quired in certain public schools, the re-
suit OF an examination of plumbing in
public school building in Baltimore, plan
and estimate for a system of sewage dis
posal for the Industrial Home School and
ar opinion respecting the practicabiity of
examining and certifying journeymen
plumbers.
After consideration of the best method
or serving renewed notices to make plumb
ing repairs. which had heretofore been
done through the police department. 1t was
determined that such service should here
after be personally made by a representa-
tive OF this office. The number of notices
IN which personal service was made by this
office is ten. This work was done by tbs
sewer tappers in addition to their other
duties.
The examination of plans for plumbing
proposed in new buildings, or in connec-
tion with permits for repairs to work in
existing buildings, has not varied greatly
from tnat OF the previous year. the num-
bsr Of plans for new buildings examined
ana approved having been 745 as compared
The decision made by the Commission
srs, and embodied III building regulations
not to allow the addition of frame bath
room structures to existing brick buildings,
Is es.nl an @ advanee over the previous practice.
fully justified blythe greater protection af-
forded piping lines and fixtures located in
additions built with brick walls.
The PIumbing Board.
1t is gratifyingto be able to note the ac-
comphshment Of additional legislation, ap-
proved June IS. 1888, which has resulted in
formal authorization Of tha plumbing board
with five members. in the provision Of
compensa ton of this board, in the definite
restriction of plumbing and gasfitting to
licensed plumbers and gasfitters, and in
clear requirements rendering 1t unlawful
to maks cuts or strsnciles in public spaces
without permit from the Commissioners.
No opposition was encountered in the pas
sage of the act In question excepting
through the desire Of the journeymen
plumbers TO provids for examination and
certificatIon for their craft. 1t Is believed
that such restrictive measures as are pro-
posed by them will be necessary in the
future and will result In placing RESPONSE
biHty for defective plumbing work more
definitely upon the persons who perform
that work.
Attention is invited. as in previous re-
ports. to the absence of authorization for
the systematic inspection of gas fixtures
and piping in order to note their condition
and provide for remedying the defects
found. 1t is believed that the enactment
Of law giving the inspector OF plumbing
and his assistants, under the direction of
the Commissioners, suitable power to make
periodic inspections of the principal hotels
and boarding houses, as to the security OF
the piping systems and fixtures therein,
should be enacted. While 1t does not ap-
pear that during the past year human life
has bean sacrificed to the cupidity of prop
erty owners in allowing the use of i'm
proper appliances for the distribution of
gas, the deaths due to such
causes noted in the last annual report and
in previous reports Justify an enlargement
of the powers of the Commissioners in this
I think 1t desirable that such leg
islation as is requested should include suit
atle authorization OF periodic inspection
of plumbing in public buildings and in
buildings occupied by numerous residents.
The conditions OF occupancy, in many
cases. Introduce such relations with the
tenant or agent or owner that
considerable degree of inconvenience and
even known danger from imperfect plumb
ing appliances do not result in complaint
Of these fmperfections to the proper author
tiles.
The validity Of the plumbing statute and
Of the regulations made hereunder has not
yet been decided in the higher courts Of the
District, hut has been repeatedly sustained
in numerous prosecutions in the Police
Court during the past year. In most of
these cases 1t has been the policy of the
attorney to accept personal
bonds or allow continuance Of the case
where the defendant would agree to make
the repairs directed within a specified
period Eight cases were tried, in five of
which the requirements made by the Com
missioners were complied with within the
time limit set by the court. A fine Of S25
was imposed in each Of three cases, two Of
which were for failures to remedy defects
in terra Gotta house sewers and one for the
of light cast iron stack in
Of the regulations.
Plumbing I'm Schools.
An examination was made by me on Sep
tember IL. 1897, IN desperation with Mr..
Frank vermillion Of the Office Of the in
spector of buildings Df the recently COM
pleted plumbing on celored school No. 10,
Baltimore, Md. The building was found to
be a model one, and Its appointments in
many respects exceedingly satisfactory.
The type of architecture, consisting Of
three stories of SIX rooms each with two
transverse halls, Is quite different from
that in use in the District. but exceedingly
compact, allowing heating and ventilating
apparatus to be arranged for each group Of
six rooms in a vertical tier, resulting in in
.ryyx