Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-04
REPAIRS ON SCHOOLS
Municipal Architect Ashford
Reports the Work Half Done.
ECONOMY IN OPERATIONS
Less Cost as Compared With Other
Cities.
BUILDINGS TO BE PUT UP
Plans for Those Appropriated For
Will Be Finished by
October /.
ECONOMY IN OPERATIONS
BUILDINGS TO BE PUT UP

Repairing Of the Districts schools is
half completed, with prospect Of being en-
tirely finished by the opening of the
schools In September. according to the
annual report OF Municipal Architect Ash
ford. submitted to the Commissioners to-
day.
The early date on which the appropria-
ton for repairs became available is given
by MIR. Ashford as the reason for the
progress made. The appropriation was
available March 2. 1911, and before the
close OF the last school year the work had
been laid out and the materials obtained,
the municipal architect states.
Few persons appreciate the magnitude
of the repair work In connection with the
Districts schools, the report asserts
There are more than $50 school buildings
besides eighteen portable schools, in the
District. which contain over 100000 feet
Of floor space, More than 10000 600 is
invested in the buildings
There are nearly 10000 square yards OF
blackboards to be resurfaced and repair
ed, and there are about twenty-four acres
Of roof surfaces which have to be kept IN
repair. Nine miles of roof cutters and
six acres Of window glass are among the
assets of the school buildings, while there
are $500 plumbing fixtures and $500 doors
and locks.
Economy in Operations.
Eight cities comparable with Washing
ton were communicated with. it is stated.
the result being that In all but one. Cleve-
land repairs to school buildings are made
at a higher cost per room and per pupil.
Not only has the repair work been con-
Quoted at q less cost than that incurred
in other cities. but the municipal archi-
tect states that the buildings have been
more economically constructed. This he
attributes to the sharp competition among
local contractors. who, he asserts, have
reduced their profits to a low percentage.
Keenness of Competition.
Mr.. Ashford believes that the local
competition is responsible for the failure
of outside builders to secure any Of the
school contracts Regarding this feature.
he says:
In my fourteen years of experience
in the construction OF District build
ingS during which time moro than
fifty schoolhouses have been construct
ed and at least twenty-five other Dis
trict buildings. / cannot recall more
htan three that have been constructed
by outside contractors, notwithStand-
from builders in many other cities.
The margin Of profit Is SO low on our
buildings that many contractors have,
after repeated efforts, ceased to bid In
competition. but we continue to obtain
from five to fifteen bids on each build
ing"
According to the report, the total
expense of the municipal architects
office last year was s35.1S6.09. which
included cost Of inspection. pay Of
4 oyr,}c oil 0TNhifRnfG
and salaries of Office force. Tho ex-
pense was 3.83 per cent of tho cost
Of the buildings erected, the amount OF
the latter being $917,890, which does
not include an expenditure of $4,000
for repairs.
Plans for New Buildings.
The municipal architect announces
that the plans for the buildings now
appropriated for, including engine
houses and police stations. will be fin
ished by October /, after which he
expects to take up the plans Of one
of the high schools He recommends
that in order to expedite the con-
architect Of long experience and ac-
knowledged ability in schoolhouse work
be employed to assist in the prepare
ton Of the plans.
Z twenty-five buildings and additions
Sfiave been under construction during the
year. OF this number it Is stated that
the eight-room building, No. 163. on Far
ragut street between 18th and 14th streets
northwest, will be completed November
Z; the Manual Training School, NO. 164,
Wisconsin avenue and 33d street north
west, September q; the twelve-roofh
building, No. 1866 Randle Highlands, Oc-
tober IS; the six-room building, No. 167,
Ivy City, September 13; Manual Training
School No. 16s. LIST and 1 streets south
west. September "a: Normal School No.
1S2 nth and Harvard streets northwest,
July 13, 1912: eight-room building. No.
1876, Randle Highlands. March 49, 1912.
and Armstrong Manual Training School
addition, on P street between LIST and Sd
Tar II 1919