The Washington times., 1902-09-12
Superintendent Coleman
Makes Annual Report
of Department.
FAvoRs HIGHER SALARIES
Recommends That Wages of Mechanics
Be Increased About Eight Per Cent
This Fall-Believes 1t Warrants an
Extra Appropriation.

The District Commissioners yesterday
received from Mr.. G. B. Coleman. SUI
perintendent of Repairs, q report of the
operations of his department for the fis-
cal year ended June 30 last. According
TO the report, appropriations amounting
to more than 500. 900 were expended upon
the school buildings. engine houses, 20
lice stations. market houses, and the Po-
lice Court.
While some of the work, such as
steam fitting, calcimning. and paint
ing was done under contracts with pri-
vate parties, much the greater part of
the repairs was done by day labor su
perintended by the office. During the
months of July, August, September, and
October the report shows that over 100
names were carried on the pay rolls.
Mr.. Coleman explains that this large
force was carried during the months
named, because the schools were closed,
and the time specially adapted to work
there. During the balance of the year
about fifty men on the average wer. en-
ployed.
Regular Employees.
THE regular employees appointed by
the Commissioners" says Mr.. Coleman.
were one superintendent at So per
diem, and one clerk at So per diem.
whose salaries were apportione1 among
the several appropriations enumerated
hereafter An additional clerk AT 81 80
per diem was appointed June 16 last,
10 assist in the work during the summer
months.
THE only employees outside of the Of
fee who might be called regular were
three foremen, one al 81, and two ct
$3.50 per diem, and one driver at 81 80
per diem.
1.-The other employees were carpenters
at So per diem lone carpenter at 1920
per diem), painters at $3.50 per diem,
timers at $3.50 per diem, bricklayers
at $3.50 per diem, plasterers at $3.50 per
diem and laborers at s1.50 per diem who
were engaged in such numbers and at
such times as was necessary
The report gives In detail the repairs
on each of the public buildings, with
the cost in each instance. Special ref
erence is made to the painting. greater
amount of II being required than in
any previous year. The exteriors Of
five buildings were painted entire. and
the interior of eleven school build |
ings.
Several paragraphs are devoted to the |
repairs upon the Police Court build |
ing, in which extensive improvements |
were made, amounting to a complete |
renovation of the ancient structure |
Several of the Offices were removed and |
changed to suit the increase of bust |
ness in that building. Repairs to the |
police stations and the fire houses were
extensive, as were those in the several |
market houses owned by the District |
Considerable work was done on the |
almshouses at the Washington Asylum, |
and the smallpox hospital was renovnt, |
ed and painted throughout. New porchs |
es were provided. and large amount |
of shelving put up in the building New |
granolIthic flooring was laid in the In. |
dustrial Home School buildings. and ce-
ment sidewalks laid in the grounds.
Asks for an Increase.
In the schedule of estimates for the |
next fiscal year. Mr.. Coleman asks for |
cCfCid al iSSho Va ilSitdSts anu
that still larger increases might be made |
to the advantage OF the public build |
ings. For the repair of school build |
ings $4,000 is asked. while s55,000 was |
appropriated for the present year. The |
sum of $500 is asked in addition to the
$500 appropriated this year for repairs
to engine houses.
Mr.. Coleman also asks that the sum of |
$50. 600 be included in the estimates of
the Commissioners for the purchase of
the site, and the erection of a repair
shop for the District. Owing to the in-
crease of work, and the need of space |
to store tools, material plans, etc, this
addition TO the facilities of the depart
ment is considered necessary. Other es-
Inmates are the same as the appropria-
tions for the preespt year
In explanation of the increased
asked for in his estimates, Mr..
Coleman says:
1t is doubtless unnecessary te. i'm
press upon you the Importance of keep
ing our school buildings in thorough
state of repair. not only from business
but sanitary point of view.
In all there are about $50 schools
now in commission in the District of Co.
opened last year.
The severe usage to which school
buildings are subjected occasions per-
haps larger amount of repair work
than in the case of any other class of ,
buildings. Taking into consideration,
loo, the fact that thirty-one of our
school buildings are more than twenty I
Two years old, IL is at once apparent
hat a larger amount of repair work will
be needed each year.
Cost of Repairs.
In recommending this increase, /
night also mention that the estimated
cost of the repairs and improvements
asked for during the fiscal year was ,
more than 100000.
The appropriation amounting to only
$4,000. some very important items nee
'ssarily had TO be omitted. Chief
lmong these were the grading of school
ards, interior and exterior painting.
,uilding OF book closets and renewing
md painting tin roofs. r
Some of the school yards never hay-
ne been properly graded, greatly disfig- /,
red the appearance of the school, and
n some instances are a menace 10 the
afety OF the children These cases
hould be attended to at an early date. d
In regard to the painting, / would :
ay that much of this has had TO be
mitted each year and there now are
number Of buildings which have not
cen painted from ten TO seventeen
ears. Owing to the great cost /. has