The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-19
GREAT INCREASE IN
BUILDING IN A YEAR

numerous complaints ana EluyT matters
assigned them Tor report. is would be
Impossible to visit each o. The build
Iugs above mentioned mole .han tAicc
III one month I End by reference 80 tii=
summary at the beginning o. NV ro.-Crt
jhat permits were issued for aII5 build
ings during the year or q 1soutHl7 av-
erage Tor the six inspectors of fifty
buildings per month. the~e..y rendering
j. impossible on q basis Of twelve vIsi-s
day 10 reach each DuJtGmg oiteuef
than once every i0ur and one bali law
net allowing for the greater amount Of
time consumed N minor matters not
strictly in the nature OF construction.
such as dCvlSpOuts- signs. awnings IN
lawful occupancy n buildings. aGd in
vestigation CT complaints. which un-
GoIhtedly consume 5ae-halF the inc Of
the inspectors. thereby rcnderins il I'M
possible ta properly ilspeCJ he numfaT
OF buildings referred 20 oftcne- than
once q week From the above state
ment and IN view af ;he territory COW
cred by the Distrie- / am forced to he
iiev5 that our present corps Of .Dspec-
tors should be neaTly doubled
The License Law
y beg TO invite attention TO reference
/ in report Of assistants 10 The present
license law relating 20 contractors and
builders, and heartily commend the sug-
gestion that those WI are licensed
should be subjected 10 an examination
by a competent board. under conditions
similar 10 the Plumbing Board or the
Board of Steam Examiners. 1t seems
hardly reasonable that the law aDpre-
ctates the necessity c. licensing aud ex-
aiming a man who is charged with the
installation of plumbing fixtures in a
house and the operation OF a power
plant. while the man who Is morally re-
sponsibIe for the safety Of the entire
structure from foundation 20 roof. con
tanning the plumbing fixtures and heat
ing apparatus. is not required 10 furnish
evidence OF his ability 10 safely con
struct the building. wherein the lives Of
hundreds may be jeopardized through
his ignorance.
Several fatal accidents have resulted
in the past year from the operation or
management OF elevators. not from me
ehauical defect. and I especially recon-
mend The adoption Of the suggestion that
operators be examined as TO their quail
fcations- The driver Of an automobile
is required to pass an examination, but
the elevator operator seems 10 be Sc
lected according TO the terms made with
the owner. and IN most OF the accidents
reported no regular or competent opeT-
aJor was present.
Reference Is made to the deseczs "
the present fre-escape law, wb5cz has
been depended upon FOR requiring mans
OF saving life in case Of FIRE or s-1aic,
and has been applied in as practical
way as possible.
All buildings mentioned in the act
and requiring licenses have l5een IN
spscted annually. and pending the aD-
prevail OF application Tor license have
been IN technical compliance with the
law though never il most cases effect
tally provided with proper safety appIi-
snces- I would recc mTend that one as
sistaut either under this office or the
Fire Department, be continuously en-
plOyad 10 make frequent Inspections &c
require proper maintenance OF aPDli-
aBces after they are Installed accord
ing to law.
a special committee has been ap-
pointed by the Commissioners 10 report
on this subject. and my experience leads
me 10 believe that a joint resolution Of
Congress, repeating the present law, and
conferri1g authority on the Commits
sioners TO make regulations governing
tie application OF safety appliances,
VIII be The only precise means OF afford
ing greater safety in case Of fire
Removal Of Unsafe Buildings.
zone OF the most trying and respon-
sible duties imposed on the Inspector Of
Buildings is the removal Of dangerous
bui- Lings or parts thereof The danger
from collapse Of OLD diIapidated or dam
az ID buildings seems 10 have been full
y realized when act Of Congress. ap-
proved March !. 1899, was approved. and
tie law has been applied IN many cases
where the owner Of the property can be
81 b =cted 10 service of required notice
out there are many cases now giving
TINS Office ser5,us concern where old
buildings are OF the verge Of collapse.
but the law is Intellectual as long as the
owner cannot be served with notice
or arrested
This law provides upon the neglect,
refusal OF absence Of the owner or re
sponslbIe parties that the Inspector OF
with such workmen and assistants as.
may be necessary and cause the unsafe
structure 70 be sh0red Up. taken down
or secured. etc, and that the cost be
assessed against the property and bear
interest and be collected as taxes. etc.
But the fundamental defect in the exc
cution OF the law is that il provides
no funds from which 10 pay ''workmen
and assistants, and men who live by
such work cannot afford 10 wait several
years until The amount Is collected on
assessment and paid 10 them
4 would therefore recommend that
the small revenues Of this Office amount
ing 20 about $4,000 yearly. be intrusted
to the Auditor OF otherwise made avail
able IS means OF executing the pro
visions Of the law referring TO danger
Gus buildings. and for temporary en-
plOymeuJ IN emergencies Of extra as
sfstants necessary 70 enforce the buiIG-
ing regulations in the interest OF pub
lie safety
The men in the Office have worked
earnestly and eonscieatiously with Teali-
zatjOn Of the responsibilities placed upon
them. without regard 10 time. and the
clerical force give their services after
the usual Office hours in order 10 keep
up the current work from day 70 day.
and Notwithstanding these efforts the
work Ct the Office is slightly behind.
with little prospect Of completion before
the winter months. when the usual
amount OF building IS cOrrDaratiVefy sUs-