Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30

/ - f.
as center of building interests is
shown by the fact that within a
II ccuparativeiy short time several of
the large building or contracting
companies in the country have established
themselves with more or less permanency
in this city Two of them. the George A.
Fuller Company ana the Thompson Starrett
Company have suites of Offices here. The
latter has recently opened such headQuar-
tiers In this city, although they have been
represented here by the manager in charge
of the work of the construction of the
union depot.
At the same time firms that have always
been located here and have confined their
business mainly to this city, have been
changed into corporations. the more read
lily to handle the increasing volume of their
business. One of the builders Of the city
who has not yet organized himself into
a company. Mr.. James l.. Parson, has just
received the contract for the construction
of the municipal building undertaking
of the first magnitude in the contracting
business The extensive building operations
that are in progress or have been completed
within the past year or SO has undoubtedly
attracted the attention of the trade through
out the country, and 1t is not uncommon In
the case of work that formerly had the eS-
Inmates only from resident contractors to
receive bids from men and corporations in
all parts of the country
Tendency to Consolidate.
1t is claimed there is advantage in the
bringing together OF men and capital in
the form of a corporation, and for that rea-
son the building trades simply falling
in line with the tendency in other direc-
tons and consolidating. However. the
blending of interests is not general In this
connection any more than it Is in any other
and so 1t Is found that individuals and
firms well corporations are engaged
in work as builders and contractors and
doing 1t very successfully.
The class of men who give their atten-
ton to such interests in this city are rec
ognized as having a high order of ability
as a class. and in consequence their work
has a good deal to do with the reputation
which this city enjoys for having weil-con-
structed buildings.
Danger of Shoddy Building.
That houses shoddily built are real
sources Of danger from a CONSTITUTIONAL
| standpoint is widely and universally ad-
mitted; 1t Is. perhaps. less generally recog-
nized that grave sanitary dangers may re-
suit from improper construction hardly
less injurious to human life than wall
that will not stay erect or a floor that will
not support the load put upon it.
The builder who builds in such a way
stops at nothing whatever to accomplish
what, to him. is an economy. If he is not
Indifferent to life it is because he knows
that the responsibility can readily be
| brought back to him if his building falls
down. If his construction is sound 1t is
only because he is afraid to make 1t other
wise He knows. moreover. that most peo-
| pie look more at the things they see than
seek for what they cannot see. If the walls
appear strong and good he trusts to in-
efficient work in the hidden parts, care
nf hot hon
after he has ceased connection with the
| work. Often enough he excuses himself on
the ground that his contracts do not yield
| enough to permit good work. and that he
must himself get out as best he can.
Defects Not Visible.
The plaster may be mixed with sub
| stances filled with disease germs and no
care whatever taken as to their origin. The
bricks may be porous, admitting the ex-
ternal air. Chimneys so built rapidly &C
cumulate SCOT, which. being damp falls
down When an-extra hot fire is set going,
| and the dangerous fumes of carbon dioxide
| and other gases are generated.
Drains have been known to be connected
with chimneys admitting poisonous gases
| to rooms when there is no fire to carry
them off. Discharge pipes for the convey
ance of sewer gas may not be carried to
| the regulation height above the building.
and chfmneys may be so constructed as to
u.
Arrangements for ventilation are often
completely ignored, and the laws governing
the cubic contents of sleeping rooms are
| often evaded even in cities which maintain
an expensive building Inspection depart
ment.
Impose on the Public.
In a general sense any one of these
things and sometimes others. are likely to
happen where cheapness of construction is
the single purpose of the building being
erected. Advantage Is taken Of the ig-
norance Of the public of such matters and
to the Indifference of the authorities to i'm
proper construction. 1t Is much more diff
ing law in cities where the rules are strict
and the inspection apparently more rig
orouS than in rural communities where
there is neither law nor inspection. 1t Is
a matter difficult to remedy. for betterment
can only result from a wider acquaintance
of the requirements of good building and
the necessity for good building, than exists
at present.
High-Priced City Property.
The consideration In a recent sale of real
estate In New York city was at the rate of
81 per square inch. The property acquired
is sometimes referred to as the key to the
financial district of New York, being at 1
Wall street. Ii contains I.17o square feet.
and $70O.0Oe was the purchase price, which
makes the quoted price OF 81 per square
inch.
The highest figure ever paid m Chicago
was when Marshall Field bought from H
H. Kohlsaat 2ox40 feet at The northwest
corner of Dearborn and Madison streets for
SOC. 600. Mr.. Field subsequently leased the
land to the company operating the building
at that corner for ninety-nine years at an
annual ground rent of $40. 900, which, at the
ger orally accepted rate OF capitalization
wig, per cent. would give the ground
value of $3l2.50 square foot, or $217
square inch
The Real Basis Of Value,
Upon this latter phase the Am arcan Con-
tractor makes some interesting observa-
tons. 1t says that, If the saying is true
that thinu 10 unrth url,aA .,.ili t,.f-><-