Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
Total. 80. II, 375. $50
Total. 800. 1878, 43a

There are estimated to be 5O.332 brick
buildings and 22,26S frame buildings in
the District of Columbia. The following
municipal buildings We're constructed
under the direction Of the inspector of
buildings. The cost given Is exclusive Of
the cost of site:
Anthony Hyde School. O street between
F. L. Csrdozo school. / street between
Half and 1 streets southwest ....... 42.600
Police Court 9th and d streets northwest 72,579
Home for the Aged and Infirm, Bellevue
Industrial Home School Bellevue and '
worIhouse, washington Asylum grounds %. sSS
Total. .....................4 51. 6s4
The fees received for permits issued by
the inspector of buildings during the year
were SS,OS4. The average cost per cubic
foot of constructing municipal buildings
ran from 11.9 cents for an eight-room
brick school building to 26 cents for a
ington Asylum. The following buildings
are in course of construction: Ketcham,
BrightwOod and Deanwood school build
ings. a chemical engine house at Ben
ming. and crematorium at the Wash
ington Asylum.
All buildings in course of construction
in the District of Columbia require in
spection by this Office. During the year
about 5000 such buildings were erected or
altered and to inspect the work done
but nine assistant inspectors are pro-
vided for this purpose. These inspectors
made about G4,OO0 visits to the buildings,
or about twelve visits to each piece of
work. This is more than twenty inspec-
tons day for each man and is not suf-
ficient supervision.
Fire Escapes.
A great deal of work devolved on the
building inspector in connection with the
carrying out of the law requiring fire
escapes on certain classes of buildings
thirty feet or over in height. No addi-
tional force was allowed the office on
account of this additional work, and it
was necessary t" employ an inspector
under the appropriation for the employ
ment Of temporary additional inspectors.
Steps were taken, however, to see that
the law was complied with and consid-
cradle progress has been made. Addi-
tfonal inspectors should be provided to
expedite the work.
Municipal Architect.
The Commissioners believe that the
work of the inspector of buildings has
become so great that the duties of the
office should be divided so that the in
spector Of buildings would. as his Office
indicates. have supervision of the in
spection of buildings. and that the de-
signing of municipal buildings. which is
now performed under his supervision,
should be ,Ader the supervision of a
new Office, which the Commissioners be-
lievc should be created. namely. that of
municipal architect. 1t would be the
duty of this officer to supervise the
preparation of designs for and the con-
struction of all municipal buildings for
which appropriations are made by Con-
gress and also to supervise repairs and
improvements on existing buildings. The
Commissioners have this year recom-
mended appropriations for a number of
public schools and other municipal build
ings. and as the work of private build
ers is always increasing 1t Is believed
that the necessity now exists for this
officer.
Revising Building Regulations.
The committee which has been appoint