Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-12
PUNISH V|OLATORS
OF D. c. RULING ON
WOODEN GARAGES
Police Begin Enforcement of
Law to Guard Against
Fire.

Fines are being imposed in the
Police Court upon persons residing
within the fire limits of the District
who have been using shed. stable
or any other wooden structure for
storing motor cars More than ten
persons have been convicted in the
court In the past two days.
It has been only in the past few
days that the enforcement of the
building regulation has been taken
up. Assistant Corporation Counsel F.
w. Hill, jr., in charge of the prose-
cutions at the Police Court, said it is
evident that many residents of the
District are unfamiliar with an
amendment to the building law.
which became effective February 10
last, This amendment states as fol-
lows:
Text of Amendment.
within the fire limits no wooden
building or shed shall be erected for,
nor converted to the use of, a stable,
work shop of any kind. or used for
the storage or he keeping Of any
steam or motor driven vehicle"
The amendment does not apply to
chicken or dog houses.
Mr.. Hill said he thinks the mis-
is that they think the regulation ap-
plies only to buildings erected after
the amendment became effective.
This. however, he said, is not the
case. And wooden building, no mat
ter when erected, is affected by the
new regulation.
Give Owners Plenty of Time.
The police have been notifying
many owners of such buildings of
their violation of the law. Although
such notices are being issued, it was
stated by the police authorities, it is
not their intention to be unreasonable
in the matter, as they realize the
work of changing approximately 500
such structures cannot be done in a
few days. They believe immediate
enforcement of the law would re-
quire many cars to be parked in the
open at night, possibly for an in
definite period. and it is not their de-
sire to compel such compliance.
Wooden Garages DanEerous.
It recently came to the notice of the
building inspector that many frame
structures within the fire limits were
being used as garages. and deeming
it was decided to direct strict en-
forcement Of the regulators provisions.
Maj. Gessford, superintendent of po-
lice, responding to request for as
sistance, is having members of his
command report the locations of all
lice reporting their locations, but
they also are directing owners to
fireproof their structures or replace
them with such buildings, giving suf-
f1cient time for the changes to be
made.
have not all been submitted to Maj.
Gessford. 1t is thought, however, that
the number of buildings being used
in this alleged violation of law will
total about 500.
The fire limits set out in the build
ing regulations. are as follows:
Fire Limits OF d. c.
"All that portion of the following
bounds is hereby established as the
fire limits for the District of Colum-
bia, and within these bounds no
enlarged or removed. except as here
matter provided for: From Florida
avenue and 18th street east on 18th
street to Potomac avenue, Potomac
avenue to 11th street east, 11th street
east to o street south. street south
to 9Th street. 9Th street east to NJ
street south, M street south to west
bank of James0creek, James creek to
P street south. P street south to
Water street. Water street to west
curb line of 36th street. thence along
36th street to north curb line of NJ
street, along NJ street to west
curb line of 37th street to
north curb line of P street.
thence along north curb line of P
street to west curb line of 35th. street.
thence following said west curb of
35th street to the north curb line of
r street, thence easterwardly along the
north curb line of r street to 2Sth
street, 2Sth street to @ street, q
street to Mill road. Mill road to Rock
creek, Rock creek to point where
Ontario avenue intersects the eastern
line of Geological Park, thence north
wardly along the eastern line of Zoo
logical Park and Rock Greek eHurch
to Rock Creek Church road. thence on
Rock Creek Church road to Soldie RS
Home grounds at Park place, thence
and eastwardly on west
line of Soldiers Home grounds to
Michigan avenue to west curb lin1 of
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