The evening times., 1901-05-20


Citizens of the Northeast File a
Protest as to BIazensburg Road.
The District Government IS Just now
engaged IN considerable building as a re-
suit OF the appropriations made by Con
gress for. engine houses and school build
ings Within the past few months the
chemical engine house. in FenIeytown;
Truck House F. on Whitney Avenue the
school house at Takoma Park, and the
new school building on Fifteenth and
Gales Streets northeast, have been com
p,eted. In various parts OF the city other
buildings are in advanced stages Of prog
Tess-
The new stationhOuse for the Tenth Po-
lice Precinct on " hitney Avenue. Is now
ready fer the roof Work on the manual
training school on Rhode Island Avenue
is going forward rapidly as is the case
with the school building at Fifth and X
Streets The Lovejoy school on Twelfth
Street northeast, has been constructed as
far as the second story. and the building
for the Boys Industrial Home School Is
nearing completion
Work upon the additional male work
house at the Washington Asylum has been
temporarily interrupted while the Inspec-
tor of Buildings is waiting to receive the
him 10 put the finishing touches to the
plans There remain for construction
q mt school buildings for which sites
hsve been provided and the contracts let
Seven more are to be provided with sites
and started from the foundation.
The Inspector OF Buildings speaking Of
the matter today. said that the building
operations under the last appropriation
bill were as far advanced as could be ex-
Tected. He explained that 1t takes c0nsid-
erable time TO acquire the sites. to adjust
the plans to the sites. and to erect the
buildings Generally. he said it Is from
eighteen months TO two years after Con
sress approves the appropriation for a
public building before it is ready for &C
cupaucy- He stated that the work OF
construction, plumbing, and furnishing a
school building goes through the hands Of
several contractors, and that they usually
take their time TO complete their con
tracts. Often. he said. it became necessa-
y 10 extend the time Of the contract to
accommodate some unforeseen emeTgen-
cy
Great care is taken with the public
building. IN the first place the site IS
chosen with a view TO the purpose 70
which the building is to be put. Then the
plans Of the structure are studied so as
TO meet the requirements as to room
and the convenience OF those who are TO
occupy It. Then as much attention as
possible is given TO the outside and inside
characterization Of the building. This is
generally regulated by the amount of
money available Drainage and the lay
ing Of the foundations come in for their
share Of inspection, and the Office Of the
Inspector Of Buildings is iTnmOvable in
rgav-arGe that work here shall lie
done as specified in the contract
The materials are chosen with care, a1a
Voc to the contractor who tries TO palm
off upon the District something that is
different from that agreed upon. 1t is
possible to use other material than that
set down in the specifications, but to do
so the contractor IS obliged to submit
the matter in writing tC the Engineer De
paTtment and the question is finally set
tied by appeal TO the Commissioners.
The same care Is exercised as TO the fin
ishing Of the building. the Introduction Of
heating. plumbing. gas fixtures, and fur
niturc The District must in al cases
receive what it pays for.
IT is the intention Of the Commissioners
that all the buildings provided for in the
last appropriation bin shall be completed
at the earliest possible date consistent
with good work It is the policy Of the
Board not to hurry building operations to
the oetriment Of the structures when fin
ished. To the outside observer. the build
iugs seem to go up slowly but by that
means the walls are well seasoned and
everything IS strong and durable In Il
few instances the amounts provided by
Congress VIII be insufficient TO build the
proposed structures. and additional
amounts VIII have TO be asked IN the next
appropriation bin.
4 delegation Of residents and property
holders Of the Northeast section called