The Washington times., 1909-04-17
Correct Methods and Good
Material Place Washing
ton in Front Rank.
CLEAN BILL GIVEN
BY FIRE RISK MEN
The Insurance Committees Report
Showed the Laws Gener-
ally Enforced.

Is Washington in the fore rank of
American cities with respect TO good
buildings and proper building methods ?
4 This is a question which architects
and builders are unanimous in answer
ing IN the affirmative
When the great insurance companies
sent out their famous committee Of
twenty composed of engineers and
builders. three years ago. TO visit the
principal cities of the country and in
spect all buildings. old. new. ard in
course of construction. washington was
classed among the cities, which. from
the standpoint of the insurance com
panies, afforded the safest conditions for
establishing a basis for insurance risks.
That the three years which have
elapsed since the making Of the report
by the committee of twenty have
Witnessed stiT better building cannot be
doubted by those who have kept in
touch with the situation.
Hazard At Minimum.
With respect to coniagration hazards.
1t NAV be safely said that insurance
companies now run less risk in Wash
ington than ever before in the history
OF the National Capital
There are characteristics in houses,
and. as most people can place a man
by the localism OF his speech, an archi-
teot can usually callet the name or a city
from the photographs OF its buildings.
The manner Jf Gaping the FIRE walls,
or the absence of such walls: the
method of topping out the chimneys,
the slant and covering of the roofs, the
quality. size, and color OF the-bricks and
other minor but none the less distinct
i've features Of building, enable the ar
chitect 10 tell at a glance the style Of
construction TO which a house belongs.
and. therefore. the name Of the city
Fhich is noted for largely employing
Washington. like other cities. pos
sesses a characteristic style, but not TO
such a pronounced extent as elsewhere.
II may be said that her buildings are
far more cosmopolitan and much less
distinctive both in construction and de-
sign.
have been planned by outside arcnl-
tects. Many of them have been erected
by outside builders, which, of course, Is
due to the fact that wealthy residents
men from their native cities and. in
some instances, from abroad
Cheaper Houses Monotonous.
But the cosmopolitan is found chiefly
in expensive buildings. A most mo-
notonous tendency toward sameness has
manifested itself in the design and con-
structiOn Of residences OF a cheap class.
The insurance committee OF twenty
in its report. said Of Washington.
THE building laws are generally wei
enforced. The District Commissioners
rarely make exceptions to the fire limit
rules and freproof construction Is gen
orally OF a good class Better construc-
ton prevails in the sections where the
greater proportion OF the buildings IS
of modern construction. having beer
built in accordance with more recent
regulations.
While this report makes no attempt
20 set forth local building conditions in
the less effectively and has been largely
responsible for the thOroughness and
excellence OF recent building progress
which. in turn. has had a tremendous
effect in stimulating realty values over
the entire city.
Demand Always Good.
There are at the present time a good
many cheap buildings in course or con-
struction. but there is also a demand
for such houses. which keeps the mar
ket well cleaned up.
More attention than formerly IS be,
ing paid 70 the construction Of founda
tons, 70 prevent settlement. and TO the
construction o. tight fuese 20 prevent
fires.
The feature OF securing seasoned um.
Der. however, Is proving troublesome
Consequently. shrinkage Is something
which has to be taken considerably iutC
account, and has 20 be more OF less ex
pected. where wooden partitions ar,
1aed 10 guUuOrt floors