Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-31
1tE0 or INSPECTORS /
nrn.,,e Measure. Needed 10 Guard
AGAINST FAULTY construction.

eo,rt, of the city departments Ha ee7sAr.'s
,,.o,l hro,,cht prominently before the pub
Tic hy The story that the cosnmissiohei y
heyenue. personally. must walk up anu
.ai.,.,, the streets and alleys of the city
,.no,, whether or not any new build
,nrs were erected during the year inete
20 no building inspector or COMMISSIONS
e,,s no record whatever of the bu'ieisiss
mt nm in the city. and the assessors
,>ona entirely upon the efforts OF y. q.
Hawkins to discover the new ou''oi'ie' % .
task which is wcll-nigh impossipie. ''s
condition of affairs said Prot''i"en.
business man. borders upon me aosuio
and the responsibility for the cot''i' s
OF these antiquated methods lies oirec'is
will The city council, which is now iue-
ding over J, plan to establish inc o"'su-
ing inspection department.
For five years there has been Il i'sh.
for building inspector. but during inns
time the council. for reasons OF its own,
has never made an appropriation Tor the
purpose.
During the present agitation the council
referred the whole matter to the oro'-
nance committee the duty of which is
to compile ordinances The work now
ever. Is being done by Fire Commissioner
Robert LeckS, who is working IN SUP
committee, which tonight will meet the
general committee Of the council 10 aus
cuss the new proposed ordnance
Mr.. LECkY AT WORK.
This compilation undertaken by MI.
. 40, so1 COS
from, the ordinances governing the con-
struc.ion of buildings in the cities OF
Boston. New York and Chicago. together
with a suggestive ordinance sent by the
National BOARD OF Fire Underwriters.
which ordinance is also recommended by
the Municipal League and applies TO all
cities.
According to insurance and real estate
men the ordinance is a crying need. ana
with such city regulation the city build
ing inspector or commissioned appointed
would have no discretion in allowing the
construction or building to proceed be-
cause the ordinance would specify clearly
as to the size and height Of the walls. to-
gether with the weight that each could
bear, and it would provide for the neces-
sary fire escapes and exits.
The man needed 10 look after this new
construction would be competent man,
above bribery and familiar with both con-
,truction and architecture. Such a man,
It is said. would be worth a good salary-
AT the present tir-e man on his own
property may put any kind Of building
excepting the frame-without consulting
any of the city authorities. This has re-
suited. il is said in the erection of
number of firctraps and very dangerous
buildings which are menace to public
safety
FAULTY CONSTRUCTION.
The character Of some Of these buildings
has been shown by the fall Of three new
mes within six months. The fire depart
nent is supposed to have some h:pd of SUI
oervision of the frame buildings erected
gut there this authority ceases.
The difficulties confronting the commits
sioner of revenue are very great. MI
Hawkins himself. says that it Is quite
possible that new buildings may be so
concealed so as to escape his eye. lie
SAYS that the surest guide he has when
walking The leagues Of streets is the
strdy of chiInneys which in most cases
show their newness. New smoke-p.pes
S.,;-uu-sea -,sa,-aeust1uctio and with this
clue fuller investigation follows. DC
Il casionally these are invisible and with no
Z new construction in sight the buildings
are overlooked and no assessments made.
on Seventeenth street to-day there is an
old building erected probably fifty years
ago: from all appearances one walking n
the street would find nothing, while on
the rear of the property, as recently re-
ported. is a large. new ADDITION
which for four years has not been
assessed Such cases may be numerous
especially in the case Of alterations and
additions which would materially enhance
the value OF the property. In the course
of time this may cost the city many dol
,<yair,
assessed at scarcely half its market
value. it is said. while other property is
assessed for more than it is worth.
While other communities from the size
of New York CITY, down Il Bedford City,
of this State have building inspectors and
commissioners who issue permits OF con-
structlon and know the actual cost
thereby assisting the assessors, Rlch-
moptl ha none and makes the commit
eior,er of revenue plough through the mud
and filth of alleys among garbage and tin
cans in search of new buildings.
Some time ago MIR Hawkins was in
a residential section. after scrutinizing
IN the front and then at the stable IN
the rear he was about to pass by the
property when through crack he
CHANGED to see something strange;
closer investigation revealed between the
stable and the house newly-conStructed
carriage shed of which he proceeded to
take note.
According TO real estate men vigorous
methods are now needed to stop cheap
and faulty construction. 1t will require
the services of competent inspector Nho
knows his business. and such man vii.
cost something but the city will be we'll
reimbursed in the end for his services.
A good man in time may save the lives
of hundreds of citizens because he would
not allow buildings 10 remain without
fare-escapes and with only very narrow
and consequently dangerous exits. The
city has record of one such horror
which took place in crowded theatre
and unless provision is made against it.
may have another at some place here.
LAW ENFORCED ELSEWHERE.
This is serious matter. it is said, and
should not be kept quiet Other cities
have had the problem to deal with and
IL ha been solved Richmond. it is
said has only to follow the example OF
other well-gorerned cities In Cleveland
o., sometime ago the walls of certain
buildings We're found to be too thin. They
were ordered down by the inspectors and
because tie owners and tenants delaye
the order was given the fire departm
TO dcmolish, There WAS no delay. and
one hundred and fifty men, 1t is said, were
ordered out with the hook and ladders;
within one day five houses We're wrecked
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