Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19
MUNICIPAL ARCHITECTS NEEDS
MEASURE OF ECONOMY TO IN.
CREASE HIS. STAFF.
Sets Before Commissioners Plan to
Promote Efficiency and Save
Districts Cash.

From arduous duty of preparing the
budget District Commissioners YESTERDAY
had relief
During the three days they have been
considering the various items for which
they will ask Congress to make appropria-
tions for next year, the Commissioners
have been in board session from early
morning until late afternoon. Yesterday
they devoted to catching up with work
in their individual offices.
Monday morning they will tackle the es-
Inmates again. 1t is expected that two
more weeks will pass before the work is
done.
Although the Thou Shalt Not Tell
motto. invented by Congress. is hung up
in the board room where the estimates
are considered, it has been learned that
the Commissioners have been devoting
some attention to proposed addition to
the force unde: the supervision of the
municipal architect. Snowden Ashford,
who holds that position. spent some time
with the Commissioners Friday in ex-
planning the needs of his office and ap-
preparations necessary to meet those
needs.
When Congress at the last session
created the position OF municipal archi-
tect, it provided no office force to per-
form the routine work and take charge
Of the small details in the designing OF
ford took up the duties of his new posi-
ton July 1. few employees were trans
ferred to his supervision. These, how
ever, were taken from the office of the
inspector OF buildings and were not new
men.
1t is anticipated by many District Off
Gals that Congress will express in a law
at the next session a desire to have all
the plans for all municipal buildings pre-
pared under the direct supervision of the
m fno1 ~ II oY@:.
ed TO the Commissioners recently that his
small force was unable to draw the plans
for all the new buildings which Congress
provided last year and, upon his recon-
mendation, contracts were let to several
outside architects to draw plans for some
school buildings and fire engine houses
To do away with this outside work it
is believed. an addition to the force I'M
der Mr.. Ashford is imperative. The size
OF the force required is the problem which
the commissioners are confronting in the
preparation of their estimates.
Even though Congress does not insist
by legislative enactment, that plans for
all municipal buildings shall be drawn in
the office OF the municipal architect, it is
believed by some that 1t will prove bene-
hclal to the District for the Commission
ers to adopt that policy. One important
consideration is that it will provide for
more uniform architecture. 1t will also
allow the use of the same plans, with
sight notifications easily made by
craftsman in the District employ, for
school buildings of the same size.
This policy. it is also suggested, will
probably be more economical. 1t has been
estimated that the cost of the plans for
municipal buildings of fair size, such as
eight-room school but dings or new ire
engine houses. is about $1,000 per build
ing. BY the preparation of the plans in
the office Of the municipal architect, WHO
can direct the craftsmen working on
several plans at the same time, it is
thought this cost can be reduced
Craftsmen are regarded as the particu-
lar need of the office. While Mr.. Ashford
has charge of the repairs to all municipal
buildings. he has an assistant in looking
after that work in the person of the su-
perintendent of repairs and employees of
that office-boss carpenter. boss painter.
boss timer. boss plumber, boss steam
filter and boss grader