Evening star., 1900-12-03
improved the water service of that neigh

improved the water service Of that neigh
borhood.
large pumping station will be also es-
tablished near the Howard University res
ervoir. Competitive plans for this station
have been received and work upon the
building will be commenced during the
present fiscal year
Building and Building Inspection.
Details Of the work Of this division are
given in the report Of Mr.. John B. Brady,
inspector Of buildings.
The value OF tne building operations dur
ing the year amounted to 81, 100000 more
than they did during the preceding year.
noticeable fact in this connection Is the
comparatively large number of apartment
houses and the small number of dwellings
which were erected.
Well-founded complaints have been re-
ceived from prominent builders during the
year q the delay in getting plans acted
upon and permits issued by the office Of the
inspector Of buildings. This trouble Is not
due to any dereliction on the part Of the
employees Of the building division. On the
contrary. these employees are probably the
hardest worked Of any in the District serv-
Ice. They come to the office before the
opening hour and work dail.- until long
past the regular closing time, and they get
only small portion Of the thirty days
leave allowed by Jaw. Several Of them
during the year have broken down from
overwork, which has made the burden that
much heavier for those remaining on duty
The force of the ONCE Is utterly inadequate
to handle the volume OF business devolving
upon 1t. The building operations have
grown to such an extent and have spread
over much terr. .ory that 1t is physically
impossible for the present force to .Aeep
buildings and elevators under proper in
spectton, and the Commissioners feel 1t to
be their duty to let this fact be known in
order that the office may not be held re-
sponsible for conditions which, unuer pres
ent circumstances. it is pOwerless to pre-
vent. An adequate increase of the force
OF this office is submitted in the annual es-
Inmates and 1t is earnestly recommended
that 1t be granted
School Buildings.
1t was found impossible during the last
fiscal year to construct the school build
ings, with single exception, for which ap-
preparations were made This failure to
erect the buildings was due to the great
rise in the price Of building materials,
which caused the cost of the buildings to
exceed the appropriations made. However,
Congress at it's last session made the neces-
sary increase in the amounts, and all of
the buildings are now in process of con-
struction and 1t is hoped to have them
available for occupancy by the beginning Of
the next school year.
The system of having the plans prepared
by various architects has been followed
with advantage, and it is believed that it
ought to be kept up as 1t has been found
ehdl prepared ny the same -arcnlteCt
are marked by more or less similarity. and
by engaging different persons for the differ
ent buildings pleasing diversity Is Sc
cured.
Congress. at its last session, at the re-
quest of the Commissioners. made a pro-
viso that hereafter in purchasing school
sites sufficient ground should be obtained to
permit an eight-room building to be en-
larged to a twelve-room one. and in the
purchase of school lots during the year this
object was kept in view.
competitive designs will be shortly re-
ceived from all architects who desire to en-
ter the competition for typical eight-room
building which can be erected in such man
ner as will admit of economical, ready and
practical enlargement to twelve-room
building. 1t Is also proposed to construct
the iour-room buildings for which appro-
priations have been made SO that they can
be readily enlarged should the needs Of the
locality require.
Formerly 1t was the custom to construct
a. % 19ur or eight-room building complete in
Itself and of such design that additions
could not he made without practically de-
stroying the use of some of the rooms In
some sections Of the city this has made
NECESSARY tne existence OF number of
school buildings in very close proximity.
and while the school authorities are be-
lieyed to be right in not favoring large
school buildings. in order to avoid the col
1t is believed that the eight-room building
is inadequate for some Of the densely pop
ulated localities. and that a twelve-room
building Will meet the demands much bet
make the school buildings but two stories
high. as parents and school authorities are
not In favor of requiring children to climb
more than one flight Of stairs
1t Is believed that due attention should no
given 10 the securing of proper pIay
grounds Tor the children. both al school and
also In the various neighborhoods during
hours When they are not at school, The
Inc
vided with good pavements, and form ot-
tract1Ve Fairgrounds for the children.
greatly to the Inconvenience of vehicle
tramc and to the danger of the little ones.
Grounds IN some of the outlying sections
can be purchased now at a reasonable cost
and can be set aside for public Fairgrounds
hereafter. There also exist in the citv a
large number Of vacant lots which could
be now secured at reasonable figures for the
purpose 1t is believed that the money ont
lay involved in this direction would he
more than saved to the public by the reduc
ton IN costs In other lines Of charity, doc
tors bills, etc, and the sooner the action
Is taken the sooner the improvement in the
general health. as we'll as the removal from
danger OF the children Of the community
will be effected
Parking Commfssion.
On September H. 1900 the parking CONF
mission lost by death one Of its Oldest and
most valued members. Mr.. William Saun
oerS. MT saunders had served upon the
commission continuously since its orRaniza
ton in 1871. without any CONDENSATION
whatever. and the city is largely Indebted
to him for the present system Of shade trees
which add so much to the beauty and at
tractiveness of Washington The vacancy
caused by his death has been filled by the
appointment of Mr.. Trueman Lanham. for
many years superintendent Of parking. Mr.
Lanham has had long experience in this
line Of work. and is well fitted for the
duties of the position
The question Of the use and ARRANGEMENT
of parhings along public streets is one
which Is becoming matter of great import
arce. which Importance is likely to increase
rather than diminish. The streets of Wash
ington consist of three parts-the driveway.
ordinarily in the center of the street; the
sidewalks. generally on each side OF the
driveway, and the parking between the
sidewalk and houses. The parking thus
forms the front yards OF the houses on
nearly all residence streets in the District
and the property owners thus get from the
municipality what in all other cities they
have TO pay large prices for. Projections
have been allowed in the past of steps,
bay windows. and porches. but the people
are beginning to construct houses so as to
practically narrow the parking by the ex-
tent OF the building projections allowed.
This being five feet for bay windows the
practical effect is to reduce ninety-foot
street to an actual width of eighty feet