Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-21
Steady Increase Show

Steady Increase Shown
In commenting on the work of the Office
for the past year Mr.. Ashford says:
The building operations have increased
steadily at the rate of over half million
dollars year since 1894 when they We're
at their lowest ebb in twenty years tire
valuation being at that time $4.304, 941.
This steady increase in the volume of bu.;l
nc SIS has been transacted by this office with
very slight increase in force employed over
former times
AT the present time we have nine men
foi general inspection one of whom is
assigned to investigation of complaints,
house numbering and minor duties, leaving
eight men for inspection of buildings il
course of erection or repair, &c Provision
Is also made for several additional in
spectors to be appointed in the coming
spring when building opera tons are al
their height. l trust that an appropriation
can be obtained to continue the services of
the temporary assistant inspectors after
July !, 1904. as building Operations GU
TRUE undated until September or October
and the field force would be crippled in TIE
middle of the building season by the with
drawal of these inspectors. and / earnestly
recommend the continuance of the app-o-
pr1a ton for temporary additional i'll
spectors.
The field force is still inadequate to fire.
quently and thoroughly inspect GS41 build
ings and repairs during the year being
$50 constructions under the care of each
inspector annually but l must rest in my
endeavors to increase this branch of the
service in this Office and to direct atten-
ton more especially to the permit division
which is still more OvertaXed and decidedly
behind the times for anything like a work
ing force commensurate with the enormous
amount of work in a modern city. In this
office the builder is supposed to be started
right, and the permit clerk has many con-
ditions and regulations to carry in mind
mistake or oversight in accepting a
faulty plal or neglect to inscribe the neces-
Sary condition d permit may cause
serious trouble after the work Is started.
The clerk has to pass and issue 6,i0S
permits year, or on an average of twenty
one day.
Response to Complaint.
1.-The builders of the city complain of the
| time consumed In obtaining permits, but
| considering the number issued each day
| 1t will be seen that this delay is unavoid-
| able with the present force. There is now
| issued one permit every eighteen minutes,
and within this time plans and specifca-
| tons must be examined to ascertain
| whether they are in accordance with the
| regulations. and careful examination made
of plats and locations and comparison of
projections beyond the building line with
| plans approved and calculations made on
strength of materials.
In order to do this at least two assist
| ants should be assigned to the permit desk
| in addition to the prnclpal assistant. Dut
as these cannot be spared from the small
| force in the field we are compelled to con-
tinue in the present very unsatisfactory
| manner until additional employees are au-
thoriZed.'
Mr. Ashford invites attention to the pres
ent license law relating to contractors ana
builders and heartily commends the sug-
gestion that those who are licensed should
be subjected to an examination by com
petent board, under conditions similar 10
the plumbing board or the board OF steam
examiners He also suggests that ARCH
tects should be examined and licensed.