Evening star., 1909-09-13
DAVIS TO STEP DOWN
Inspector of Plumbing to Go
With Building Concern.
HE WILL SHORTLY RESIGN
Has Accepted Offer of Partnership
in Construction Concern.
TELLS HOW SORRY HE IS
Hates to Break Relations With His
Many Friends in District
Service.
TELLS HOW SORRY HE IS

Service.
Henry B. Davis, inspector of plumbing
of the District of Columbia, will shortly
| resign to become a member of a Wash
ington firm engaged in construction work.
His intention to leave the District serv-
| ice was made known in his annual re-
port, submitted to the Commissioners to-
day, and part of which appears else
where in The Star.
I'm conclusion, wish to state that this
will probably be my last report as in
spector of plumbing of the District of
Columbia" he said, "as 1 have decided
to accept a flattering offer from a firm
of builders to become member and
stockholder of the company
Sorry He Is Going to Leave.
'I regret in many ways leaving the
service of the District. I have made
many friends in and out of the office
The work and responsibility, while trying
at times, have been interesting and varied.
1 have been in the service since 1895 as
craftsman, superintendent of construc-
ton, principal assistant inspector of
buildings and inspector of plumbing.
office during my. term as inspector of
plumbing, keeping 1t free from charges
OF graft and undue criticism, is mainly
due to the conscientious and competent
employees OF the office, who have so ably
assisted me to properly conduct this i'm
portant branch Of the municipal govern
ment Too much praise cannot be given
these assistants. and my only regret is
that all my efforts to obtain for them a
salary In keeping with their valuable
services to the Commissioners and the
public have failed, although each year
for number of years l have asked for
an increase in their salaries.
Il have again In the estimates herewith
recommended that these increases be
made l most respectfully urge that an
effort be made to Incorporate these In
creases, so well deserved. in the Com
missioners estimates and to have them
retained IN the completed bill.
ITO the Commissioners who have so
well supported my official decisions and
to the heads of other offices and divisions
who have SO ably co-operated with me tn
my work l extend my sincere thanks"
Four Months Furlough Without Pay
Engineer Commissioner Judson an
nounced in this connection that a fur
Tough of four months. without pay, has
been granted to Mr.. Davis and that at
the end of that time, it is expected, Mr..
laws 1SiAAdiAy pIC6CIiI Ills TcSlSId-
tion. Under this ARRANGEMENT he practi-
cally sewers his connection with the Dis
trict at once, but is enabled to return at
the end of four months If he changes his
mind.
No selection of a successor to Mr.. Da-
Wis In the 5000 position has been made
1t Is not contemplated that any steps In
that direction will be taken until the for
NAL resignation is presented. His two
assistants, A. r. McGonegal and Richard
A. OBrien. are most prominently men,
toned for the position.
Mr.. Davis Is a native Of the District,
born here In 1871, and educated in the
Washington public schools. He studied
architecture and was employed in the
office of John L. smithmeyer: While in
that position he went with Mr.. Smith
meyer to Old Point Comfort and spent
eighteen months in making working
drawing for the Hotel Chamberlin.
Services for District.
He entered the service of the District
June II, 1895. as a craftsman in the Office
of the inspector of buildings at 81 per
day. He remained In that capacity un-
til December 16, 1897 when he was ap-
pointed temporary assistant inspector of
buildings at 500 per month.
He was transferred In January, 1898,
to superintend the construction of the
Western High School, according to plans
and specifications he had previously pre-
pared while craftsman. Upon the COM
pletion of the new high school in George
town, he again took up work as drafts
man, first in the office of the inspector
OF buildings and later under the inspector
of plumbing.
In the latter position he was assigned
to the important work of placing plumb
ing in public schools on sanitary basis
by remodeling old fixtures and modern
izing the plumbing in every way, besides
providing means for heating and ven
tilating the toilet rooms and the build
ings.
He was appointed principal assistant
inspector Of buildings December 20, 1901
and also became q member of the bath
ing beach committee. He was appointed
and has held the position since that time
What he Has Accomplished.
During his tenure of Office he has sue
ceeded In placing the plumbing in the
public schools, both old and new, on
modern and sanitary basis. With the
expenditure of $4,000 appropriated last
year by Congress, he predicts that this
task will be complete.
1t was upon the recommendation of Mr..
Davis that the Commissioners obtained
from Congress necessary appropriations
for the erection of two public convenience
stations.
Mr.. Davis was the founder and presi-
dent for two years of the American So
ciety of Inspectors of Plumbing and Sani-
tary Engineers, which was started in
this city in January, 1906. There were
twenty-five charter members, and the
membership has now increased to over