could be kept on hand for emergency repairs. But the legal requirements, compelling competition, prohibit this arrangement and afford the Government officials little or no discretion in the selection of apparatus of this kind, being confined to the acceptance of the lowest responsible bid to a great extent. An effort was made about four years ago to adopt a type of architecture most suitable for schoolhouse work and another type suitable for engine houses. This step was taken with a view to standardize the size of windows and door openings, but recently the Commission of Fine Arts has recommended changes in the type or style of architecture. This again interferes with the idea of standardization, but notwithstanding these difficulties the theory will be put into practice as much as possible, reserving the right to make improvements on previous plans and changes in the method of construction or in the materials used where experience indicates that improvements or changes should be made. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION. The office has been in operation for three years, and since its organization in July, 1909, but three additional men have been employed on the annual toll, viz: One, as heating, ventilating, and sanitary engineer, one as superintendent of construction, and one as draftsman. During the fiscal year 1910 the cost of the buildings under construction, as shown by the annual report, amounted to $920,714. In the fiscal year 1911 the buildings under construction cost $917,890. For the fiscal year 1912 buildings under construction cost $1,190,834, but as the period of construction on four of these buildings will extend into the fiscal year 1913, the following deduction is made from the total cost for the year 1912, viz: Normal School No. 162, three months in 1913, or one-fourth deduction in cost ($61,350); the pound, two months, or one-sixth off ($1,590); School No. 172, three months, or one-fourth off ($9,990), and the streetcleaning stable northwest, will run into 1913 four months, or one-third off ($13,667), leaving the cost of buildings for the year 1912 $1,104,237, making the yearly average cost of buildings for the three years $980,947, which is exclusive of minor improvements and cost of repairs. YEARLY EXPENSE; PERSONAL SERVICES. Draftsmen, inspectors, and copyists (on per diem basis) on pay roll of office... Annual pay roll of office. Commission to architects.... Total...... $17, 607.75 12,000.00 29, 607. 75 4,362. 94 33, 970. 69 1. 79 3. 02 Costs of inspection, copyists, etc., on the basis of the yearly average cost of new buildings and additions, for the three years mentioned..per cent.. Cost of inspection, copyists, etc., and including the annual pay roll, for draftsmen and all other salaries of office, on the same basis.. per cent.. Percentage of entire cost, including inspection, copyists, draftsmen, annual pay roll and commissions to architects, on average yearly cost of all buildings. . per cent.. The regular fees to private architects, on the basis of annual cost of buildings, would amount to $58,856.82. The office is therefore run on an economical basis and saves, per year, $24,886.13. 3. 463 The question has been 1aised whether it is worth the difference saved by designing all buildings in this office. It is undoubtedly true that a certain sameness will previal unless an occasional commission is given to an outside architect. On the other hand, the Commission of Fine Arts has suggested uniformity in general design or style of buildings, and has recommended the colonial type for all buildings. BUILDINGS DESIGNED IN OFFICE. In the list of 28 buildings, first given in this report, 20 were designed in this office and 8 were given out to architects. The proportion of buildings given out has decreased yearly since the organization of the office in 1909, and next year it is proposed to give out only one building. IMPROVEMENT IN BUILDINGS AND REPAIRS. The improvement in our municipal buildings and the economical expenditure of the appropriations have been commented upon in the report of the engineer department for the year ending June 30, 1911, and the improvement in heating, ventilation, the general design and construction of such buildings has been referred to in public documents and official reports of the board of education and the chamber of commerce. The results obtained by improved methods of repairing the buildings have also been favorably spoken of, as shown by testimony before the District Committee of the House of Representatives in hearings of July 26, 1912. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF REPAIRS. I have the honor to forward herewith the report of the superintendent of repairs for the year ending June 30, 1912, and respectfully invite attention to the economical administration of his division, as indicated in other parts of this report. Most respectfully submitted. Maj. E. M. MARKHAM, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, SNOWDEN ASHFORD, Municipal Architect, District of Columbia. Assistant to the Engineer Commissioner, District of Columbia. REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF REPAIRS. SIR: I have the honor to forward herewith my annual report of the work done by this office during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1912. The appropriation of $70,000 for repairs and improvements to school buildings and grounds, heating apparatus, etc., was not sufficient to make repairs necessary to properly preserve the school buildings. Every effort has been made to make repairs to the buildings where most needed to keep them from deteriorating. The demands for repairs are constantly growing as the number of buildings increases, yet the amount appropriated for their repair is practically the same each year. This condition is responsible for the serious problem that confronts this office as to the expenditure of the funds satisfactorily to all concerned. During the past year about 15 per cent of the appropriation for repairs to school buildings was spent on heating apparatus alone. During the coming fiscal year it will be necessary to use a much larger amount to replace broken and worn-out parts of furnaces, etc. In addition to this, several of the larger heating plants must be completely renovated and some of the older ones will have to be replaced. To do this would require an expenditure of approximately 20 per cent of the total repair fund. It can be readily seen that this greatly depletes the funds out of which much other very important work must be paid for. If the present appropriation of $85,000 for repairs and improvements to school buildings and grounds, for repairing and renewing heating and ventilating apparatus, and repairs to plumbing, etc., was available for use for repairs and improvements to buildings and grounds, etc., and an additional amount be appropriated sufficient to care for the heating plants, much better results in all directions could be obtained. Some of the plants now in use have already deteriorated so much from age and are in need of such constant and thorough repairs that, in my opinion, it would be considerably cheaper if they were replaced, yet this is an impossibility owing to the fact that the appropriations are already entirely too small to meet the demands. For this reason I earnestly recommend that Congress be importuned to make an appropriation to care for this very important item. Appropriations aggregating $185,000 have been made by Congress for the purpose of providing fire protection to school buildings. This amount has been expended in replacing wooden stairways in brick buildings with those of fireproof construction, the removal of old and unsuitable fire ladders and fire escapes, improving exits, fireproofing heating apparatus, alterations to heat and vent flues, fireproofing corridors, construction of fireproof storage for fuel and ashes, and the purchase and erection of fire extinguishers and fire alarms. At present practically all of the work of this character has been accomplished, the exception being the fireproofing of the secondfloor corridors in several of the schools, and I consider the school buildings of this city in a safe condition if properly used and cared for. In my estimates for 1914 I am again requesting that the amounts of the several appropriations under my charge be increased. The number of buildings, repairs, and improvements which I am called upon to care for are constantly growing, and it is utterly impossible to perform this additional work year after year for practically the same amount. The additional small sums granted by Congress in the past have been entirely inadequate to render the services demanded. It should be remembered that there is, on present estimated values, about $11,000,000 invested in school buildings, grounds, and equipments, and, allowing 1 per cent for repairs, would equal $110,000 per year. I would respectfully invite your attention to my report of last year wherein is shown the percentage of rentals allowed by private corporations for the repair and upkeep of their property. It is well known that school buildings are subjected to hard use and should therefore be allowed a greater amount for repairs than private buildings. I would also invite your attention to the floor area, breakage of glass, and resurfacing of blackboards, in my last year's report. These items draw heavily upon the appropriation and are of such a nature as to make their repair imperative. In accordance with recommendations of the health officer, sanitary drinking fountains are being installed as rapidly as possible, the old drinking cup having been pronounced insanitary, and is, theoretically, dangerous. I would respectfully renew my recommendation of last year that Congress be asked to make all appropriations used by this office, especially those for repairs to school buildings, immediately available. This will enable me to commence the repair work on school buildings the day following the closing of school. The majority of the repairs are to the interior of the classrooms, such as the repair of windows, floors, etc., and when the appropriations become available July 1 it is practically impossible to purchase material and have it delivered to the buildings and secure a sufficient force of mechanics to complete the work before the opening of the fall session of school. This condition also refers to the heating apparatus which are required to be in operation by the opening of school, as it is difficult to work on these plants during school hours. By this arrangement, also, the foremen can be in closer touch with their men and secure a better class of work economically. During the year fire occurred in the following buildings, and the damage repaired at a cost as follows: December 27, 1911, Wallach School, $41.22; January 11, 1912, Brightwood School, $1,557.41. Following is a detailed statement of the work done under my supervision. Respectfully, The MUNICIPAL ARCHITECT. HENRY STOREY, Superintendent of Repairs, District of Columbia. Public schools, District of Columbia, 1911–12, repairs to buildings, heating apparatus, etc. |