The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-13
INSPECTORS KEPT BUSY
The Supervision of Building Gper-
atiOns a Huge Job.
The work of Examining Applica-
tions and Issuing Permits - Con-
- slant Vigilance Required to Secure
Compliance With the Regulations.

One of the most important branches of
the District government is the Office of
the Inspector of Buildings While the
commissioners have adopted code of
general regulations for its guidance. yet
upon the fidelity of the Inspector and
his assistants depends largely the char
acter of the building done in the District
of Columbia. Watchfulness is required
not only in the examination of plans and
specifications of buildings. but also in
their erection. Supervision over the con-
tractor is quite as important as the ex-
animation OF the work of the architect,
and the Office of the Inspector of Build
ines secures for Washingtonians safe
substantial and permanent edifices FOR
dwellings, offices. and places of business.
The office Of the Inspector of Buildings
is under the supervision of the Engineer
Commissioner of the District, and is
known as the Building Division. The Of
fee is presided over by John B. Brady
and his principal assistant, Snowden Ash
ford. Besides these the Office force con-
sists of six assistant inspectors, one clerk,
and a messenger The Office consists of
two rooms over the second floor of the
District building, and is one of the Of
fees SO crowded with desks, files. and
tables that there is scarcely room TO
work. Every effort is hampered, and no
better proof con be found of the press
ing need of a new municipal building
than the present cramped quarters OF
Mr.. Brady and his assistants.
Speaking generally there are LOCO new
buildings erected in the District each year,
and 1900 applications are made for re-
pairs. making no less than 2,5co plans TO
consider. file. and issue permits for This
- aier lar for
day. but during the busy season in April
and May it becomes necessary for thirty
applications to be disposedrof in single
day. At times the work accumulates, and
instances are known where applicants
have had to wait several days before their
papers could be examined and the permits
issued.
The work of examining ordinary appli-
cations for building is easily disposed of
when ali Specifications come within the
building regulations. But il frequently
happens that applicants desire something
in violation Of the rules or in some way
outside Of them. In cases OF plain viola
ton of the regulations the permit is gen.
orally withheld. In many cases, however,
the applications are sent forward to be
considered and passed upon by the Com
mssioners. This happens with one or two
tiply the labors of the Building Division.
During the past few years there has
been q marked tendency I'm Washington
toward the erection OF apartment houses
and large Office buildings Dwellings in
general have been of better. class. In
the last annual report of the Inspector
IL was shown that the number of build
fngs had decreased as compared with the
previous year while the aggregate cost
Of the lesser number was $I,250,O90 above
that Of the former year. This requires
greater care in the issuance of permits
and constant watching during the work OF
erection.
The assistant inspectors are called upon
TO make about 1000 visits annually to new
buildings in course of erection and 2 0OO
TO old buildings undergoing repairs. This
Is thirty-eight visits a week to each of
the FIVE field men. The area covered by
these men is q square miles, and there are
always about 500 buildings in course OF
construction at one time BY actual rec
ord, 300 visits by the assistant inspectors
have been made in six working days.
Experience and practiced eyes count for
much IN this work, but when each inspec-
tion is Ia the nature of an expert exami-
nation OF the Building processes some
idea can be had of the responsibility rest
ing upon these men. In all recent re-
ports Of the Inspectors Office, the made
quacv of the field force has been sbeci-
ncaliy pointed out, and relief has been
asked, The office Is especially weak along
the line Of the monthly inspection of ele-
Nators-. Since their rapid introduction
Throughout the city. ii has been practical
~ impossible to obey Che building regu-
lations in this particular.
The need OF constant vigilance In this
field WORK IS pointed out In the last re-