The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-01-10
URGES CHANGES IN THE LAW
Inspector Albers Finds Many Changes
Needed to Make Building Code What
It Should Be - August Leads in
Number of Building Permits.


year 1917. This was shown in the
annual report of the building inspector,
j. M. Albers, which has been fled with
the city clerk and the Common Council.
April was the busiest month for the
building inspection department and
during that month total of ninety
five permits were issued. The fact
that winter building is popular in Ke-
nosha was shown by the fact that
twenty-four permits were issued dur
ing the month of December. A total
of seven hundred forty-six permits
were issued during the year.
Here is the record of the build
ings for which permits we're issued
during the year:
Eighty-seven frame residences were
built, costing $212,14O; an average of
$2,438.55 each.
Nine brick residences were built,
costing $35,200; an average of
$3,907.00 each.
Nine frame two-family flats were
built, costing $33,4OO; an average of
Po,dUIsOu SdCh"
six brick stores and one flat were
built, costing $4,000; an average of
4,383O0 each.
Four brick stores and two fats were
built, costing $4,000; an average of
$l1,25000 each.
One brick public garage was built,
costing $7,500.00.
-Four brick private garages were
built, costing $4,000; an average of
$l,82500 each.
One hundred and seventeen frame
private garages were built, costing
$16,9660O; an average of $4,000 each.
Ten frame store buildings were
built, costing $4,985.00; an average
of $49350 each.
Two hundred and seventeen heating
plants were installed, costing $47, 297 +;
an average of $217.94 each,
One brick two-family fat was built,
costing $5,000Q0.
The financial report of the depart
ment showed that it was self sustaining
as the total receipts were $3,703.60.
Inspector Albers made several sug-
gestions for the improvement of
the building code of the city. In
this regard he says:
'FThe work of the department. has
been facilitated to large extent by
the cooperation of the builders and
contractors There has been very
little opposition, and this we have
always been able to overcome with
out recourse to law.
AS the year has gone by, observa-
ton of the workings of our building
code compels me to recommend that
the following revisiens be made in
its requirements:
(a)-That the allowable span of
joists be shortened.
(b)-That all chimneys be either
lined with tile or constructed with an
eight inch wall, allowing no plastering
with cement mortar or fine clay.
(c)-That in one story cottages OF
bungaloes, the ceiling joists be in.
creased to 2xS.
(d)-That all electricians in the
city be licensed.
(e)-That steps be taken toward the
drafting and passage of housing law
to be part of the building ordinance
(f)--In accord with the fire depart
ment, l would recommend that the
building requirements in the~fre dis
trict be strengthened, its limits extend
ed and additional fire districts be
established.
In regard to the distribution of new
work in 1917, fifty per cent of the
total number Of new buildings were
erected in the area south of Prairie
avenue and west of the Chicago and
Northwestern Railway tracks; sixteen
and one-half per cent were south OF
Prairie avenue and east of the tracks;
fourteen and one-quarter per cent
north of Prairie avenue and south Of
Grand avenue, and nineteen and one
quarter per cent were north of Grand
avenue.
Under the head Of alterations and
repairs, it is a source of great satisfac
tion that, from the standpoint of pub
lie safety, several Of our theatres have
been greatly improved.