Evening star., 1902-09-11
REPAIR DEPARTMENT
Report of G. B. Coleman, Dis
trict Superintendent.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES
POLICE COURT BUILDING RE-
GARDED AS IN BAD CONDITION.
Increase of $50, 900 Requested in APP
preparations for School Build
ings and Grounds.


The annual report of c. B. Coleman Dis
trict superintendent of repairs submitted
to the Commissioners today, shows that
appropriations amounting to more than
$4,000 were expended for repairs to school
buildings, engine houses, police stations,
market houses and Police Court during the
past fiscal. year. While much of this work,
such steamfitting, kalsomining, &C.,
necessarily had 20 be let out by contract.
the greater part was accomplished by
means of day labor.
Giving an idea of the character of the
more important work done by the repair
department the superintendent says:
Teachers retiring rooms were built at six
schools: new flooring, aggregating more
than eighty-two thousand feet, was put n
at thirty-two buildings; ten storm sheds
were erected: sixty book closets were fur
nished various schools. More painting was
done on the schools last year than in any
previous year. The entire eXteriors of five
schools were painted and penciled, viz,
Twining. Birney annex, Peabody, Randall
and Tenley The exterior wood and ircn
work was painted at Eastern High, West
ern High, Addison. &c. The interior wood
work of eleven schools was grained or vaT-
niShed, viz, TWinlng, Central High, B1rney
annex. Ivy City. Blair, Corcoran, Wormley,
Weightman, johnson, Hayes and Franklin.
Iron and wood fences at the Central High
and Wormley schools were painted All of
the new Carpentering work was primed and
painted. BlackboardS at almost every school
were repaired and reslated where neces-
Sary.
Mr.. Coleman says the calls made on the
appropriation of $1,000 for repairs to live
engine houses by far exceeded the amount
available. This necessitated the omission
of great deal of important work, and it
rx-i-h lev thnt Intiai -nc
avoided. No extraordinary repairs were
made, but only the ordinary wear and tear
was taken care Of.
Police Stations in Good Repair.
1t is stated the police stations are all in
a good state of repair, the appropriation
being about sufficient for the number of
houses in service to date. The greatest
amount was expended in painting and
plumbing during the past year.
Besides the painting of interior and ex-
terror woodwork at the various stations,
the brick fronts of stations Nos. 8 and
were painted and penciled. New plumbing
was installed at station houses Nos. 3, 4, 5
and 2.
With regard to public markets the report
says: THE repairs on the Eastern market
were more extensive last year than in any
previous year. The interior and exterior of
the building were painted and roof and val
leys, which were in a poor condition, were
renewed. The Western market, as usual,
received large share of the appropriation.
Besides the minor repairs which were made
at this market. large shed was provided
In the rear for the protection of horses, and
eight large stands were renewed inside"
Superintendent Coleman says an appro-
priation was made available in the urgent
deficiency bill in order to replace boilers
which had been condemned at eight schools.
Contracts We're made and new boilers in
stalled at the Peabody, Henry, Central
High Garnet Lincoln Curtis Force and
W.
vided at the Jefferson and Curtis buildings,
but in other cases the new boilers were
placed in position of old ones.
Police Court Building.
Speaking of the repairs to the Police
Court Mr.. Coleman says: This old build
ing Is in a very poor condition, and the ap-
preparation of $500 is only about sufficient
to meet the heavy wear and tear to which
It is subjected. During the past year the
exterior wood and stonework was painted.
Much of the interior woodwork was painted
or vanished and two walls in each court
room were kalSomined. Several Of the Of
fees were moved and rearranged, necessi
tating considerable carpentering work. Be-
sides the above mentioned repairs, many
minor items might be mentioned, such as
thinning, plumbing, carpentering and the in
stallation of electric fans and bells"
In addition to the repairs and improve
ments made under the several specific ap-
propriatfons the department completed
large amount Of work on other municipal
buildings. Included among these were:
Almshouse-One new steam boiler and con-
nections were furnished; smallpox hospi-
tal-The entire interior and exterior of the
buildings were painted. The tin roofs were
repaired, renewed and painted where nee
essary. New porches were provided and
considerable shelving was put up New
granolithic payements leading to and
around the building were laid. Industrial
Home School-New granolithic floors and
pavements were laid Entire exteriors of
both buildings were painted. Property
yard, d. Cone new wagon shed was con-
structed. Disnfecting plant-A new con-
crete floor was laid and large amount of
woodwork was repaired. District of Column
bia NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were made in the
offices Of the secretary, fire department. po-
lice department superintendent Of proper
ty, health department, assessors Office, ETC.
Detention camp smallpox service-New
fence was constructed around the premises
Estimates Submitted.
Superintendent Coleman also submitted
today his estimates for 1904 These esti-
mates" he says. ARE made wholly on the
basis Of the amount of repairs asked for
during the past fiscal year, all of which
We're considered essential by me, but could
not, in certain instances, be made on ac-
count OF the limited appropriations. While
all of the appropriations might well be In
creased each year. to keep pace with the
number of new buildings and the age of the
old ones, have only recommended in
creases or new appropriations in a few
cases where they are absolutely needed to
keep the buildings and grounds in a fair
state of repair
An increase from $4,000 to $4,000 is
asked in the appropriation for repairs to
school buildings and grounds. Mr.. Coleman
says:
I'm all there are about $50 schools now in
commission in the District of Columbia
nine new buildings having been opened last
year. The severe usage to which school
buildings are subjected occasions perhaps
| larger amount of repair work than In the
case of any other class of buildings. TAX
ing into consideration, too, the fact that
| thirty-one Of our school buildings are more
than twenty-one years old. it is at once ap-
parent that larger amount Of repair work
will be needed each year. In recommending
| this increase l might also mention that the
| estimated cost of the repairs and improve
ments asked for during the fiscal year was
more than 100000.
! The appropriation amounting only to
$4,000, some very important items neces-
| sarily had to be omitted. Chief among
| these were the grading OF school yards, in
terror and exterior painting. building of