The Washington times., 1905-11-19
SNOWDEN ASHFORD
FAYORS NEW LAWS
Believes in Amended Dis
trict Building Regulations.
WILL ADD TO CITY'S HEALTH
District Inspector of Buildings Says
the Washington Slums Are
Disappearing.
WILL ADD TO cITY's HEALTH

Snowden Ashford. the District Inspec-
tor OF Buildings. is heartily in favor Of
the new building regulations soon to be
promulgated by the Commissioners. The
new regulations are the outcome of
hearings held at the instance OF the
committee OF citizens who have been
agitating the adoption of new rules TO
govern the erection Of apartment houses
ana other structures.
When asked for an EXPRESSION OF
opinion on the subject, Mr. Ashford
said:
''Of course, 1 am interested in the new
regulation intended to reserve sufficient
open space for circulation ef air between
buildings 10 supply the lungs with
health-giving czone and admit Of the
purifying sun light. think the citizens
committee WHO recently called the in
adequacy of the present regulation to
the attention Of the Commissioners did
more IN one meeting than / have been
able TO do in the last three years.
Basis of New Law.
Ny interest and efforts to improve
these conditions date back to 1897, when
the question Of limiting the height OF
buildings in accordance with the width
CT the street in It's front and space in
the rear was submitted TO the Commis-
sions and formed the basis OF the pres
ent law. I am glad. was associated
with such movement and believe that
the destruction of eyesignt of the men
tai toilers in cities where unlimited
height is allowed viii. within the next
twenty years. so effect the nerves and
physical condition CT such men that
Washington will be a resort of relief
for the debilitated citizens of New York
a.
prepared By the Commissioners. and now
under consideration by them and their
legal advisers. Is based on the same
principle as the law for height Of build
fngs. These regulations IN a very much
shorter form embody all the suggestions
OF the citizens committee and even
80 little further in the scope of build
ings reached by its terms. They are
based on the New York tenement
house act, but they are a great i'm
provement on that act in so far as q
building regulation is concerned. for
the tenement house law goes into moral
and sanitary requirements, that more
properly belong 10 police regulations Or
health ordinances. which in our city arc
enforced by separate offices and not by
one board. as IN New York
I personally regret very much tte
our city, which in comparison with other
cities Is NIL. I note that even the most
experienced slum finders must depend on
personally conducted tours Of the hovel
hunters. and the spots are few ane
Tar between and are disappearing at the
rate OF fifteen or twenty buildings each
year. which viii within ten years time
wipe them out without any appreciabIe
expense
Need Health Ordinances.
THE new regulation for Light and air
VIII prevent dangerous crowding OF the
buildings, but we still need some health
ordinances TO prevent the overcrowd-
ing OF the occupants OF the buildings.
l believe the Commissioners have very
wisely started out with a moderate re-
quirement thatfin most respects may be
said 10 be a happy mean OF the regu-
lations Of New York, Chicago, London,
Cleveland, Boston, and other cities.
1t seems to me fairer and safer to
start with a regulation that may be
made stricter than TO promu1gate one
that may be modified to the detriment
OF al who IN the meantime have com
pied with the more stringent form.
I think you win find that any arcbi-
teet who designs the house properly to
give sufficient light to each room cannot
plan 70 cover more than the percenta go
allowed hy the regulations and most Of
the fats now constructed, notwithstand-
Ing their irsufficiency Of light. leave
from Is TO % per cent of the lot unbuilt
upon. The requirement OF 25 per cent
IS therefore not bit more than is need
ed for a properly designed building
without depending on she neighbors'
open space. which some day may be
closed. TO the sorrow OF the builders OF
some apartment houses as now con-
structed. -