Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-08
18 MILLIONS IS
BUILDING VALUE
CONSTRUCTION EXCEEDS ALL
RECORDS
Yearly Report Of Building Department
Shows Increase over Last
Year of Three Million
Dollars

The yearly report of Chief Building
Inspector BaclSus to the board of pub
lie works shows an enormous increase
both in the number and value of the
buildings constructed in Los Angeles
during the past year over preceding
years. More than tblrty-three miles of
frontage of buildings have been built
at total cost of $1S,5O24
In 1905 9341 permits were ISSUED for
buildings costing $15,6l5,0S3, while in
1889 when the first record was made
lS0 permits were issued for buildings
valued at S759,575.
According to the report of Chief In
spector Backus there were nine steel
frame structures of a value of $2,534,
500; sixteen reinforced concrete build
ings valued ao $1,270,400 24S brick
buildings, $2,6S4, ,467; 26 municipal build
ings, $452, 1867; 5662 frame buildings,
S9,74SS63; 26 churches, $192,375.
Receipts Heavy
The receipts of the building inspec-
tion department for the year were
$41,322, while the expenditures were
$2I746. In the report was recon-
mended the appointment of a perma-
nent board of appeals to which all
ing ordinance could be referred
The installation of a laboratory in
which should be tested the various
kinds of material used in the con-
struction of buildings was urged. The
specific purpose of the laboratory
would be to test the cement entering
into the construction of reinforced
buildings.
The report states further: "The
board of public works is urged to find
ways and means whereby we might
be enabled to erect small building OF
reinforced concrete in order to deter
mine with some degree of accuracy
just what the local sand, gravel and
rock will do under the conditions that
are most liable to occur when a great
fire is in progress. There is in the
minds of the leading contractors and
architects considerable uncertainty as
to just what might happen if the con-
crete as constituted when mixed ac-
cording to the ordinance at present ir
existence were subjected to an in
tense heat and then have a stream OF
water under a strong pressure turned
upon 1T.
Concrete Uncertain
This uncertainty arises from the, faci
that the sand, gravel and rock of this
ScCllOll are VI SIdlllle lOIIldllOu dllC
granite itself will not stand a great
heat. 1t is therefore desirable to know
what concrete will do under the con-
ditions named.
1.-THE fire protection has been greatly
improved during the last year and {
great number of, fire escapes have beer
placed upon the larger buildings. On,
hundred and thirty permits for tn
erection of fire escapes have been is
sued and the greater part of the es
capes have been placed on old build
ings where the protection was former
ly Inadequate There is still a larg
amount of this work to be done, bu
all that is possible is being done will
the limited number of inspectors EN-
ployed.
"The employment of at least thre,
additional building inspectors is abso
lutely necessary, one to be used fol
reinforced concrete and masonry, ont
for general inspector and one fire in.
spector with a special knowledge OF
theaters and other public places"
The report was adopted by the
board of public works.