Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-15
DISTRICT BUILDING
Annual Report Of Inspector
Ashford.
VALUE OF THE WORK
INCREASE ovER AMOUNT OF THE
PREVIOUS YEAR.
Important Suggestions Made by MI.
Ashford as to Inspection and
Care Of Work.

building operations Of last year and does
not include government work
Distribution as to Sections.
Following is statement of the distribu-
ton of the expenditures over the various
sections of the District:
RJ1IDINGS REPAIRS.
Northeast. s.. sss. $50 Northwest. 49,. see. 7s5
Northwest. 3,134. 62s County l41' a 6Sa
Southwest 130,e8s Northeast...... 1852
Total .s12, oss. s16 Total ... $s2s. so4
"Un:on station. S5.OOO,O0o
The number of municipal buildings erected
and repaired under the supervision OF the
building inspectors office follows: Zen
school buildings and additions, S271 1872; two
police stations, S36.61O; Police Court, cell
cons. uction. $1.6S2; new workhouse, heat
ing and ventilating plant. $11,6lO; old work
house. cell construction. remodeling, etc..
$14.G7S; truck house. ST 400: morgue wharf,
$4,544; morgue. 1904. Total 1857 $50.
During the year covered by the report the
officials of the building inspectors office
took a census of the buildings in the DIS
trict and found that there are 6,46S brick
buildings, 2O961 frame buildings and Ia, 361
sheds now in use
A tabulated statement of the work of the
Office as given, is made the first section
typewriter pages. The entire document Is
divided into suitable sections and each
treats in concise form of the various
branches Of the inspectors work.
Work Of Inspectors.
Mr.. Ashford states that his Office now has
eight inspectors for sixty-two square miles
of building area, which with the assistance
of the temporary inspectors at the height
of the building season increased the force
to ten men. who have under their care and
inspection during the year 6.773 buildings
and repairs. or nearly 100 buildings each
man has under his inspection annually.
One man is needed for house numbers
and minor matters. 1t is claimed, such Is
dangerous cellar doors, defective down.
spouts improper use of frame sheds,
fences. signs. awnings and numerous COM
plants.
Two additional inspectors are detailed on
elevators and fire escapes. Their reports
SHOW the enormous amount of work neceS-
sary to keep up to requirements and at the
same time assist in the inspection Of en-
gines, boilers, gasoline tanks, heating ap-
paratus, etc, besides inspection Of hotels.
theaters. halls. churches and all buildings
used for purposes requiring licenses where
the public safety Is concerned.
One temporary inspector has for several
months been almost constantly engaged in
work to improve the conditions of the
wharves and buildings on the water front,
and one has been in the office to assist in
the inspection of plans, so that the actual
force in the field who are engaged on
buildings under construction is Of necessity
reduced to seven men.
Inspection Of Theaters.
In connection with the inspection of the
aters the building inspector states:
Every year, before the opening of the
theaters and again when the licenses are
applied for In October, a thorough inspec-
ton and report is made of the condition
of all theaters. halls and places Of amuse-
ment, and such buildings in this city have
always been kept within the regulations
and. while several of the buildings are
older than the regulations, they conform as
nearly as possible without rebuilding.
There are but two f1reproof theaters. but
the older buildings with but one exception,
are more safely provided with ample exits
than will be found in any other city. The
seats in one of the theaters are uncom-
fortably and unsafely close. In another
the Stairways from balcony discharge the
balcony patrons at right angles to the au-
dience leaving the theater through the first
floor lobby. Otherwise the exits are excel
lent. One of the Oldest theaters has the
main or auditorium floor about twenty feet
above the sidewalk, which is a condition
which, in my opinion. should not be toll
Grated.
There is very important matter which
seems to have been overlooked. and that
Is the theaters are inadequately provided
with means for ventilation supply of
fresh air at proper temperature. This con-
ing the present closed season, and the re-
suit be reported to the Commissioners be-
fore the meeting of Congress.
Last year l invited attention to the pro-
poses a license fee on building and other
contractors the inspector states, land
which has led I'D to several cases in the
court to determine what Is meant by build
line should be drawn. There is no way Of
determining and no. one with authority to
decide whether man is a builder or not,
and most every man in business Is CON
tractor An examination of the permits
issued during the year will show that
nearly half the persons in charge of the
erection Of buildings are not builders and
should not be allowed to obtain a license
for such work. even II applied for. A few
cases have occurred where persons build
ing houses have advanced the argument to
the Commissioners that you should not en-
force the regulation in their case, because
the inspector was not present at the time
of the violation to prevent them from vio-
lating and that 1t was their ignorance and
not their intention that caused them to
transgress. and that, therefore, since the
inspector by his absence permitted them
to erect some faulty work 1t should be al
lowed to remain. Consequently one mis-
take or oversight on the five hundred
buildings under the care Of each inspector
during the year liberates the person who
pleads ignorance Of the regulations and
prevents correction of each mistake
Fire Escape Law.
The present fire escape law has been
found to be Inadequate and during the
year the inspector of buildings drew I'D a
substitute giving attention to precautions
deemed necessary in fir-eproof and COM
bustible buildings, and providing for some
protection about elevator shafts and stair
ways. This draft was submitted to the
corporation counsel for consideration of
the legal aspects. but was not completed
In time for reference to Congress at the
last session l trust some attention NAV
be given at the coming session.
AS the present fire escape law does not
provide for means Of escape on stores or
mercantile establishments, which are at
times very much crowded, especially
around holidays. I have recommended In
previous communications to the Commits
sioners, and in draft Of fire escape law.
submitted last February. that such estab-
lishments be required to erect safe escapes
of type suitable for use by women and
children, as In the past year they seemed to
have suffered most in the national calami-
ties and are more liable to the results of
fire or panic.