The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-01
AYEAR'S WORK Reviewed
The Inspector of Buildings Submits
His Annual Report.
A Decrease In the Number of Com
strCcticns. But n slnrl<ed Increase
n,and for FInts-Statistics for the
INSTRUMENTATION Of Elevators.

Capt John B. Brady, the Inspector o!
Commissioners his annual report for the
fiscal year ended June l, 1900.
by reference to the tabulated state
! ment CT building operations for the past
year" he says, "it will be seen THAI while
the number of new buildings has fallen Of
Slightly, the increase in their value over
last year has been about $1.250, 900, show
ing that the structures erected have been
of greater size and better character than
formerly. The decrease in the number OF
dwellings erected and increase in apart
ment houses is noticeable, and worthy OF
some consideration by investors.
The steady increase in suburban build
| ings adds to the ever increasing work OF
the office by spreading the building oper-
atoms over the entire District. and cover
! ing greater area than occupied by cities
of twice or thrice our population. But l
regret TO say the Office force has not in
creased with the expansion in all other
| directions, and in comparison with other
cities our small force would appear en-
! tirely inadequate to the demands OF the
public welfare. / am convinced that the
full scope and responsibility of the work
is not understood by the public or appre-
I ciated by our legislators. When it is real
! lied that from FIVE hundred to six hundred
| buildings are under construction at one
/ time. and spread over an area of sixty-
/ two square miles. it will be seen that our
! force Of four inspectors, travelling from
! twelve TO fifteen miles a day, and allow
| ing the insufficient time Of twenty minutes
! for each inspection, could not visit each
! building once a week. ] am sure that a
whole story of house can be constructed
between visits, and the lives and property
of the public jecpardized, and an unrea-
sonable responsibility imposed on a bonded
officer. who works in and cut Of Office
hours to avoid calamities. l have appealed
in vain fer a force sufficient TO visit each
building under CONSTRUCTION at least once a
day. 1t is not sufficient 10 give the office
one additional man at time, for it APP
pears that every man has now six days
work to crowd into one day.
This Office has no limit of hours for
daily work, and, with rare exceptions, our
assistants work overtime in their efforts
TO relieve the Inspector of Buildings Of
tho constant apprehension that some
frightful accident may occur. notwith-
standing the fact that the utmost vigilance
is exerted by our small force. l beg also
TO call attention to the fact that except in
case of sickness or debility from oyerwork
our employees never receive the usual rest
or holiday accorded Government clerks.
They have rarely received n weeks vaca-
tion. end consequently often break down
under the strain OF incessant work.
Larger Force Needed.
''The corps of assistant inspectors in the
field should be increased by at least four
additional men, and to afford them full
time for the inspection Of buildings and re-
lieve them of the great amount of CORE
spondence or clerical work now incident to
such inspections additional clerk should
be provided for the Office. There need be
no fear OF raising the force beyond the de-
mands, for the force increases their
utility viii be more and more evident in
the improvement and safety of the build
ings and the more expeditions methods OF
traEsacting work with this office.
Within the past year the builders and
others interested in building have called
attention to the time consumed in obtain
ing permits. but under present conditions
the Office can afford no relief. The assist
ant inspector, whose duty il is to examine
all plans for the new buildings and repairs.
often has from ten to twenty applications
to pass on in one day. These applications
cover a wide range, from minor repairs to
large buildings, besides the disposition of
building materials on the streets, the re-
vision Of applications for projections be-
yond the building line, the assignment of
house numbers, and the preparation of per-
mits for engines, boilers, coal yards, avn
ings, fences, signs, and numerous things
not strictly in the building line. He should
be furnished an assistant to relieve him Of
the minor permits and give more time for
a careful examination of the plans for
buildings and revision of specifications and
drawings for municipal buildings.
The increase in suburban building has
added TO the difficulty of house numbering
and under present conditions numbers can
not be assigned with any certainty until |
the streets are designated by numbers be- !
yond the boundary Of the city. In order |
TO avoid duplication of numbers and TO
improve the permit index the card system
was adopted in January, 1898. This sys-
tenn is based on the squares of the city by
numbers, and each OF the four streets
bounding square is given a card with lot |
square. and house number. Outside The |
city the same is done with the sub-divis on
substituted for the square. But TO perfect |
the index and make ii available for house |
all permits issued prior to 1898 |
should be included in this index and there |
yet remain $1,000 permits not so indexed. |
special appropriation will be required |
for this purpose.
The District Buildings.
THE appropriations for the District
were not available until the l. ct |
OF July. and as the law requires that plans .
and specifications for all buildings pro- |
vided for in the annual appropriate bill |
shall be prepared under the supervision of |
the Inspector Of Buildings, the work OF |
the Office in supervising and correcting |
plans and specifications for District build |
ings has been extremely heavy. at the /
time of the year when the building opera