The Washington times., 1901-12-06
SN0WDEN ASHFORD
THE NEW INSPECTOR.
THE COMMISSIONERS TAKE ACTION
4 Successor to John Brady Named
on Motion of Colonel BiddIe-
Action of the BOHr i-QuaI-
iGcatious of ApPointee.

On motion OF Col. John Biddle, the En-
| gineer Commissioner. the Board yester-
day appointed Mr. Snowden Ashford In
spector of Buildings for the District. vice
John Brady, deceased.
This action was unanimous on the part
| of the Commissioners. and was delayed
! for the sole reason that Commissioner
Ross was away from the city o few days
and the other members of the Board
| desired that he be present to act upon
so important an appointment. Commis-
sioner Ross returned yesterday and action
| was Immediately taken.
Colonel Biddle, in speaking of the mat
ter, said that the Commissioners were
| actuated first by Mr. Ashford's qualifi-
cations for the position, he having re-
ceived practically universal commendation
for the place.
The Commissioners also had in view the
civil service idea of advancing a worthy
man from a lower place to a higher
Moreover, Colonel Biddle said there was
practically nc other candidate for the po-
sition.
FulfIis All Requirements.
Mr.. Ashford fulf.ls the requirements
of the building regulations. that the In
spector of Buildings shall be an archi-
tect of ten years experience prior to the
time of appointment.
Mr.. Ashford entered the office Of In
speetor of Buildings in May 1895. He
was then clerk. In 1898 tie law was
changed, and the Office Of Assistant In
spector of Buildings was created, to
which Mr.. Ashford was promoted. For
tie past two years Mr.. Ashford during
the Illness of Mr.. Brady, has been Acting
Inspector, and has been called upon 10
pass upon all questions arising in the
course Of business.
Among Mr.. Ashford's endorsements for
the position Of Inspector of Buildings are
those of individual members of the Wash
ington Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects including Bernard Green,
Supervising Architect of the Congress
SIGNAL Library. There were also cordial
endorsements from Capt Lansing H
Beach and Col William Black. former En-
gineer Commissioners of the District. and
rom Capt. d. D. Gaillard who had charge
of the Building Department for several
years.
MIR. Ashforit's Career.
Mr. Ashford is native Washingtcnian,
having been born in the District in 1856.
AS a boy he attended the RittenhOuse
Academy, famous private school OF that
day kept by o. C. Wight, father of ex-
Commissioner John B. Wight. In the Rit-
tenhouse Academy Mr.. Ashford had Henry
B. F. Macfarland. President Of the Board
Of Commissioners az a schoolmate.
The new inspector prepared for college
in the Lehigh Preparatory School at
Bethlehem. Pa, and pursued his collegiate
course at Lafayette College in Esston. Pa.
Upon his return to Washington after
graduation Mr.. Ashford decided to take
up architecture as a profession, and TO
that end entered the Office OF A. B. Null
lett, at one time the Supervising Architect
of the Treasury Department. Later sew
eral years were spent in the office OF John
r. Southmeyer. Mr.. Ashford was also en-
gagged two years in supervising work upon
the Library of Congress building Mr..
Ashford engaged in private practice for
year or two and was the representative of
a West Virginia company in the erection
of houses in that State.
Mr. Ashford IS a member of the Wash
ington Chapter of the American Institute
of Architects.