Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07

ed. and the inspections of these buildings
are made by eight field inspectors Each
man is required to make twenty inspec-
tons a day and about twelve visits to
each building. This is entirely insufficient
to insure that the buildings are construct
ed in accordance with the building regu-
lations A sufficient force should be pro-
vided in the office of the inspector OF
buildings so as to double the number or
visits to each building and require an in
spector to make only ten thorough daily
inspections instead of twenty hasty and
unsatisfactory calls. which is all that can
be done by the present force.
During the year an accident occurred
the corner Of Goth and p streets north
west in which one man was killed and
another injured. The coroner held an In
quest over the body Of the man who was
killed and the jury brought In verdict
holding the owner of the building one OF
the contractors. and the inspector or
buildings until the grand jury could in
vestigate the question as to responsible
ity for the accident. The matter was
then taken up by the grand jury. which
exonerated the inspector of buildings. and
in it's verdict called attention to the In
adequacy of the force in the ONCE OIL
the building inspector and of the compeh-
sation paid to the assistant inspectors OF
OullulJSS. subsequent 10 luc NCaui>s "
the grand jury the Commissioners inves-
tigated the Office Of the inspector of build
ings with a view to determining what
means were necessary to provide Tor more
thorough inspections. AS a result OF this
examination in their estimates to Con-
gress for the ensuing fiscal year they
! will ask not only for an increase IN force,
but an increase in compensation or the
employees. With the salaries PROVIDED ny
Congress for the employees of this ONCE II
xlsl ont
men can secure an increased compensa.
ton either with the federal government
or in private work, and many or the"
leave the Office to accept such posit'ons.
The Commissioners desire an increase III
the force and also increased salaries, SO
that incentives can be offered to good men
to enter the service and to insure them
promotion, so as to keep them In the
service.
Fire Escapes.
Congress at it's last session made pro-
vision for an inspector of fire escapes.
whose duty it is to examine all buildings
coming under the fire-escape law to see
that fire escapes and other fire appli-
ances are installed. Previous to this the
work was required to be done by the
field force of the building inspectors Of
flee in addition to their other duties. 1t
is estimated that there are 1000 build
ings which need such examination, and
at the present rate Of inspection, with
only one man employed. it will proba bly,
take about four years or more to cover
the ground.
The Commissioners have requested in
their estimates an appropriation for an
inspector of heating apparatus whose
duty it would be to pass on the install
lation OF heating apparatus IN private
buildings, and also to give advice and
supervision as to such apparatus IN mu-
nicipal buildings and prepare plans for
same The District has now over 2U0
buildings which contain expensive heat
ing and ventilating plants which should
be supervised by an expert. during the
year it has been necessary 20 employ eX-
pert services for such work on a per-
centage basis, and the amount of money
paid under this method would more than
equal the salary of such an employe.
/ The Commissioners again call attention
to the necessity for the creation of the
office Of municipal architect. They be-
lieve that the work of the inspector of
buildings has become so great that the
duties OF the Office should be divided so
that the inspector Of buildings would, as
his office indicates, have supervision OF
the inspection of buildings. and that the
designing OF municipal buildings, which
is now performed under his supervision,
should be under the supervision of new
Office which the Commissioners believe
should be created, namely. that of mu
|
of this officer to supervise the prepare
ton Of designs for and the construction
of all municipal buildings for which APP
preparations are made by Congress and
ments on existing buildings. The Com
missioners have this year recommended
appropriations for a number of public
school and other municipal buildings. and
they believe that necessity now exists
for this officer.
Architects and Builders Licenses.
The Commissioners recommend legisla-
ton requiring all architects and builders
practicing their professions in the Dis
trict of Columbia to be licensed. There
is as much reason for licensing these
professions as there is for licensing the
practice Of medicine and law and the
business of plumbing and gas fitting.
which are required by law to be licensed.
Under the present building regulations.
as authorized to be made by the Com
missoners. any one desiring permit to
build can obtain such permit upon appl-
cation, although 1t might be known by
the inspector of buildings that he has
not sufficient knowledge of building con-
struction to carry on the work. 1t is the
intention of the Commissioners to pre-
pare legislation, to be presented at the
next session of Congress, which will
cover this matter
The work of revising the building reg
ulations of the District of Columbia,
which is being performed by the volun-
teer committee appointed by the Com
miSsioners of the District of Columbia is
about completed. Much arduous labor
was involved in this work and as the
members of the committee served with
out compensation. at great sacrifice of
their time. the work has necessarily been
delayed.
The sum of $4,000 was spent in repair
work on school buildings. which is about
Lib per cent of the value of these
buildings this value being about 49, 500, 0t0
in the repair of engine houses and
grounds $4,000 was expended which is
about Ito per cent of the valuation of
this class of property. In the repairs
to police stations s4,75O was expended
which is about l $40 per cent of the
valuation of such buildings. In the ordi-
nary repair of plumbing in school build
ings 5000 was expended. The greater
part of this work is done by day labor
under the supervision of the superin-
tendent OF repairs, and includes car
pentering. painting, thinning. grading, paw
ing. embarrassing. plastering etc
The Commissioners would call attention
to the necessity for increasing the size OF
these appropriations as recommended by
them in their estimates.
Plumbing and Plumbing Inspection.
During the year the plumbing office
made 29,547 inspections. which is a de-
crease from the number OF inspections
made last year OF 2.553 This was due