Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-05

and ~ in alleys, and of those repaired
142 were on streets and II In alleys.
The total number Of buildings ex
amined by the board since Its creation
on May i. 1906, to June 80. 1911. wa'
2,1S9, of which 1,185 were demolished
and $50 repaired: Of those demolished
$40 were on streets and 375 In alleys
and of those repaired 571 were OF
streets and 316 in alleys. AT the Close
of the year there were 118 cases pend
ing. of which 70 were on streets ant
46 in alleys.
The number of tenants in street:
and alleys required to secure othel
through the year is estimated at COS
| the total number since the creation OF
|, the board is estimated at $3.50.
! The estimated number Oh tenants ir
streets and alleys benefited by repairs
during the year was 7S2, and the tota
3,21S.
| The assessed valuation of improve.
ments removed in alleys during the year
was 81, and in streets. $500. his
does not include the value of the land.
| The removal of insanitary buildings
has been accomplished with the coop
| Grafton of owners and agents, and our
| ing the year 1t has not been necessary
for the board to demolish any structures
through the refusal or neglect OF the
owners to comply with its orders.
One Of the subjects to which the board
is giving much consideration Is the con-
version OF certain alleys into interior
parks and Fairgrounds. AS the result of
it's investigation Congress appropriated
last year the sum of $4,000 to convert
Willow Tree alley In square 54 into a
playground and recreation center, and
condemnation proceedings are now In
progress to accomplish this result. An
other alley which should receive similar
treatment IS Goat alley, located in square
40. between 9Th and 7th. /. and NJ streets
northwest. This is one of the large in
habited alleys. and contains forty-two
brick and frame structures. providing
living quarters for eleven white and DAB
colored inhabitants. The buildings in
this alley generally are Of such char
acter that they cannot be condemned UNI
der the law. The cost of converting this
alley into an interior park Is estimated
The work of the board during the year
has been of great value In Kidding the
city of an undesirable class Of houses.
Plumbing and Plumbing Inspection.
During the year the plumbing office
made 46.OS5 inspections, an increase Of
1,OS2 over the number made in the pre-
vious year.
There were seventy-fve cases handled
by the inspector of plumbing under the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES act. This act re-
quires that the District of Columbia in
the failure of the owner to do so, after
notice: the cost of the work is assessed
against the property. In these cases the
District was required to install plumbing
in eight premises, and the work was
done by the owner In twenty-eight
premises. The other cases are still pend
ing.
Plumbing in Public Schools.
The appropriation OF $4,000 for repairs
to and changes in plumbing in the older
school buildings was practically all ex-
pended. In four buildings the plumbing
was entirely remodeled at cost of $15.-
1O2O5, and minor repairs and changes
were made in sixteen school buildings at
total cost of $1O,3S7.O6. OF the appro-
priatiOn $11. sos. u was allotted to the SUI
perintendent of repairs. for minor plumb
ing work.
Public Convenience Stations.
Three public convenience stations are
now in operation. They are located at
eth street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue and at 9th and K streets north
west. These fill q long-felt municipal
others should be erected. Such stations
located at 9th and F streets. 18th street
and New York avenue, sd and NJ streets
and at the Peace monument would be OF
great advantage to the public. During
the last year the patrons Of the existing
convenience stations numbered approx
mately 2 100000, and the receipts from
the use Of the pay compartments amount
ed to over $2,2OO, an increase of $434 over
that received for the last fiscal year.
Public Baths.
The Commissioners again invite at
tention to the necessity for the estab-
lishment of public bathing places in the
city. Other cities of the size of Wash
ington have such public baths establish
ed, where those who cannot afford bath
ing facilities at their homes may obtain
a bath, either free or at minimum
cost.
Street Lighting.
The following table shows the increase
and decrease In the number of street
lamps during the year: