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

There are estimated to be 56.O52 brick
buildings and 25, 1874 frame buildings.
This is an increase during the year of
1, S07 brick buildings and 4S6 frame build
ings.
BY reason of the general decrease ia
building operations the total amount re
ceived In fees was $50. 1854 40. as COM
pared with $34,474S2 collected for fees
during the previous year. The expenses
of the building inspectors office amount
ed to $31 ,323. IS. SO that the fees collected
were about 81 900 less than the cost ot
running the Office. 1t is not recommopd-
ed, however. that any Increase be made
in the schedule of fees. as In the year
previous the fees collected exceeded the
expenses of the office by about S5,2U
and il is believed that the fees in the
fiscal year 1912 will considerably eN-
coed the appropriation for the buiidin=
Office made for that year.
During the year there has been an in
crease in the number and, size In the
buildings of fireproof construction, par
| ticularly hotels. theaters and office build
ings While the number OF apartment
houses and dwellings has not shown the
same ratio Of increase, the character 81
construction has improved, particularly
in the adoption OF freproof construction
in apartment houses.
Fire Escapes.
One inspector in the building Office is
terms Of the law requiring the erection
of fire escapes. He visited apartment
houses, theaters. hotels and business
buildings to the number OF 2.420. and
served notices to erect fire escapes to th,.s
number of 639: 235 fire escapes were
erected. and action to require the cree
ton OF others was taken; ii cases were
prosecuted in the Police Court.
Elevators.
The elevators in the District OF Column
bia are inspected by two inspectors undo
the direction of the Inspector Of building
The total number OF elevators installed
during the year was 132. These inspect
ors report that the elevators have been
found generally free from defectivc
mechanism, and whenever they were
found unsafe they have been promptlN
repaired. No accidents or loss Of life du,
to defective elevators occurred during TIE
year. though three persons were injured
through personal care.essness.
While there Is no ob.igat on placed By
law on the Commissioners to inspect TIE
elevators in buildings owned or occupied
by the United States government in
were made upon the request of the heads
of executive departments, which vas all
Increase Of seventy-four over the re-
quests for the preceding year.
elevator permits was 81 for each permit.
On that date the fee was ra.std to SIS
per elevator. and the revenue fom this
source during the year amountet to $3.50.
Elevator Operators,
Under date OF February L. 1911, the.
regulations regarding the operation Of
elevators were amended so as TO require
the examination Of elevator operators.
The examining board consists OF the two
inspectors of elevators and tie inspector
for the board for the Condemnation
Of insanitary buildings. fee OF 30 cent?
IS charged for an operators permit {. Dur
ing the year 7O4 applicants We're licensed
and fifty-four failed to obtain licenses.
The result Of this examination and licens-
Ing has been an increased efficiency in
elevator operators. The revenue received
from this source amounted to $50 for the
four months, February to June inclusive,
and IL is estimated that the annual in
come from this source will Approximate
Ii COO per year. The members Of the
board Of examiners receive NJ additional
for their work.
inspection Of Private Buildings
All private building construction in the
District of Columbia IL inspected under
the direction Of the inspector Il buildings.