The Washington times., 1912-09-06
SCHOOL REPAIRS
CANNOT Be READY
FOR FALL SESSION
Municipal Architect Ashford
Blames Delay in Pass
ing Appropriation.

AS a result of delay in the passage of
the District appropriation BILL repairs
on school buildings could not be started
before July /, and will not be completed
by the time the session begins in Sep
tember, according to the annual report
of Snowden Ashford, Municipal Archi-
tect, submitted to the Commissioners
today. .
Last year and the year before the
appropriations were made Immediately
available. AS result much valuable
time was saved, says Mr.. Ashford by
beginning repairs Immediately after the
schools closed. This year II was i'm
possible to ascertain until June 26 what
funds would be available, and materials
were not ordered until after that date.
"The superintendent of repairs, Henry
Storey, reports that materials ordered
about July / had not been received six
weeks later" says the report. This ap-
pears to be an unreasonable delay, and
no doubt will result in criticism IL re-
pars are behind this. fall.
1T seems that this matter is Of
enough Importance to call for the adop-
ton of some means for obtaining, the
materials within l. rea asonable time, as
the delay affects the whole organization
of the repair shop. Mechanics are en-
ployed on the assumption that materials
will be delivered in time for the work
and the janitors and caretakers in the
annual house-cleaning until the repairs
are completed, so that the whole system
is upset by delay in the delivery of ma
terials."
repairs is set forth in the annual report
of the superintendent of repairs which
accompanies that Of the municipal
'.The demand for repairs is constantly
growing, as the number of buildings in
creases, yet the amount appropriated
for their repair is practically the same
each year" says Mr. Storey This
problem that confronts this office as to
the expenditure of funds satisfactorily
to all concerned
During the last year about Is per
cent of the appropriations for repairs to
school buildings was spent on heating
apparatus alone. During the coming
fiscal year 1t will be necessary to use
much larger amount to replace brok-
en- and worn out parts Of furnaces. In
addition to this several of the larger
Neating plants must be completely re-
novated and some of the older ones
will have to be replaced.
"Some of the plants now IN use have
deteriorated so much from age aud are
In need of such constant and thorough
repairs that, in ny opinion. 1t would
be considerably. cheaper If they We're
to the Fact that the appropriations are
too small to meet the demands. For
this reason I recommend that Congress
be importuned to make an appropria-
ton to care for this important Item
Building Cost Less Here.
The cost of the school buildings per
cubic foot in Washington is less than
that of buildings of the same class in
other cities, according to- thu report Of
the muni 2ipal architect. The average
cost of the school buildings constructed
during the last year was 1914 cents pei
cubic foot while the school buildings
Of st. Louis and Boston. which are the
nearest to ours in comparison If ma
terials of construction, averaged 10 and
% cents per cubic foot, respectively.
Recommendation is made by the
Municipal Architect that provision be
made for the employment of several ad-
ditiona foremen. At present there are
only six boss mechanics, and at times
they have supervision over nearly 800
men, who are working simultaneously
on over 100 buildings. 1t is recon-
mended also that in the District appro-
priation bill appropriations for repairs
to school buildings be made immedi-
ately available so that work can begin
the day following the close Of the ses-
sion.