Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11
CHANGES IN REGULATIONS NOTED
Prosecutions for Violations of the
Plumbing Laws.
REPORT OF THE BOARD

board Mr.. Ball also submitted the report
| of that organization for the same period.
Referring to the work of his office, Mr..
Ball states that the total number Of in
spections under its direction was 23.015, or.
excluding $500 inspections of MIGRANTS
17.405, decrease of 1877 from those of the
previous year. These comprise 1929 ex-
aminations Of existing plumbing, 5,S41 in
spections of remodefng. extensions and re-
pairs; 3,2l3 inspections of plumbing in new
buildings; 1914 peppermint tests; 1858 in
specuons of gas piping or gas fixtures; 561
inspections Of lead water-service pipes; 5s7
sewer laterals tapped into main sewers:
10 new terra Gotta house sewers and 1876
repairs to terra Gotta sewers inspected.
The number of notices personally served
upon property owners preparatory to pros
ecution was 10.
Office Work Performed.
The amount of office work performed
shows considerable increase. largely due
to the added work connected with hydrant
inspections and notices. The number of
letters. orders and Endorsements amounts
to 1888. the detail of which includes: Mis-
cellaneous letters, GA; letters to master
plumbers, 121; orders to repair plumbing or
gas fitting. 522: hydrant replacement or
ders. l,l32: Endorsements on communica-
tons forwarded, 10 and letters to the En-
gineer Commissioner and other District
officials, 113.
The number of new buildings for which
Plumbing designs have been approved is
1876, including some noteworthy structures,
such as the new Wizards Hotel the Bond
office building, the municipal library. Trim
lty College and the elegant residences of
Herbert Wadsworth, Wayne MacVeagh
and Beriah Wilkins.
The amount Of supervision says Mr..
Ball. exercised in the design of new Dis
tr1ct buildings was greater than in past
years, attention having been given to the
plumbing proposed for the two manual
training high schools and numerous other
new schools and fire engine houses, as
well as to the preparation of special
plumbing appliances for the new work.
house. The plumbing conveniences in
stalled in The Evening Star building, re-
Gently completed, are eminently in keeping
with the other details of this Incompatible
structure"
December 6, 1890, the office was by order
of the Commissioners charged with the
work of inspection Of yard hydrants, pre-
viously performed by the water depart
ment, and the service and execution of
notices upon defective MIGRANTS of the
Eclipse type. In each of the cases referred
TO the office, aggregating 1924, the hydrant
mad been previously inspected and found to
pc IN defective or leahy condition. Each
hydrant was reinspected and a notice to
repair the fixture or to replace 1t with a
Migrant of the nom wasting type mailed to
the owner or agent.
he luiHUtT VI nEuTan1 inspections was
$500: of repair notices issued, 1,493: of
replacement orders, 1882. The new
MIGRANTS installed, of which this office has
information, number 1888, and the hydrants
removed. 100.
Changes In Regulations.
No general revision of the plumbing
regulations having been undertaken since
their PRONUNCIATION. on February Is, 1898,
although a few changes were made in the
jrl aIi
ing board was directed by the Engineer
Commissioner to give consideration to GER
tain obvious and necessary changes to
BRING them into conformity with the best
practice elsewhere and the later plumbing
laws, involving licensing of master plumb
ers As the revision proceeded the board
found 1t necessary to make material
changes in about one-fourth of the regu-
iations, comprising mostly those relating
TO mouse plumbing. AS these amendments
do not take effect till January 1, 1901, their
force will not, thinks Mr.. Ball, be felt upon
the work Of the office until the latter por-
ton of the current year. but he believes it
is certain that they will somewhat increa Sc
the number Of Inspections
The Introduction of important sched-
ules,' states Mr.. Ball. "of sizes for soil
waste and vent pipes is q notable advance
upon previous regulations where incidental
restrictions only have been imposed upon
the size of pipes used. The prohibition of
the construction and maintenance of in
directly connected plumbing fixtures will
tend to prevent many constant sources of
nuisance. The practice Of this office has
under the old regulations not been equal
to the best in other cities in respect 10
the examinations and tests required of com
pieted plumbing work but the new re
quirements in this regard will add an as
surance now lacking as to the security of
new plumbing and piping systems The in
definiteness which has existed as to the
applicability to cases of repairs and re-
modelling nrir ariI,
TO govern new construction will be in
measure. removed by the new requirements,
The provision that an approved bath tub
shall be installed In each suite of family
apartments in every new brick building
marks a distinct advance
Results in Increase of Work.
Mr.. Ball says the appropriation of s25. 900
for repairs to the plumbing in the public
schools resulted during the year in a ma
terial increase in the work of his bureau,
which has had charge under general d.
rection of the Engineer Commissioner, of
the making of plans and the letting and
execution of the contracts involved The
renova ton of plumbing done under this an
preparation was mainly in The Central High
the Sumner, the Banneker and the Grant
schools.
"A defective vitrified sewer was removed
from the basement of the Central High
School, and a cast iron line substituted
fitted and the defective system of waste
pipes from the chemical laboratory replaced
with exposed ones Numerous necessary
small fixtures were provided on various
floors. At the Sumner School, the obiec-
tionable and Inadequate outside sanitaries
were replaced with a two-story and cellar
toilet building. fully equipped with fixtures
of advanced type and provided with salts
factory ventilation and steam-heating an
paratus. AT the Banneker School a terra
Gotta sewer was replaced with iron and
toilet facilities of high grade. introduced
into basement rooms. to replace the trough
closets located IN outside structures Dur
ing the summer an extensive contract in
volving the replacement of the thin metal
urinals in fourteen buildings with an an
proved type of slate ventilated fixture was
carried out.
In addition to the other work of planning
and Supervision there was prepared a set
of 100 tracings showing the school house
sites. with the buildings located thereon
the sewer, water and gas connections and
the surrounding pavements and Enclosures
The work proposed for the present year in
cIudes new toilet facilities at the Grant
| building, a new rear building and iron
sewers in the force. and replacement of an
tiquated plumbing in the Gales and Garnet
scho OILS, as well as many repairs of minor
| nature and the installation of additional
small fixtures.