The Washington times., 1902-07-18
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ASKS 33,S46 SQUARE FEET
Floor Space Required in
New Municipal Building.
Estimates Prepared by Captain Hard
ing Forwarded to Commissioner
Needs of Board of Charity.


ing Forwarded to Commissioner
Needs of Board of Charity.
An estimate of the amount of space
required in the new municipal build
ins for the accommodation of the va
vious bureaus connected with the En-
gineer Department of the District of
Columbia was yesterday forwarded TO
the Commissioners office by Capt. Ches-
ter Harding, the acting Engineer Com
missioner, under whose supervision they
were prepared.
At the same time Secretary George $.
Wilson, OF the Board OF Charities, fur
nished his estimate OF the amount Of
space that would be required by his
Board. He asked for only five rooms
containing but 1.4S5 square feet, or
but PA feet more than is now occupied
by that body.
The Engineer Department embraces
some OF the most important branches OF
the District government, including the
Building Department, Water Depart
ment, the Surveyors Office, the Sewer
Division, Street or Surface Division,
Office of the Inspector OF Plumbing and
many others, to accommodate all OF
which, Captain Harding thinks, will re-
quire 1886 square feet OF space.
Building Inspectors Office.
In explaining the estimate OF space
required for the office OF the Build
ing Inspector Mr.. snowden Ashford
wrote:
In compliance with order received
July s, directing me TO furnish the
amount OF floor space and other facil-
tiles that will be needed for the proper
performance of the work of this Office,
for consideration in connection with the
new municipal building. beg to report
that the minimum amount CT floor space
that will be needed in order to accom-
modate the public doing business with
this Office and the employees will De
| 5,651 square feet, divided into eight
communicating rooms, ii possible, OF
the following dimensions:
inspector of Buildings room 12l2X2i
I feet; computers' room, l2l2N25; permit
room. 20x25; public room, BOXES; assist
ant inspectors room. 4OX25; drafting
room, 45x25; sample and storage room,
30x3O
The last mentioned room need not
necessarily communicate with the other
rooms, but should be convenient to the
drafting room to facilitate the prepara-
tion OF specifications.
Three Times as Much Space.
q beg to say further that this is less
than three times as much as the space
now occupied by our force, and about
one-sixth as much space as occupied by
the building department of New York
city.
Il have prepared diagram showing
the most convenient arrangement OF the
space above referred to, and for the bet
terment of the service and accommoda-
tion of persons doing business with this
office. would respectfully suggest the
advisability or necessity OF having the
Inspector OF Buildings Office in close
relationship with the Inspector OF
Plumbing office"
i beg also TO pyite attention TO the
fact that all applicants for permits are
required to deposit fees with the Col
lector OF Taxes; also to pay a fee for
the use Of water used in building. Tn
der present arrangements this compcls
an applicant TO apply, in connection
with his permit, 10 two other officers
and then return to this office with re-
ceipted bill. before permit IS issued. In
order 10 avoid such Inconvenience to the
public it would seem necessary TO To-
cate the Inspector OF Buildings office
as near as possible to the TWO other Of
fees above referred to, unless some
communication IS obtained by pneu-
matte tubes or otherwise.
Il would also invite attention to the
fact that from twelve TO twenty-five
permits are issued daily. and that be-
tween thirty and fifty people apply TO
the Inspector Of Buildings Tor informa-
ticn. complaint. or concerning District
work II would, therefore seem neces-
sary on account OF the number of daily
visitors to locate this office in a loca-
tion accessible 10 the public. / would
therefore recommend that space be as
signed not higher than the second floor
besides the space needed for the ex-
elusive use of the Inspector OF Build
ings' office, | would recommend a gen
sral room for the use OF the Engineer
Department, In the air space or roof Of
the building. for the making OF blue
prints and photogra ghs; also that
room be provided for tests OF materials,
such rs brick. stone, iron, cement. and
other materials used by the Engineer
Department
Il have been requested by Mr.. Z. f.
Vermillion, chairman Of the board of
steam engineers, 20 say that the board
now conyenes IN this office every Tues
day and Friday after 6 p. m. and that
they require rcCm of about % by
q feet not included in the above csti-
mate Of floor space for the Inspector
of Buildings Office.
THE same reasons as to convenient
location would apply in their instance.
as applicants for examination are ad-
mittei to the building after other Of
fees are closed and after the elevators
have stopped running
The recent suggestion from certain
quarters that the offices of the surveyor
he left in the old City Hall does not
seem to have met with much favor in
that quarter according 10 the following
communication from that official In
which he states that he not only can
see no reason why he should be slight
ed I'm the allotment of space in the new
home OF the District Government, but
uneuuivocally declares his desire for
suitable rooms on the second floor of
the new building In his report as for