Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04
Ter the direction of the In

NJ. 10 euSIue nOute. Va ave- tlS.<fo
Il + Blow School 10th st and Bennine I'd s2sss
Cuisines: High School. r. l. ave and 9th ST. iSS 20
Power plant. Industrial Home School. 33,s42
The average cost of constructing munich
pal buildings at the present time is about
Ii cents a cubic foot, which is the same
but nearly double the cost in 1897, which
was about cents per cul.: foot. This
increase is due to advance in price of ma
terials. the increased cost of labor. the
use OF better plumbing and heating systems.
and better architectural treatment of the
exterior. An increase in the price of lum-
Der during the past fiscal year necessitated
an additional appropriation OF 5000 each
for two school buildings In course OF con-
struction which had been appropriated for
during the preceding year upon estimates
based on the price of lumber during that
year.
The Home for the Aged and Infrm and
the new workhouse. with the exception of
the cell work. and the Cardoza School
building were completed shortly after the
end OF the fiscal year. The following build
ings are nearing completion: The Indus
trial Home School for Colored Children. the
Police Court and the Anthony Hyde School.
The receipts from permits issued during
the year amounted to $S.042 an increase
of 1894 over the previous year About
5000 bbufldfngs were erected or altered I'M
der permits issued by the building inspec-
tor. and to look after these constructions
but eight assistant inspectors were avail
able These inspectors made 54O51 visits
to the buildings. or about IL visits for each
piece OF work. This is more than twenty
Inspections a day for each man. The num-
Der OF inspectors is not sufficient to give
the work the necessary supervision and
care. These figures are given to demon
strate the inadequacy of the present in
spection force. The number OF visits to
each building should be doubled and the
force so increased that each man could
make ten thorough inspections instead OF
twenty hasty and unsatisfactory calls at
each building as at present.
Two inspectors are detailed on elevators
and five escapes and at the same time as
sist In the inspection OF engines, boilers.
gasoline tanks heating apparatus, hotels.
used for purposes requiring licenses. where
the public safety is concerned. Eight hun
bred such inspections were made during
the year. The law past at the last session
of Congress requiring fire escapes on GER
tain buildings would require the entire time
of these inspectors, but they cannot neg
lect their other work. This work must
be done by other inspectors at the sacri-
flee of supervision of buildings. no extra
help was allowed by Congress to carry out
the provisions of that law. This work OF
carrying out the act OF Congress is there
fore proceeding very slowly.
The inspector of buildings renews his
recommendation for an inspector of heat
Ing apparatus, the necessity of which was
referred to in the report of the previous
fiscal year, and the Commissioners approve
the recommendation.
He also recommends that all the assistant
inspectors of buildings be rated at 81 30
each per annum. These men do the same
class of work, and five of them get 81 300
and five $1,000 per annum. 1t is difficult to
keep good men even at $1,000 per annum,
and practically impossible to get the proper
class of inspectors at $1,000 per annum.
The Commissioners invite attention to
the portion of the building inspectors re-
port regarding the licensing of architects
and builders.
The Commissioners recognizing the fact
that the building regulations We're In need
of revision In order to meet modern condi-
lions. appointed a committee of prominent
citizens representing the various trades
and professions engaged in building work,
which committee agreed to serve without
compensation. The committee is now at
work in revising the regulations and II is
hoped to have the revised regulations COM
pleted during the present fiscal year.
The extra work placed on the building
department by recent acts of Congress
without giving additional help has resulted
in delays. In an unsatisfactory number OF
inspections, and in general less efficient
building department than seems proper.
:, The duty of supervising the work of the
board of examiners of steam engineers was
assigned to the Engineer Commissioner
during the year. The board reports that
it held ,fifty-nine meetings and examined
2o3 applicants. Of which 119 Were licensed.
Repair Work.
The amount expended in repair work on
school buildings and grounds. engine houses
and police stations, was $50. The great
er part of this work consisted of small
jobs, which were executed by day labor
under the supervision of the superintendent
of repairs. Most of the work is done dur
ing the months of July. August. September,
October. and November. when the schools
L. ia
10 mechanics are employed. The repair
work has increased in cost due to the in
creased rates of labor. the mechanics en-
ployed on this work being paid the same
wages as those given by contractors and
builders. 1t is impossible with the present
appropria lions to keep these buildings in an
economical and satisfactory state of re-
pair.
In accordance with legislation recon-
mended at the last session of Congress, the
membership Of the plumbing board was
reduced from five to three members, to
take effect July 1. 1906. This resulted in
saving of 5000 per annum. and at the same
time provided a better organization. During
the past fiscal year the board held % ses-
sons and examined 46 applicants.
Plumbing Inspectors Office.
During the year the plumbing office made
30, 1S5 inspections. which was an increase Of
2S4S over the inspections for the preced-
ing year These inspections increase every
year. while the force of the office remains
the same. AS all plumbing work has to be
inspected before it can be covered in. de-
lay has been occasioned to plumbers by
reason of the inadequate force. This con-
dition could be relieved by the authorize
tion by Congress of the employment of
additional temporary men during the busy
sea son for which the Commissioners have
submitted an estimate of S2.4GO.
1t is recommended in the case Of the as
sistant inspectors of plumbing. as In the
case of the assistant building inspectors,
that their compensation should be Increased
from 81, 600 to 81. 200 per annum the same
reason for an increase applying to both
cases.
In addition to the inspection of private
plumbing work this office also has charge
of the installation of repairs to and changes
in plumbing in the older school buildings
for which the office prepares plans and sees
to the proper execution of contracts. An
appropriation of $4,000 was made for this
purpose during the year and the statement
of how 1t was expended is given in the re-
port of the inspector of plumbing. Great
Improvement is being made in the sanitary
condition of the older school buildings I'M
der this appropriation. This office also has
charge of installing plumbing in private
residences under the provisions of the
drainage act, where. after due notice, the
plumbing is not installed by the property