The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-31
Would Have Them Placed in
T.,
Office of City
Chemist
FORECAST INDICATES
BUILDING PROSPERITY
Total Value for Year Passes
IS, 10000 Mark-lm- i.
portant Recommends
tons by Mr.. Beck

As far a. building operations
are concerned the city Of Rich
rnond is closing the most remark
able and prosperous year I'm 1T
history. The buildings construct
I'd this year are better and big
ger. and represent tho most
modern ideas of architecture My
report now being drawn UP will
show that permits were issued for
buildings aggrcgating n construc-
ton cost Of over S4,O00.O 900.
This is an increase of abDtt $500
900 over the total of last year.
The total value of the 1910 build
fng>. however. is over $4,000. 900.
their actual cost being about
twent, five per cent. higher than
that called for in the permits.
HENRY r. BkGk,
City building Inspector.
The annual report OF the building
inspector is being completed, ana
though 1t is impossible Ia procure at
this time all the totals Mr.. Beck Sat
urday morning gave ont general
forecast of the report which indicates
in no uncertain terms the growth OF
the city during the last twelve months.
According to the books, as the totals
show up to TINS date. permits for
yearly three aundred brick dwellings
and tor ove~ two hundred frame
dwellings, were issued. Plans are now
in the hands of the inspector Tor
several other buildings and 1T is prob
able that thu permits for their con-
struction viii be granted before the
Office closes Iur the year
growth and development in practi-
caiiy every Fart Of the city, but par
tieGlarly in the West End where
scores II New homes have been built
and where Almost as many are now
in course oil construction.
Not alone has progress been shown
IN tine dwelling permits. however.
for a NUM- her OF certificates We're is
sued authorizing the construction Of
business houses which viii be No small
factor IN the commercial life and ac-
confined for the most part TO Broad
street, though large stores have been
put up in other parts of the city.
Recommendations.
Accompanying his statistical report
Inspector Beck Will submit to Mayor
Richardson u written account OF the
work OF the office for the year. This
report MIR. Beck il now formulating.
and in it he will recommend sew
eral innovations. which, Ii adopted, the
inspector declares, will add immensely
to the efficiency of his Office.
Among these viii he the recommen-
datton 10 have the city chemists of
flee made an adjunct To the building
inspectors office: not subordinate,
however, but coordinate. He wishes
to have the chemists office equipped
with machinery for testing building
materials. Such tests should be ply
sicaIiy made, the report will show. and
unless they are made with machines
no one can positively tell the quality
of the material entering into the con-
struction of any building.
Unlike the reports of many city and
State departments. that of the build
ing inspector is not expected to ask
for doubled appropriations and a dou-
hled office force. The report will show
that the work has increased enormous
~ during the year. and many times
the inspector has been serious handi-
capped because of the lack of equip
ment, but the statement will also point
out that With the necessary machin-
cry installed in the Office of the city
chemis. the building inspector will be
able to run his Office without addi-
tionaI force. thank YOU and will he
able TO maintain it's present efficiency.
Reference will also he made by the
inspector to the campaign recently in
angurated by him for fire escapes, and
the report will show that these es-
capes, as we'll as fireproof stairs. lad
ders and balconies have been installed
within the year TO such an extent that
but little fear or trouble in case of
FIRE is now anticipated.