The Washington times., 1910-02-12
Public Fails TO Appreciate
Better Work in Types of
Present Day.
CONSTRUCTION LAWS
HELP CONDITIONS
Excellence of New Structures
Seems Shaded for Sentiment
for Colonial.

Whatever has been the advance in the
art Of constructing houses. the appre-
citation Of the public has not kept pace
with IL
It must be admitted there are many
who cling 70 the belief that house
built fifteen or twenty years ago was
better constructed than are dwellings Of
4 similar type today. And there are
instances-TeCent Oues-Of persons going
70 the extreme OF buying a dfteen-yeaT-
old residence In preference to a new
one upon the theory that, nOtwithstand-
ing its handicap in age, il viii be the
lOnger-Iived-
A study Of the facts IN the case leaves
10 room for doubt that the belief is
unfounded. As TO its origian. there is q
difference of opinion But the theory,
which. perhaps, is the most generally
accepted is the following
That there are houses built during
tbs colonial era which are still in good
condition They represent. however, the
very best that money could secure il
houses az the tine they were built.
which accounts for their existence and
the fact that they may be kept in repair
with little difficulty.
Few Of Type Remain
Thus. the average person IS apt 10
fail into the error OF plcturing them As
the type Of their day, overlooking the
s9e which were built at the same time
ard - the cost ordinarily incurred. but
which long since have passed away
IN other words, as valuable pieces OF
old furniture are likely 10 give the i'm
preston that al furniture made 100
years ago was OF the same quality,
2 colonial mansion built before the civil
war frequently causes the individual
70 form the impression that all resi-
oeECeS constructed at that time were
built Of the same materials and repre-
sented the same degree of workmanship.
Heirloom furniture IS poor criterion
Of the household articles used few
generations ago and the same Is true
Of the colonial mansions now standing
with TespeC- 10 the construction of the
aVerage house which our forefaJhers
There is Just this difference Netween
the. quality OF the houses built then
and now
Fifty OF 100 years hence one wifi not
have 70 look for the other ess of the
dwellings at present being constructed
ms VIII be standing, unless burned or
removed DUTpOseIy- There practically Is
no limit 10 their duTabiIitv
primarily the reason for the greater
durability Of the houses Of the present
building era IS 10 be found IN the en-
actment Of strict building regulations
These regulations forced \ RESPONSE M
The mechanics skill and the inventors
genius n order TO keep prices within
reach Of the average hOme-buyer-
Modern Houses Best
The result, II may be said safely has
been 10 produce a mOderne-priced house
one costing S+oo1. for instance-which
should last longer and affords greater
comfort and facilities than Hhe 5000
house Of quarter Of a century ago
The bulk of the building regulations
applying IN the District have been en-
acted during the past ten years. When
ngitder commences an operation ne
80 % iaLLllilaE with requirements
NL-Ci are set forth IN 80 pages of
closely Iypwrltten matter OF else r1Tn
fle risk OF being prosecuted for falling
20 comply with the regulations These
II 1902 -l- p'S77
The proposition is apparent upon its
-eCs Snat houses built in conformity
ElIh Such regulations should be more
durable than those built a few wears
ago when rheEe were 10 regulations
worth speaking Of And one ma So
foundation I'd i-
IN TACT foundation requirements are
Iee1. -ooee1 upon as probably the most i'm
tItLeIL features OF the regulations No
Duiolng Is exempt from having a ce-
inent foundation and, II is largely he
stuSe o. TINS that practically no limit
being built. '''7 muses. no"
Not only were the structures Of The
lH-.JS7le IN IsS7l,lle noI required TO have any
particular kind Of foundation. which
iargely accounts for their not being
lasgng. but they could he coDS1ruCfed
WallS OF any thickness desired
walls between houses were mot more
Lssn touT inches thick. 10 say nothing
a. he thlckneSs OF partitions T-ndeT
llLs present regulations no three-storv
rouse can Be erected with walls Of Tss-
llian TnlTteeD-iuch thickness - -
i.tE > required OF JWO-stUry houses uD
20 Ine nrSt floor iOiSts ~
While foundations and vva1I--7-...r-
--So1-s7-,i.z.- Ls.-ect me most important I'M
ilouSer number of local h71{Tders a..
SLOWING a preference for the sfeai-r,117
StrUcted dwelling. which can ba T,-7f 80,
LoL a comparatively small additional
culIay. mus Il IS possible to place q
rouse on the market which has a Cr,,,.-,-
IoIlddIlon, steel structure work md is
cunt or brick. and sell it at a profiG AT
me lTtc6 winch houses Of the same siza
OUT possessing neither OF the Fas+1,,-+.
ne lIeIilOhed' commanded a few years
Floors Are Better.
Outside Of the structural inproza-
Ihents referred 20 the moderate-priced
house today, practically vvitho11r e,-oe7,-
ton. Is equipped with hardwood f7o,r-z
whereas residences Of the Older C1ss-
seldom could boast Of hardwood. and
were considered above the average
when trimmed with oak Then. metal
laths have been substituted for wooden
Cnes, which prevents plasterine from
falling to any extent galvanized iron
suffers with an average life or from
fifteen 10 twenty years have been r,7sr
in the place Of tin ones. and new Rnd
more durable plumbing and fixtures OF
every kind have been installed. bring
ing more than the COnveniences OF the
old colonial mansion TO the use OF the
average wage-earneT Of today
Thus may be seen the reason thar
the advance in the art in constructing
houses has not been kept pace with by-
the publics appreciation
While the proposition seems absurd
there appears 20 be no way 10 account
for II except that the excellence of the
new has not diSpeIled the sentiment