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 PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
Minister of Public Works
REPORT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
1955-56
VICTORIA, B.C.
Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
1956  To His Honour Frank Mackenzie Ross, C.M.G., M.C.,
Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia.
May it please Your Honour:
Herewith 1 beg respectfully to submit the Annual Report of the Department of Public
Works for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 1956, in compliance with the provisions of
the " Public Works Act."
W. N. CHANT,
Minister of Public Works.
Office of the Minister of Public Works,
Parliament Buildings,
October 9th, 1956.  Os
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^<5i  PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
REPORT OF DEPUTY MINISTER
Douglas Building,
Victoria, B.C., October 9th, 1956.
The Honourable W. N. Chant,
Minister of Public Works,
Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C.
Sir,—I herewith submit, for your approval and consideration, the first annual report
on the progress and activities of the Department for the fiscal year 1955-56.
Commencing on April 1st, 1955, the beginning of the fiscal year, the new Department of Public Works was formed, consisting of the Architectural Branch, Boiler Inspection Division, Electrical Energy Inspection Division, and Gas Inspection Division, which
had originally been branches of the former Department of Public Works, now called the
Department of Highways.
An organizational chart of the Department, as of March 31st, 1956, is included in
this Report, and from it will be seen that the Departmental Comptroller's Branch, Personnel Branch, and Chief Clerk's Branch (filing and mail) are shared jointly by both this
Department and the Department of Highways.
The other branches and divisions consist of the Architectural, Maintenance, Structural Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, responsible for design, construction,
maintenance, and operation of Government buildings generally; Telephones, responsible
for telephone traffic; and the Boiler Inspection, Electrical Energy Inspection, and Gas
Inspection Divisions, responsible for the administration of their respective Acts.
Generally speaking, good progress was made by the Department in carrying out the
extensive building, maintenance, and inspection programme with which it was faced, as
will be seen by studying the reports from the various branches hereinafter included.
C. D. Campbell,
Deputy Minister and Chief Architect.
REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF ARCHITECT
Satisfactory progress was made with the building programme during the fiscal year
1955-56. Several major projects under construction last year have been completed, and
plans and specifications are nearing completion for several projects to be tendered early
in the coming fiscal year.
A total of 147 building and mechanical projects were completed or undertaken
during the fiscal year 1955-56, at a total expenditure of $5,985,362. The more important
of the projects which were completed are as follows:—
7
3 M 8
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56 REPORT    OF THE ASSISTANT CHIEF ARCHITECT
Major Projects Completed
M 9
Location
Building
Total Cost
$889,244.00
45,082.00
254,506.00
203,903.00
66,677.00
210,285.00
24,182.00
169,741.00
453,455.00
59,611.00
45,785.00
39,145.00
125,682.00
1,605,737.00
53,864.00
24,259.00
195,689.00
Essondale	
Kamloops	
Oakalla  ____	
Some of the larger and more important projects which were under construction at
the end of the fiscal year 1955-56 are as follows:—
Major Projects under Construction
Project
Location
Percentage
Completed
Building
I
Estimated
Total Cost
5-B-48
5-B-82
123-B
123-B
206-B
202-B
5-B-53
79-B-l
79-B-l
7-B-21
Essondale	
Essondale 	
Haney 	
Haney _
Kamloops	
Nanaimo	
Port Coquitlam ...
Vancouver 	
Vancouver 	
New Westminster
50
50
44
5
28
20
1
73
14
75
Construction of reservoir  	
New water-line - „ 	
B.C. Correctional Institution _   	
B.C. Correctional Institution, laundry and boiler-house .
Addition to Land Registry Office _	
New wing to Court-house	
300-bed Home for the Aged  „	
Deaf and Blind School, new unit (dormitory).
Deaf and Blind School, recreational unit	
300-bed unit, Woodlands School	
$25,790.00
34,122.00
2,484,326.00
243,363.00
37,599.00
285,876.00
1,897,195.00
742,190.00
1,529,758.00
f
In addition to the aforementioned projects, there are a number of larger projects
which are in an advanced stage of planning and will be ready to let for tender early in the
coming fiscal year.   These are as follows:—
Location
Project
Estimated Cost
$25,000.00
145,000.00
1,000,000.00
325,000.00
250,000.00
70,000.00
1,600,000.00
Kamloops   - - -
Kamloops-  -	
1,400,000.00
160,000.00
It is noted from the figures quoted above that this branch of the Department is
showing a steady increase in the volume of work done each fiscal year, and I can see no
decline in this volume of steady increase in the immediate future.
E. Totty,
Assistant Chief Architect. M 10
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,   1955-56
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PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT
The Architects' Branch of the Department of Public Works prepared plans for a
number of projects during the fiscal year 1956-57 which are listed in detail elsewhere
in the Report.
The architectural planning of all projects was carried out under the direction of
the Deputy Minister and Chief Architect, with a staff which averaged, during the year,
eighteen members. This staff was divided among eight architects, six draughtsmen,
two specification-writers, one town-planner, and one landscape architect.
Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the services of well-qualified
personnel to replace staff who have, from time to time, left the Department. An effort
has been made to create job teams for major projects, and this has largely been successful, except where, due to the exigencies of production, staff have had to be taken off
one job to expedite completion of another by a scheduled date-line. The scope of the
Department does not permit the establishment of permanent teams.
The general standard of production and draughting has shown very noticeable
improvement during the past fiscal year, and considerable time and study have been
spent in investigating new building products and construction methods. While the
majority of buildings of a permanent character have been designed in reinforced concrete, frame construction is still widely used for smaller buildings, particularly those of
a more temporary nature and those requiring substantial revision at a later date.
The branch of the Department engaged in specification-writing has been actively
engaged, apart from its routine work, in material research, checking drawings, and revising important specification clauses to facilitate a single, clear interpretation.
Co-operation has been well maintained with other Government departments in
successfully handling the early planning stages of large projects. Committees have been
established to co-ordinate all phases of development in the preliminary stages. It is
frequently insufficiently appreciated that the planning of a large building, such as a hospital, requires not only very considerable discussion in the sketch-plan stage, but months
of co-ordinated planning and draughting in close liaison with the mechanical, structural,
and electrical branches of the Department.
The complex work of selecting equipment, either to be included in the contract or
subsequently to be requisitioned through the Purchasing Commission, forms, in a building of major proportions, a very important facet of the project, entailing considerable
research and time.
The more important of projects planned in the fiscal year 1956-57 were the new
unit for the Deaf and Blind School, Vancouver; the Girls' Industrial School, Burnaby;
the 100-bed Nurses' Home and Training Centre, Essondale; the 300-bed Home for
the Aged, Port Coquitlam; and the auditorium at The Woodlands School, New Westminster.
It may be stated that a good spirit of loyalty and keenness has been evidenced by
all personnel, and that the work was carried out with a high degree of efficiency.
W. R. H. Curtis,
Supervising Architect.
REPORT OF THE MAINTENANCE ARCHITECT
The total expenditure for the maintenance of Government buildings throughout
the Province was $1,876,877.58; this total includes expenditures on Court-houses, institutions, residences, laboratories, clinics, gaols, R.C.M.P. detachments, and sundry
buildings. REPORT OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER M 13
Continued progress is being made in this section's policy of keeping the maintenance of Government buildings in the Province up to a desired standard. In addition
to the normal maintenance, the policy of renovation and modernization is being continued where required and practical. Frequent inspection trips are carried out, with
every building in the Province being visited at least once in the last year, and many of
them on numerous other occasions. These inspection trips allow the writer to keep a
close check on work done by contract, and to keep in touch with the needs and requirements of the many Government departments. These trips have been found most beneficial as the buildings are now being kept in a better over-all condition than has been
previously possible.
This department is now working in close co-operation with the Government Agents
in each locality. We have found that the Government Agent is usually in a better
position to look after the needs of the building, and we are now directing all matters
that pertain to the maintenance of Court-houses and Government buildings through
them. The District Engineers of the Department of Highways still act as our representatives for all buildings where there is no Government Agent available, and they
have been most helpful in acting as advisers to the Government Agents on technical
matters.
E. C. Clarkson,
Maintenance Architect.
REPORT OF THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER
In general, the Mechanical Section of the Chief Architect's office experienced an
extremely busy year. It was found necessary to send out many of the larger capital
projects to consulting engineers in order to keep abreast of the year's programme. Close
liaison by the Section between the consultants retained and the Department's architectural staff allowed these projects to proceed to completion with a minimum of on-the-
site difficulties.
During the year it was noted that there had been a considerable increase in the
requests for more fully ventilated spaces, and especially so in the institutional buildings.
The removal of obnoxious odours and foul air adds materially to the comfort of the
patients and staff alike.
In the Interior of the Province, where the summer temperatures might reach extremes
of 110° F. in the shade, a number of summer air-coolers were installed. The success
of these units indicated that more summer cooling must be considered.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
Most of the capital projects are dealt with in other sections of this Report. It is
sufficient here to mention that the Mechanical Section has worked in close co-operation
with the Architectural, Structural, and Electrical Sections to provide the necessary
building services as unobtrusively as possible, and yet consistent with good practice.
There are, however, a few major projects which were handled solely by the Mechanical Branch, such, as new boiler and piping, Provincial Home, Kamloops; water and
sewage-disposal system, Terrace; underground steam-lines to 300-bed unit, The Woodlands School; and turbo-generator installation at the Vancouver Poliomyelitis Pavilion.
This latter turbo-generator installation is a somewhat unusual project, in that this turbogenerator set supplies the primary electrical power for the poliomyelitis wards, with the
utility company's power as stand-by. It was found that the utility company could not
guarantee sufficiently firm power to protect the polio patients in the iron lungs. M 14
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT, 1955-56 REPORT OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER M  15
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of mechanical equipment was carried on throughout the year, and in
all of the institutions and in a large number of Government buildings.
Some of the more outstanding maintenance work is listed below:—
1. Repiping the heating system, Provincial Home, Kamloops.
2. Conversion to fuel-oil burning, Court-house, Prince Rupert.
3. Renovation of the boiler plant, Provincial Sanatorium, Tranquille. This plant
was in poor condition throughout and required extensive overhaul. This programme is
expected to be spread over several years. This year considerable new equipment was
purchased to replace worn-out and obsolete equipment.
4. Repairs to new boiler, central heating plant, Kamloops. Due to a failure of the
flame-sensing apparatus on a new boiler in this plant an explosion of unburned fuel-oil
occurred. The steam-pressure parts of the boiler withstood the explosion, but the boiler
casing and brickwork were severely damaged.
5. The use of natural gas in the Pouce Coupe area was extended to all Provincial
Government buildings. This is the first extensive use of natural gas by the Provincial
Government.
SUPERVISION OF PLANT OPERATION AND OPERATING PERSONNEL
Numerous field-trips to the various heating plants were made during the year, where
plant operating difficulties were discussed with the operators. While there are many
items spread over various plants that can be improved upon to increase plant efficiency,
in general the efficiency of plant operation is at a satisfactory high level.
The introduction of the new type of fuel contract by the Purchasing Commission
several years ago, where the fuel is matched to the characteristics of the individual plants,
has been definitely effective this year, and accounts for a general gain of approximately
half of 1 per cent in over-all plant efficiency.
W. E. Mills,
Mechanical Engineer.
REPORT OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
This section of the Architects' Branch was engaged on the following work during
the fiscal year 1955-56:—
1. Structural Design in Steel, Reinforced Concrete, and Timber for the Government
Buildings Listed in the Architectural Report. — The majority of large buildings were
constructed in reinforced concrete, with the newer types of framing systems predominating, such as flat beams, flat plates, tin pan and tile filler floors. Formwork costs, which
represent a large portion of the total cost, dictated the use of these systems. Of interest
are the pre-stressed concrete units which are being used in the Nurses' Home, Essondale.
These units are approximately 40 feet long and are pre-stressed with wire ropes.
2. Drainage and Sewage-disposal Systems for Buildings and Sites Listed Previously.—
Under this heading comes the sewage-disposal plant at Colquitz Mental Home, Victoria.
This plant is a complete-treatment mechanical plant which was put in to eliminate pollution of the Colquitz River and ultimately the Gorge waterway. A similar plant is proposed for the new B.C. Correctional Institute, Haney, and will serve the same purpose.
A large sewer system has just been completed at Essondale which will discharge
all the sewage from this institution into the Fraser River and eliminate pollution of the
Coquitlam River, an important salmon-stream.
3. Water-supply and Irrigation Systems.—One of the major jobs under this heading
is the new water-supply system and reservoir at Essondale.   This system was put in on M  16
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56 REPORT OF THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
M  17
the recommendation of the Greater Vancouver Water Board, which supplies water to
Essondale, and serves the purpose of by-passing its present mains, which are in bad condition and fluctuate widely in service pressures.
The reservoir serves the purpose of stabilizing the main pressures and also provides
an adequate supply of water for fire or other emergencies.
A complete water-supply system, including a deep-well pump, pipe-line, and reservoir has also been installed at the B.C. Correctional Institution, Haney.
J. R. Simpson,
Structural Engineer.
TENDERS RECEIVED AND CONTRACTS AWARDED FOR BUILDINGS
Description of Work and Names of Tenderers
Remarks
Underground Steam-line and 300-bed Unit, Woodlands School, New Westminster, B.C.:
Dawson & Hall Ltd	
Alternate   	
The Bay Co. (B.C.) Ltd 	
Alternate        	
Ben's Plumbing & Heating Ltd..
Alternate  	
Vancouver Pipe & Engine Works Ltd-
Altemate   	
Fred Welsh & Son Ltd	
Alternate _	
F. Fenk Plumbing & Heating ...	
Alternate  _	
Lockerbie & Hole (Western) Ltd.
Alternate  —	
Leek & Co. Ltd..
Alternate	
General Pipe Contractors .
Alternate 	
C. B. Archibald Ltd..	
Alternate 	
Deaf and Blind School, Vancouver—New School for the Deaf and Blind and Recreational Unit:
Jarvis Construction Co. Ltd  _ ..	
Commonwealth Construction Co. Ltd   	
Bennett & White Construction Co. Ltd ._ __   	
Smith Bros. & Wilson Ltd 	
Kennett Construction Ltd 	
E. H. Shockley & Son Ltd   	
John Laing & Son (Canada) Ltd..
Beaver Construction Co. Ltd	
Installation of Two Oil-fired Boilers, B.C. Correctional Institution, Haney, B.C.
Blain Boiler Works Ltd.          	
Vancouver Iron Works Ltd. 	
Bumstead-Woolford Ltd  	
Alternate            	
Dominion Bridge Co. Ltd...  	
Foster-Wheeler Ltd.   _
Vulcan Iron & Engineering Ltd	
John Thompson-Leonard Ltd	
C. C. Moore & Co. Engineers, Inc.
H. F. Clarke (B.C.) Ltd.—
Scheme A _. 	
Scheme B  	
New Westminster Land Registry Building—New Vault and Filing Space:
Klassen & Born 	
Ward & Son Ltd  	
C. J. Oliver Ltd   	
$34,879.00
46,662.00
49,062.00
33,956.00
44,868.00
41,949.00
40,991.00
47,943.00
44,349.00
48,428.00
42,132.00
47,792.00
37,783.00
42,451.00
27,150.00
27,150.00
43,300.00
47,330.00
792,367.00
781,535.00
773,306.00
770,000.00
759,349.00
752,341.00
743,012.00
742,190.00
114,066.00
163,797.90
127,714.00
112,995.00
119,300.00
117,840.00
114,138.00
106,801.00
95,621.00
78,445.00
102,380.00
Awarded.
33,838.00
31,455.00
30,990.00 | Awarded. M  18
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
TENDERS RECEIVED AND CONTRACTS AWARDED
FOR BUILDINGS—Continued
Description of Work and Names of Tenderers
Amount
Remarks
New Wing to Court-house, Nanaimo, B.C.:
314,000.00
313,207.00
308,215.00
297,921.00
289,329.00
285,876.00
43,433.00
42,420.00
41,326.00
36,306.00
47,000.00
39,895.00
37,599.00
54,255.00
53,505.85
34.584.00
34,122.00
248,753.00
269,740.00
234,363.00
267,777.00
249,400.00
11,550.00
13,317.00
15,400.00
15,400.00
15,950.00
18,750.00
1,998,304.00
1,987,235.00
1,973,779.00
1,957,672.00
1,962,791.00
1,946,764.00
1,927,402.00
1,903,787.00
1,897,195.00
G. H. Wheaton Ltd.	
C. J. Oliver Ltd.                      	
A. & B. Construction Co. Ltd. ...                                                	
Root Storage House and Equipment-shed, The Woodlands School, New Westminster,
B.C.:
Dawson & Hall Ltd.                                                                 	
Lickley Construction Co. Ltd.	
Land Registry Office Addition, Kamloops, B.C.:
Awarded.
Taylor & Son Ltd                        	
Awarded.
Additions to Water-supply System, Essondale, B.C.:
The Bay Co. (B.C.) Ltd   	
G. W. Ledingham & Co. Ltd     	
Christian & Allen Ltd                                            	
Awarded.
Boiler-house and Laundry and Ancillary Work, B.C. Correctional Institution, Haney,
B.C.:
Dawson & Hall Ltd 	
Awarded.
Girls' Industrial School, Burnaby, B.C.—Land-clearing:
Awarded.
Breaks Bros. Construction Ltd. _	
300-bed Unit, Home for the Aged, Port Coquitlam, B.C.:
Dawson & Hall Ltd.                                                           	
Pyke & White Construction Co. Ltd. , -
Snrth Bros. & Wilson Ltd 	
E. H. Shockley & Son Ltd.	
Awarded.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF TELEPHONES
Herewith is submitted annual report of the Telephone Branch, Department of
Public Works, covering fiscal year ended March 31st, 1956.
This Branch processed and completed 542 orders, namely, installations of entire
switchboard systems, extending services from existing switchboards, installation of business exchange services, seasonal telephones for British Columbia Forest Service and
British Columbia Game Commission, telephone directories for Parliament Buildings
and Vancouver Court-house.
1. Business Exchange Service.—The largest single orders placed for this type of
service were for the new Cranbrook and Kelowna Court-houses. These buildings, when
under survey, were found to be lacking the necessary amount of telephone traffic to
require switchboards. REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR
OF TELEPHONES
M  19 M 20 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
2. Switchboard Installations.—Installations were completed on the following buildings: Brannen Lake School for Boys—Type 20-B P.A.B.X., replacing business service;
Oakalla Prison Farm—Type 555 P.B.X., replacing business service; Child Guidance
and Mental Health Centre—Type 555, 2-pos. P.B.X., new installation; Provincial Health
Building—Type 50, 2-pos. P.A.B.X., replacing five smaller-type switchboards.
3. Trunking Facilities.—Additional trunking was added to switchboards located at
Parliament Buildings; Forest Service, Vancouver; Court-house, Vancouver; Provincial
Mental Hospital, Essondale.
4. Surveys in Progress.—(a) Business Service and Extension to Switchboards:
Court-house, Fort St. John; Regional Highways Offices at Prince George, Kamloops,
Nelson, and New Westminster; Girls' Industrial School; Provincial Mental Hospital,
Essondale; The Woodlands School, New Westminster; and sixteen health units throughout the Province.
(b) Conversion of Existing Switchboards to Larger Switchboards: Forest Service,
Vancouver; Provincial Mental Hospital, Essondale; Tuberculosis Hospital, Vancouver;
Administrative Offices, Kamloops; Jericho Hill School; and Court-house, Prince George.
(c) New Switchboards:   B.C. Correctional Institute and Nanaimo Court-house.
Traffic increase has been noticeable on all switchboards.   The Parliament Buildings
average daily traffic count is included below for your information:—
1955 1956
Incoming calls  2,492 2,901
Outgoing and inter-office   7,438 8,751
Totals   9,930 11,652
The requests for new types of telephone equipment have been numerous; unfortunately, due to lack of adequate conduit and cabling, plus the high installation costs
involved, we have been able to approve very few.
It is a pleasure to report a year of growth and expansion, with a minimum of personnel and equipment problems.
Ruth E. Thompson,
Supervisor of Telephones.
REPORT OF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF BOILERS
AND MACHINERY
In accordance with the provisions of the " Boiler and Pressure-vessel Act," I have
the honour to submit the fifty-fourth annual report of the operation of the Boilers and
Machinery Inspection Division for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 1956.
THE ACT
The amendments to the Act at the 1955 Session of the Legislature, in which definitions were revised, interim certificates of inspection introduced, and provisions made
for the registration of welders, have proved satisfactory to all parties concerned and
have facilitated the work of administration.
REGULATIONS
In order to render fees for shop inspection more equitable, in relation to work done,
our fee-list was amended by Order in Council No. 2262. Introduced at this time was
a reduced fee for inspection of a batch of pressure-vessels of the same design. This
gave some easement to our new propane industry, which is in stiff competition with
manufacturers outside the Province.
I REPORT OF BOILER AND MACHINERY INSPECTOR M 21
With the preparation for the piping of natural gas at high pressure through the
Province, there is a great demand for welders experienced in the special technique peculiar
to pipe-line construction.
A specialized test and subsequent registration for this group was established by
Order in Council No. 67. Training for pipe-line welders is conducted at the Dominion-
Provincial Vocational School at Nanaimo. An Inspector visits the school periodically
to examine the trainees.
BOILER AND PRESSURE-VESSEL CODE  (C.SA.-A.S.M.E.)
The annual meeting of the Boiler and Pressure-vessel Committee was held in Winnipeg on September 28th to 30th. The C.S.A. Code B-51 was reviewed and suggested
amendments discussed, with the object of establishing and retaining uniformity in rules
governing construction and installation throughout Canada, and to keep all jurisdictions
abreast of new developments in pressure-vessel engineering.
The Chief Inspector was honoured by being elected chairman of this Committee.
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers appointed the Chief Inspector a
member of their Sub-committee on Fire Tube Power Boilers.
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Expansion in our pulp-mills and oil-refineries, as well as the rapid growth in our
secondary industries, continues; these, together with plans for heating plants in new
buildings and design of pressure-vessels for export, have increased design office work
30.7 per cent.
Boilers and pressure-vessels built locally under our surveillance show an increase
of 142 and 312 per cent respectively.
Already under way is the Huntingdon-Vancouver natural-gas pipe-line. This will
be followed later by the Peace River-Huntingdon line, from which distribution-lines will
be laid in the cities and municipalities en route. All such pipe-lines within municipal
boundaries are subject to approval with respect to design and welding procedure, and
all welders engaged on any pipe-line must be tested and registered.
ACCIDENTS AND REPAIRS
One boiler was found with badly bulged end plates and another had cracks in the
butt-strap. Both these dangerous defects were repaired under an Inspector's direction.
There were two other boilers which were damaged beyond repair by low water.
A dangerous defect in a series of well-known blow-down valves was discovered.
Arrangements were made with the manufacturers to modify the design.
An explosion of ammonia in a refrigeration plant resulted in superficial burns to
a workman.
All accidents were carefully investigated, and recommendations made to prevent
recurrence.
STATIONARY ENGINEERS
At the Winnipeg meeting in September, all the Chief Inspectors gathered to discuss
uniformity in the standards of examination and qualification of stationary engineers in
Canada. It is the hope that eventually each Province can work out some degree of
acceptance of another Province's certificate.
Encouragement has been given to the Canadian Institute of Power Engineers, who
have made this objective their main project in standardization. They have appointed
our examiner Chairman of the Canadian Standardization Committee for Engineers'
Examinations.    All Provinces have been extremely co-operative in sending in their M 22 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
examination papers for analysis and subsequent compounding into standard papers,
which has involved much hard spare-time work for our examiner.
Preparations are under way to amend our own engineers' regulations, which will
include an Advisory Board, and to provide better credits for technical-school training
and power-plant experience.
PERSONNEL
A Senior Inspector, Mr. D. G. Thomson, died in August, 1955, and a District
Inspector resigned on December 31st, 1955. The loss of two Inspectors therefore left
us in a desperate position with so much work in hand.
Arrangements have been made to engage two temporary Inspectors pending the
appointment of permanent Inspectors by examination in July, 1956.
The volume of work of such special nature as design survey, shop inspection, and
welding will cause us to withdraw two Inspectors from the field to render assistance in
these phases of our work.
With the exception of one Inspector in Victoria, all Inspectors operate from headquarters in Vancouver. The gradual increase of industrial density at certain Interior
points, such as Nelson, Prince George, and Prince Rupert, will cause consideration to
be given to the establishment of resident District Inspectors in the course of two or three
years.
SUMMARY OF WORK
Revenue was 96 per cent of expenditure. In addition, inspections were made on
Public Works boilers and pressure-vessels, amounting to a revenue equivalent of $2,500.
New designs and amendments checked  754
Fees collected for designs  $7,132.46
Fees collected for work done in boiler-shops  $8,669.89
New boilers built in British Columbia  223
Second-hand boilers imported  12
Total number of all boilers inspected  4,367
Plates inspected and tested  1,053
Number of engineers examined  605
Number of welders examined  1,009
Over-all cost of Department to Government  $99,803.08
Over-all total revenue  $95,523.55
Appended is a detailed list of all work done and an analysis of examinations.
INSPECTOR'S ANNUAL REPORT,  1955-56
Steam Hot Water
Number of drawings and specifications calculated for registration   754 	
Number of boilers on which calculations for
W.P. were made in the field  1 	
As Engineer-Surveyor—
Number  of  boiler-plates  inspected   and
tested        1,053 	
Number of boiler-plates rejected  10 	
Number of visits to boiler-shops  936 	
Number of boilers tested built under Inspector's supervision  81 142
Miles travelled       5,475 511 REPORT OF BOILER AND MACHINERY INSPECTOR
M 23
Steam Hot Water
First inspections—
Number  of  new   boilers   inspected   and
tested built in Eastern Canada   9 8
Number  of  new  boilers  inspected   and
tested built in United States   8 4
Number of new boilers inspected and
tested built in other countries (England)   3
Total number of new boilers inspected ___. 20 12
Total horse-power of new boilers inspected        2,865 321
Number of new boiler installations inspected  95 104
Number of second-hand boilers inspected
and tested (first inspection) imported
from Eastern Canada  8 2
Number of second-hand boilers inspected
and tested (first inspection) imported
from United States  1 1
Total number of second-hand boilers inspected for first time  9 3
Total horse-power of second-hand boilers
inspected for first time       1,456 39
Number of first installations of secondhand boilers inspected   9 9
Annual inspections—
Number of annual inspections       2,509 1,253
Number of inspections, under steam   216 	
Number  of boilers  inspected   (under  3
horse-power)    182 164
Number of boilers subjected to hydrostatic test       1,980 782
Number of visits in addition to annual
inspection   215 71
Number of boilers on which pressure was
reduced   41 	
Number of boilers repaired under Inspector's directions   65 12
Number of boilers considered  unfit for
further use   4 	
Number of investigations  44 4
Total number of all boilers inspected       2,936 1,432
Total horse-power of all boilers inspected 305,777        20,024
Number of accidents to engines and boilers 9 	
Boilers taken out of service  6 	
Miles travelled by the Inspectors  79,529
Total travelling expenses   $12,453.13
Travelling expenses per mile   15.60 M 24
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
Results of Engineers' Examinations
Number
Class                                                                        Examined Passed
First      14 6
Second      53 29
Third   145 94
Fourth   281 191
Special heating H.P.      20 15
Special heating L.P.      76 57
Class A     16 8
Totals   605 400
Temporary, 607.
Welders' Tests
Number
Class                                                                       Examined Passed
Electric      768 681
Oxy-acetylene       241 213
Totals   1,009 894
New registrants, 188.
Failed
8
24
51
90
5
19
8
205
Failed
87
28
115
Summary of Defects Observed
Nature of Defects Number Dangerous
Boilers with safety-valves overloaded  4
Boilers with safety-valves defective  7                   4
Pressure-gauges defective or over 5 lb. error  114
Cases of defective stays  9
Cases of defective riveting  9
Serious leakage in rivet-joints  14
Boilers with fractured plates  1
Boilers with burned plates  5
Boilers with bulged plates  10
Cases of internal corrosion  93
Cases of external corrosion  48
Cases of scale or encrustation  77
Cases of internal grooving  3
Cases of defective tubes  64
Defective main stop-valves   6
Defective blow-off pipes or cocks  9
Defective settings  12
Defective water-gauges   2
Cases of defective feed-water arrangement  3
Boilers damaged by low water  7
Cases of serious leakage of fittings  10
Number of hand-holes, doors having bolts and dogs
burned off  2
Boilers low at front end  3
Unclassified defects  5
Totals   517                27
6
7
10 REPORT OF BOILER AND MACHINERY INSPECTOR
M 25
Pressure-vessels Inspected
Number of pressure vessels inspected in field      778
Number of pressure-vessels inspected during construction  2,132
Number of pressure-vessels inspected (imported from United
States)        251
Number of pressure-vessels inspected (imported from Eastern
Canada)       179
Number of pressure-vessels inspected (imported from other
countries)    2
Refrigeration Plants
New plants inspected  2
Annual inspections made  12
Total tonnage of all plants inspected  60.852
Analysis of Examinations
Engineers
Year Ended Mar. 31, 1955
Examined        Passed
Failed
Year Ended Mar. 31, 1956
Examined        Passed
Failed
First 	
Second— 	
Third	
Fourth 	
Low pressure " B "
High pressure " B'
Temporary	
Class A	
Totals	
15
60
134
239
78
14
427
28
3
32
84
152
64
12
427
21
12
28
50
87
14
2
995
795
200
14
53
145
281
76
20
607
16
6
29
94
191
57
15
607
1,212
1,007
24
51
90
19
5
205
Welders
1955
1956
Examined
Passed
Failed
Examined
Passed
Failed
702
201
592
165
110
36
768
241
681
213
87
Oxy-acetylene —	
28
Totals  	
903
757
146
1,009
894
115
Fees Received
1955
Engineers       $4,442.50
Welders         3,882.50
Duplicate certificates  90.00
Totals.
$8,415.00
1956
$5,046.25
4,400.00
155.00
$9,601.25
D. Denham, P.Eng.
Chief Inspector of Boilers and Machinery. A water-tube boiler at a pulp-mill.
Gas furnace under test at British Columbia Research Council laboratory. REPORT OF CHIEF ENGINEER-SURVEYOR M 27
REPORT OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER-SURVEYOR,
GAS INSPECTION DIVISION
In accordance with the provisions of the " Gas Act," I have the honour to submit the
second annual report of the operation of the Gas Inspection Division for the fiscal year
ended March 31st, 1956.
THE ACT
At the 1956 Session of the Legislature, the "Gas Act" was amended to enable
this Division to provide gas inspection services for a municipality, subject to agreement
between the municipality and the Minister.
The amendment introduced the new certificate of competency, which is a mandatory
requirement for all Gas Inspectors, government or municipal.
In readiness for proposed staff changes, the words " Chief Inspector " were substituted for " Chief Engineer-Surveyor."
THE DIVISION
At present the staff consists of the Chief Engineer-Surveyor, the Supervising Gas
Inspector, one Gas Inspector, and one stenographer. The work of the Division has been
centred on the education and training of persons engaged in various phases of the gas
industry.
A short course for local Inspectors was conducted at this office to keep them abreast
of new technical developments and to standardize interpretations. A course was held in
Victoria, attended by fifty members of the gas trade. Concurrently the following three
separate courses were conducted at the Vancouver Vocational Institute: Gas Fundamentals, Gas Fitting, and Gas Controls. An advanced course was sponsored jointly by the
Division and the gas utility.   More than 400 persons attended the courses in Vancouver.
The British Columbia Research Council has extended its laboratory and installed
equipment in preparation for gas-appliance testing, which is expected to begin in August,
1956.
REGULATIONS
In order to accommodate developments in the gas industry, the regulations were
amended by the following Orders in Council:—
Order in Council No. 2050, Regulations for Interim Approval and Interim Listing
of Gas Appliances in British Columbia, amended and approved August 16th, 1955.
Order in Council No. 2051, Regulations Governing the Installation of Gas Piping,
Appliances, and Venting, approved August 16th, 1956.
Order in Council No. 2052, Regulations respecting Gas Fitters, Contractors, and
Dealers, approved August 16th, 1956.
Order in Council No. 2263, Regulations for Interim Approval and Interim Listing
of Gas Appliances in British Columbia, approved September 16th, 1955.
ACCIDENTS
During the fiscal year there were no major explosions. There were 159 incidents of
gas poisoning. Ninety-four persons survived, but there were thirty-four accidental deaths
and thirty-one suicides. M 28
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
SUMMARY OF WORK
New designs checked, interim approval  21
New designs checked, industrial approval  16
Number of Gas Codes distributed  1,250
Gas-fitters' licences issued  457
Contractors' licences issued  154
Provisional licences issued  230
Number of gas-fitters examined  331
Number of gas-fitters passed examination  228
Number of permits issued, municipalities  7,387
FEES COLLECTED
Examination fees „                         $1,430.00
  1,150.00
  1,480.00
  462.00
  620.50
  650.00
  105.00
  2,054.00
  2,869.50
  178.80
  22.50
  45.00
  1.00
Provisional licence fees	
Contractors' licence fees	
Renewal gas-fitters' licence fees.
Sale of Gas Codes	
Interim approval fees	
Industrial approval fees	
Interim approval seals	
Resale approval seals	
Identification tags (gas-fitters').
Permits	
Fines 	
Duplicate licence issued	
Total revenue  $11,068.30
Over-all cost of department to Government  $24,111.55
D. Denham, P. Eng.,
Chief Engineer-Surveyor.
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY
In accordance with the " Electrical Energy Inspection Act," I have the honour to
submit my annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31st, 1956.
BOARD OF EXAMINERS FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
The Honourable the Minister of Public Works has been pleased to appoint the
following members to the Board, effective January 1st, 1956: H. Hume, electrical
contractor, representing the Associated Electrical Contractors of British Columbia; R.
Beaumont, electrical contractor, representing the Vancouver Electrical Association; and
J. Harrison, electrical inspector for the City of Vancouver, representing cities and municipalities. Other members of the Board are L. Robson, Inspector of Electrical Energy
(Chairman), and L. Handy, Assistant Inspector of Electrical Energy. Nine meetings
were held throughout the year.
The total number of certificates in effect during the year is as follows:—
Class A
Class B ___
Class C-_.
Class PA.
Class PB
Class PC
137
583
332
52
125
236
Total  1,465
There were no temporary certificates issued during the year. REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY
M 29
A total of 211 candidates sat for examination, with the following results:—
Number of
Candidates
Class A     36
Class B     72
Class C  103
ssed
Failed
19
17
42
30
62
41
Totals  211
123
88
STATEMENT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE
Revenue—
Annual permits  $3,215.00
Regular permits  182,831.29
Examination fees  3,080.00
Certificates of competency  11,026.25
Sale of publications  1,617.98
Utilities  14,620.16
Plan checking  1,458.12
Collection of social services tax  70.25
Suspense, pending refund  710.56
Suspense, pending distribution  2,311.24
Gross revenue  $220,940.85
Less—
Suspense refunds        $710.56
Revenue refunds       1,774.12
Social services tax  70.25
Suspense       2,269.72
Total debits to revenue
4,824.65
Net revenue, Electrical Energy Inspection  $216,116.20
Operating expenses (Vote 328, Electrical Energy Inspection
(gross))   $205,981.44
Less—
Credit for preparation of plans and specifications on behalf of Chief Architect and
Traffic Engineer, J.V. No. 9834  $21,438.09
Credit to salaries re expenditure from Block
Vote J.V. Nos. 1046 and 1049       2,275.13
Credit to salaries re Steam-boiler Inspection
share of charges for stenographic service,
J.V. No. 9825	
Credit to salaries re Department of Lands
and Forests share of charges for stenographic service, J.V. Nos. 9835 and 9789
Total credits	
1,268.28
504.73
25,486.23
Net operating expenses  $180,495.21
Operating surplus        35,620.99
$216,116.20 $216,116.20 M 30
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
PERMITS
The total number of permits issued during the year was as follows:—
April, 1955  2,068 November, 1955   2,656
May, 1955   2,538 December, 1955   1,936
June, 1955   2,654 January, 1956  1,900
July, 1955  2,390 February, 1956  1,865
August, 1955   2,617 March, 1956  1,867
September, 1955  2,745 	
October, 1955  2,710 Total  27,946
This represents an increase of 5,399 permits over the previous year, or an increase
of 24 per cent.
DISTRICT OFFICES
District offices are maintained at the following centres: Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Alberni, Abbotsford, Langley Prairie, Chilliwack, Prince Rupert, Prince George,
Dawson Creek, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Trail, Cranbrook, and Vancouver. Three
Inspectors work from the Vancouver office and inspect the following areas: West Coast
(including Alert Bay, Howe Sound, Squamish, and Lillooet), Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam,
loco, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Richmond, and Delta.
INSPECTIONS
The following is a record of inspections undertaken during the year:—
Number of
Inspections
  6,427
  2,640
  2,450
  2,491
  2,143
  2,018
  2,541
  1,872
Prince George (two Inspectors)  4,388
Office
Victoria (three Inspectors)
Nanaimo 	
Courtenay 	
Alberni	
Abbotsford 	
Langley Prairie 	
Chilliwack 	
Prince Rupert
Dawson Creek1
Kamloops	
Vernon 	
Penticton 	
Trail	
Cranbrook 	
Vancouver (three Inspectors).
Total	
843
2,097
2,061
1,526
1,474
1,761
6,453
43,185
The number of inspections completed during this year represents an increase of
7,920, or 22 Vi per cent over the preceding year.
PROSECUTIONS
Five prosecutions were initiated during the year.
1 This is a new office which commenced operations in September, 1955.   A new District Inspector was appointed to
this office. REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY
M 31
EXAMINATION OF MOTION-PICTURE PROJECTIONISTS
The Department assisted the Provincial Fire Marshal in conducting twenty-eight
examinations for projectionists. The regulations covering such examinations provide that
the Inspector of Electrical Energy be a member of this Examining Board in company with
the Fire Marshal. In this connection all fees arising from these examinations accrue to
the credit of the Fire Marshal's department.
CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION
The Chief Inspector continued to represent the Province on the Approvals Council
of the Canadian Standards Association and on continuing committees on the Canadian
Electrical Code.
Two meetings were attended, one of which was held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., during
the month of June, and the other in Toronto during the month of October. Much new
subject-matter was considered, as well as amendments to existing rules, in order to keep
pace with the development of new materials and practices. Much is being accomplished
in an endeavour to promote uniformity of practice and application in electrical systems
throughout Canada. It is anticipated that amendments which have been processed since
the last publication will be available for adoption at an early date. It is anticipated that
a recommendaion will be made in the near future to officially adopt those amendments
which have been so processed. It is also expected that a complete republication of the
Code will be available some time in 1957.
The liaison between the C.S.A. laboratories and those of the British Standards Institute in Great Britain and K.E.M.A. laboratories in Arnhem, Holland, continue to react
to the benefit of industry in this Province. Inquiries have been received during the past
year respecting the importation of French electrical equipment for use in a large cement
plant. It is likely that the facilities which have been set up will again be of considerable
benefit both to industry and to this Division in the consideration of the acceptability of
electrical proposals.
Due to the advent of natural gas in this Province, it has become necessary to reconsider the basis of approval of electrical equipment, particularly gas heating equipment
manufactured within British Columbia. This activity is being pursued, and it is expected
that an amendment may ultimately be recommended to the Honourable the Minister of
Public Works for his consideration.
POLE-LINE PERMITS
The Department during the year checked 567 applications for the erection of pole-
lines on Crown lands or Provincial highways. This represents an increase of twenty-four
over the previous year. Recommendations on each application were forwarded to the
Chief Engineer.
ACCIDENTS
There were thirty-eight accidents recorded during the year; of these, four were
fatal. This represents a decrease of three in the number of fatalities reported for the
previous year.
ELECTRICAL DESIGN
In addition to previously listed activities, this Division continued to prepare electrical
plans and specifications for this Department and other Provincial departments.
L. Robson, P. Eng.,
Inspector of Electrical Energy. M 32
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
n
o
X
o
Ih
PU
60
c
o
C/3
c
O REPORT OF DEPARTMENTAL COMPTROLLER
M 33
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTAL COMPTROLLER
Effective April 1st, 1955, the Department of Public Works, which combined the
activities of road, bridge, ferry, etc., construction and repair, as well as the construction
and repair, etc., of Government buildings was divided into the Department of Highways
and the Department of Public Works.
This is the first annual report of the new Department of Public Works.
The following pages show in detail the expenditures relating to the construction,
alteration, and repairs on the various Government buildings and institutions, etc., coming
under the management, charge, and direction of the Minister of Public Works.
J. E. Moore,
Departmental Comptroller.  STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
M 35
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES, FISCAL YEAR 1955-56
SUMMARY
Vote 320.    Minister's Office—
Office 	
$447.02
2,149.01
10,976.58
(
$13,572.61
120,208.92
676,988.28
64,375.01
1,876,877.58
CREDITS
^on-expendable)
Travelling 	
Salaries 	
Vote 321.   Administration—
Office         	
$12,218.51
9,201.10
93,476.03
4,860.41
125.48
327.39
Travelling
Salaries 	
Office furniture and equipment-     .	
Incidentals and contingencies  _ .   	
Advertising and publicity      	
Vote 322.    Parliament Buildings (Maintenance)—
Salaries 	
Maintenance of buildings and grounds               _ 	
$345,651.17
187,588.01
135,916.10
1,272.48
5,683.12
877.40
Heat, light, power, and water .                             .
Motor-vehicles and accessories .	
Installation of new lighting fixtures                      	
Taxes, telephones, etc.           .                              __ . _
Vote 323.    Government House (Maintenance)—
Salaries       . .   .         	
$26,988.01
17,748.32
10,461.85
7,385.52
1,791.31
Maintenance of buildings and grounds                	
Heat, light, power, and water     ,                         	
Furniture, supplies, etc. _   .                                  	
Taxes, telephones, etc.       ,            _ _      „ -
$940.00
Vote 324.    Government Buildings (Maintenance)—
Salaries 	
Maintenance of buildings and grounds	
Heat, light, power, and water                               	
$898,636.60
797,966.90
109,854.82
44,364.12
16,488.09
9,567.05
Proportionate costs, Inspector of Electrical Energy..__
Taxes, telephones, etc	
121,552.27
Building maintenance expenditures detailed
as follows: —
Lockups generally	
Gaols 	
Court-houses 	
Normal Schools-
Vancouver 	
Victoria  	
$31,436.02
9,753.77
Deaf and Blind School, Vancouver	
Nanaimo Vocational Training School	
TB. units and Provincial laboratories—
Vancouver—
Jericho—payment purchase of land
 (Credit)
Jericho 	
Pearson 	
Willow __
Hornby
Child Guidance Clinic.
Polio Pavilion 	
Health Building 	
Victoria—Jubilee 	
Tranquille Sanatorium and Farm_
$6,625.64
55,513.47
$14,000.00
6,573.85
70,325.28
16,431.78
2,809.35
298.66
148.99
578.85
2,672.25
194,860.39
$41,189.79
190,071.73
62,139.11
31,291.54
15,650.84
280,699.40
Carried forward     $621,042.41    $2,752,022.40     $122,492.27 M 36 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
CREDITS
(Non-expendable)
Building maintenance expenditures—Continued
Brought forward     $621,042.41    $2,752,022.40     $122,492.27
Mental Hospitals—
Essondale   $441,329.06
Colony Farm        38,494.19
Woodlands School (New Westminster)    149,715.84
Saanich Mental Home and Farm       35,509.35
New Vista   214.89
        665,263.33
Industrial Schools—
Boys' Industrial  $277.16
Girls' Industrial   10,871.24
Borstal (New Haven)  4,390.28
Brannen Lake School, V.I  41,246.75
Provincial Infirmaries—
Home for Incurables (Marpole)  $5,846.02
Allco Provincial Infirmary  11,770.37
Kamloops Provincial Home  8,837.91
Kamloops central heating plant  76,048.65
Home for the Aged—
Vancouver (Port Coquitlam)  $26,049.19
Vernon    36,594.94
Terrace   34,641.54
Miscellaneous—
Residences   $21,036.40
Garages, etc.     37,690.11
Oakalla   77,257.88
Sundry buildings   198,013.40
56,785.43
102,502.95
97,285.67
333,997.79
Gross expenditure  $1,876,877.58
Revenue (as per Public Works records)
 (Credit)       121,552.27
Net expenditure   $1,755,325.31
Vote 325.    Rentals—
Agriculture 	
Attorney-General ...
Education 	
Finance  	
Fisheries 	
Health and Welfare
Labour 	
Lands and Forests ._
Mines 	
Municipal Affairs _
Provincial Secretary
Public Utilities 	
Highways 	
Public Works	
Railways 	
Trade and Industry
Non-apportionable (re Drost Building, Vancouver).
Vote 326.    Gas Division, Vancouver—
Salaries 	
Office    __
Travelling
Carried forward.
$13,280.05
32,113.72
27,692.95
4,080.07
1,450.96
90,959.42
2,092.75
55,168.04
4,575.46
1,541.59
14,505.33
11,892.46
4,508.66
963.85
1,293.59
728.03
5,400.00
$272,246.93
266,331.56
$10,987.01
754.86
1,523.58
.  $13,265.45
$3,024,269.33
$388,823.83 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES M 37
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES— Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Vote 326.    Gas Division, Vancouver—Continued
CREDITS
(Non-expendable)
Brought forward       $13,265.45    $3,024,269.33     $388,823.83
Office furniture and equipment  542.45
Equipment and machinery  440.73
Testing, British Columbia Research Council  7,506.59
Printing and publications  1,252.33
Vote 327.    Steam-boiler Inspection, Vancouver—
Salaries 	
Office 	
Travelling 	
Office furniture and equipment	
Equipment and machinery	
Printing and publications	
$79,018.90
4,661.24
12,490.07
534.89
422.36
344.79
23,007.55 11,036.75
Vote 328.    Electrical Energy Inspection, Vancouver—
Salaries   $115,690.84
Office    9,136.92
Travelling   43,469.32
Rentals   963.85
Office furniture and equipment  890.19
Printing and publications  1,101.98
Equipment and machinery  406.06
Motor-vehicles and accessories  5,206.56
97,472.25 95,482.50
176,865.72       216,154.58
Vote 329.    Temporary Assistance  133,375.63
Sub-total, Administration and Maintenance Votes      $3,454,990.48     $711,497.66
Capital Expenditures—Buildings
" Revenue Surplus Appropriation Act, 1944," Sec. 2 (c)
Proj.   No.   214-B — Four-bay   equipment-shed,   Prince
George         $18,331.88
Proj. No. 143-B—Equipment-shed, Westview   1,614.98
$19,946.86
" B.C. Loan Act, 7957," Sec. 3 (a)
Proj. No. 146-B—Burnaby equipment-shed and oil-house $3,500.00
Proj. No. 217-B—One-bay equipment-shed, Celista   5,000.00
Proj. No. 148-B—Courtenay equipment-shed   3,178.74
Proj. 220-B—Two-bay equipment-shed, Nanaimo  11,494.56
Proj. No. 219-B—One - bay equipment - shed, Saltspring
Island       2,097.48
Proj. No. 218-B—One-bay equipment-shed, Ucluelet (To-
fino)     6,000.00
31,270.78
Vote 344.    Construction of Provincial Buildings
Proj. No. 191-B—Two-bay equipment-shed and oil-house,
Alexis Creek        $ 14,770.27
Proj. No. 230-B—Two-bay equipment-shed and oil-house,
Ashcroft   12,000.00
Proj. No. 229-B—R.C.M.P. offices and dwellings, Ashcroft   3,910.94
Proj. No. 187-B—Complete four - bay equipment - shed,
Athalmer   15,000.00
Proi. No. 198-B—Two-bay equipment-shed, Atlin  12,000.00
Proj. No. 197-B—Two-bay equipment-shed, Blue River.. 8,000.00
Carried forward       $65,681.21 $51,217.64 M 38 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Capital Expenditures—Buildings—Continued
Vote 344.   Construction of Provincial Buildings—Continued
Brought forward.       $65,681.21 $51,217.64
Proj. No. 196-B—Five-bay    equipment-shed,    oil-house,
and office, Boston Bar  48,969.00
Proj. No. 189-B—Oil-house, Boswell  1,123.47
Proj. No. 30-B—Brannen Lake Boys' School  44,715.38
Proj. No. 186-B—Oil-house, Bridesville   1,568.08
Proj. No. 194-B—Oil-house, Burns Lake  2,486.95
Proj. No. 152-B—New Child Guidance Clinic and Day
Hospital, Burnaby area        479,008.42
Proj. No. 225-B—Addition   to   Magistrate's   office   and
Courtroom, Clinton  12,636.51
Colony Farm—
Proj. No. 6-B-20—Conversion of Quon-
set loafing-barn to conventional tie stalls     $5,481.27
Proj. No. 6-B-22—Renovation   of  farm
cottage          5,263.23
Proj. No. 6-B-23—Surfacing farm yards        3,990.00
Proj. No. 6-B-24—Colony   Farm  boiler-
house, additional fuel-oil storage         2,748.00
Proj. No. 6-B-25—Covering  over  ramp,
milking-parlour          3,117.00
Proj. No. 6-B-26—Additional ten pigpens        12,169.51
Proj. No. 6-B-28—Extension of dykes ....      14,676.69
  47,445.70
Proj. No. 94-B-l—Sidewalks,  curbs, paving, Courtenay
Court-house   1,324.35
Proj. No. 141-B—Cranbrook Court-house, includes furnishings         246,784.31
Proj. No. 188-B—Oil-house, Creston  1,123.44
Proj. No. 235-B—New library, Dawson Creek  468.60
Deaf and Blind School—
Proj. No. 79-B-l—Deaf and Blind School
(School for the Blind), West Fourth
Avenue, Vancouver (includes furnishings)   $393,806.02
Proj. No. 79-B-2—Primary  playing-field,
Deaf and Blind School, Vancouver...... 450.00
394,256.02
Proj. No. 234-B—R.C.M.P.  detachment quarters   (bedroom and office space), Dawson Creek  2,500.00
Proj. No. 184-B—One-bay equipment-shed, Enderby  4,527.00
Essondale—
Proj. No. 5-B-18—TB.  unit  (230 beds)
(includes furnishings)     $117,290.12
Proj. No. 5-B-21 — 100 - bed Nurses'
Home and Training Centre (includes
furnishings)        17,014.88
Proj. No. 5-B-26 —Diet kitchens, West
Lawn Buildings          4,668.91
Proj. No. 5-B-41—Sewage - disposal system      153,839.87
Proj. No. 5-B-42 — Steam - lines to TB.
HosDital, Home for Aged         1,880.55
Proj. No. 5-B-44 — Traverse road, fire-
hall to Boys'Industrial School   600.31
Proj. No. 5-B-47—Conversion, old laundry-stores area         3,208.99
Proi No. 5-B-48—Construction of reservoir        21,230.48
Proj. No. 5-B-52—Fire - alarm system to
be completed       17,158.98
Proj. No. 5-B-53—300 - bed unit, Home
for Aged, Port Coquitlam       12,637.52
Carried forward.....  $349,530.61 $1,354,618.44 $51,217.64 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES M 39
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Capital Expenditures—Buildings—Continued
Vote 344. Construction of Provincial Buildings—Continued
Essondale—Continued
Brought forward  $349,530.61 $1,354,618.44 $51,217.64
Proj. No. 5-B-54 — Rewiring East Lawn
Building          4,454.73
Proj. No. 5-B-55—Rewiring  West Lawn
Buildings         3,966.01
Proj. No. 5-B-58—Credit  Union   and
Tuck Shop       65,354.62
Proj. No. 5-B-59—Renovation,   stores
area, East Lawn Building       10,853.52
Proj. No. 5-B-64—Incinerators,  Crease
Clinic           3,862.00
Proj. No. 5-B-66—Renovation of kitchen,
West Lawn Building       11,944.64
Proj. No. 5-B-67—Conversion of staff
cottages to steam heat         2,579.00
Proj. No. 5-B-68—Conversion to oil fuel,
doctors' residences, Provincial Mental
Hospital          2,529.19
Proj. No. 5-B-69 — Vacuum pump, East
Lawn Building         2,019.15
Proj. No. 5-B-72—Landscaping and parking areas         4,547.33
Proj. No. 5-B-73—Air-conditioning, coffee-shop, Pennington Hall         2,091.00
Proj. No. 5-B-75—Conversion of Administration Building, B.I.S.C.O         1,930.58
Proj. No. 5-B-76—300-bed unit to accommodate patients from Veterans' Unit
now at Colony Farm         1,034.13
Proj. No. 5-B-78 —Wards A 1 and B 1,
West Lawn Building         7,128.77
Proj. No. 5-B-79—Completion of street-
lighting, Essondale area         6,549.85
Proj. No. 5-B-80—New fence, male airing-court          4,124.05
Proj. No. 5-B-81—New cemetery, Essondale area  120.00
Proj. No. 5-B-82—Distribution   trunk
main, Essondale water-supply ...         8,677.75
Proj. No. 5-B-83 — Swill-houses and incinerators          4,200.00
Proj. No. 5-B-84—Insulate attic, East
Lawn Building         1,380.01
Proj. No. 5-B-86—New industrial therapy        2,374.90
501,251.84
Proj. No. 236-B—Fort St. John Court-house ... 1,066.55
Proj. No. 193-B—Two-bay equipment-shed and oil-house,
Fort St. James  13,993.81
Proj. No. 159-B—Oil-house and garage, Fort St. John... 53.23
Proj. No. 190-B—Two-bay equipment-shed and oil-house.
Fruitvale  . 10,064.88
Proj. No. 165-B—Three - bay equipment - shed and oil-
house, Gibsons     16,866.51
Proj. No. 208-B—Girls' Industrial School, Burnaby  1,377.11
Proj. No. 185-B—Oil-house, Greenwood  1,001.58
Proj. No. 123-B—B.C. correctional institution, Haney... 1,403,809.54
Proj. No. 209-B—Female cell  room  and utility room,
Hope Lockup  7,490.90
Proj. No. 213-B—Reroofing Court-house, Kamloops  7,373.00
Proj. No. 206-B—Land Registry addition, Kamloops  20,379.10
Proj. No. 205-B—Addition to Government Office Building, Kamloops      2,904.54
Carried forward $3,342,251.03 $51,217.64 M 40
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Capital Expenditures—Buildings—Continued
Vote 344.   Construction of Provincial Buildings—Continued
Brought forward $3,342,251.03 $51,217.64
Proj. No. 163-B — New boiler and piping, Provincial
Home and Government Buildings, Kamloops	
Proj. No. 224-B—Steam distribution system, Provincial
Home, Kamloops	
Proj. No. 149-B — Renovation, Provincial Gaol, Kamloops 	
Proj. No. 142-B — Kelowna Court-house (includes furnishings) 	
Proj. No. 158-B—Agriculture storage-shed for vehicles,
Kelowna 	
Proj. No. 195-B—Oil-house, Lytton   	
Proj. No. 215-B—Alterations to utility room,  Marpole
Infirmary 	
Proj. No. 211-B—Materials and Traffic Engineer's offices
and shops, Department of Highways, Victoria	
Proj. No. 175-B—Development of 100-acre site (services
and planning), Metchosin	
Proj. No. 202-B—Wing to Court-house, Nanaimo	
Proj. No. 231-B — Extension of Nanaimo Vocational
Training School	
Proj. No. 170-B—New garage and steel fence, Nelson
Gaol  	
Proj. No. 199-B—New vault and filing space, New Westminster Land Registry Building	
Oakalla—
Proj. No. 39-B-l 1—New telephones and
extension to present equipment	
Proj. No. 39-B-13—Paving of road frontage
Proj. No. 39-B-14—New greenhouses  ....
Proj. No. 39-B-l7—Prison gymnasium ...
Proj. No. 39-B-18—New fence, Royal
Oak Avenue and South Wing and
around property	
Proj. No. 39-B-20—Office accommodation, drug research 	
Proj. No. 39-B-21—Renovation of hospital operating-room, doctor's office, etc.
Proj. No. 39-B-24 — Switchboard for
P.B.X. and all telephones	
Proj. No. 39-B-25—Rewiring of wings
for radio materials (renewal) 	
Proj. No. 39-B-26—Main retaining - wall
at West Gate	
Proj. No. 39-B-27—Remodel South and
West Wings and Isolation	
Proj. No. 39-B-28—Lighting of grounds .
Proj. No. 39-B-29—Purchase of land (adjacent to main grounds of prison)       34,500.00
Proj. No. 39-B-30—Licence-plate shop
and equipment	
Proj. No. 39-B-31 — Stand - by electrical
service 	
Proj. No. 39-B-32 — Two prefabricated
buildings for drug treatment programme
Proj. No. 39-B-35—Additions to Women's Gaol 	
Proj. No. 39-B-36 — Enlarging office
space. West Gate 	
Proj. No. 39-B-37 — Complete new system, inside telephone P.A.X.	
$624.73
4,700.00
4,459.43
37,218.48
9,071.66
8,032.28
994.39
280.19
578.55
1,671.47
4,924.04
12,275.57
991.25
13,566.63
27,074.42
1,484.55
2,696.88
3,671.85
19,998.45
23,709.00
1,734.21
208,998.07
2,550.00
2,500.00
2,683.10
1,556.57
2,432.85
129,255.20
59,611.36
3,900.00
39,145.17
Proj. No. 203-B—200 - bed  unit,   Pearson  Tuberculosis
Hospital, Vancouver (new unit) 	
168,816.37
3,267.94
Carried forward $4,012,409.32
$51,217.64 STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES M 41
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Capital Expenditures—Buildings—Continued
Vote 344.   Construction of Provincial Buildings—Continued
Brought forward $4,012,409.32 $51,217.64
Proj. No. 210-B—Alterations to R.C.M.P. offices, Penticton Court-house   1,519.47
Proj. No. 150-B—Vancouver Poliomyelitis Pavilion  27,278.83
Proj. No. 201-B—New Court-house, Prince George  4,144.93
Proj. No. 136-B—Prince George Gaol (including access
road)    59,324.06
Proj. No. 136-B-l—Garage, Prince George Gaol  5,158.80
Proj. No. 216-B—Alterations to Old Men's Gaol (Courthouse), Prince George  4,280.00
Proj. No. 153-B—Forestry Building, Prince Rupert  69,656.08
Proj. No. 160-B—Reception Centre, Douglas, Highway
99 (Department of Trade and Industry)  1,905.65
Proj. No. 207-B—Red Cross outpost hospital, Masset......        29,868.45
Saanich Mental Hospital—
Proj. No. 9-B-14—New sewage - disposal
system, Saanich Mental Hospital     $44,236.63
Proj. No. 9-B-15—Roads, renovations,
and reconstruction         5,320.00
Proj. No. 9-B-16—Brood - sow barn and
slaughter-house          8,511.25
58,067.88
Proj. No. 183-B—Electric-light plan and wiring, Telegraph Creek police building  4,545.65
Proj. No. 84-B-l—New wing to Temporary Building No.
4, Michigan Street, Victoria  29,348.29
Proj. No. 192-B—Three-bay equipment-shed, Terrace .... 17,553.39
Proj. No. 24-B-l—Water - supply and sewage - disposal,
Home for Aged, Terrace    29,047.30
Tranquille Sanatorium—
Proj. No. 10-B-20—Remodel   dairy  pasteurizing plant, Tranquille ..        $2,922.57
Proj. No. 10-B-23—Air-conditioning unit
for Main Building, Greaves Building,
and Infirmarv         1,130.38
Proj. No. 10-B-26 —Flatwork folder,
laundry          8,852.34
Proj. No. 10-B-27 — Renovate old laundry building         7,416.32
Proj. No. 10-B-28—Renovate basement
floor, Main Building, Tranquille         1,913.34
Proj. No. 10-B-29—Alterations to butcher-shop, Tranquille          3,459.74
Proj. No. 10-B-30—Remodel Main Building annex, Tranquille        6,397.64
Proj. No. 10-B-31—Air-cooling, Recreation Hall   176.11
Proj. No. 10-B-32—Sewage-line,   Tranquille          3,851.47
36,119.91
Tranquille Farm—
Proj. No. 8-B-5—Irrigation pipe-lines,
Tranquille Farm         $700.00
Proj. No. 8-B-6—Cattle shelters, Cooney
Ranch, Tranquille Farm        4,258.70
  4,958.70
Proj. No. 89-B—Provincial Health Building, Vancouver
(including furnishings)         335,020.87
Vancouver Normal School—
Proj. No. 204-B—Four new portable
classrooms, Normal School, Vancouver      $53,864.44
Proj. No. 204-B-1 ■— Gymnasium equipment-room, Normal School, Vancouver   144.82
Carded forward     $54,009.26 $4,730,207.58 $51,217.64 M 42 PUBLIC WORKS REPORT,  1955-56
STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES—Continued
SUMMARY—Continued
Capital Expenditures—Buildings—Continued
Vote 344.   Construction of Provincial Buildings—Continued
Vancouver Normal School—Continued
CREDITS
(N on-expendable)
Brought forward.      $54,009.26 $4,730,207.58 $51,217.64
Proj. No. 204-B-2—New  medical   room,
Normal School, Vancouver  523.28
Proj. No. 221-B—New parking-lot, Normal School, Vancouver         2,537.00
  57,069.54
Proj. No. 164-B—Five-bay equipment-shed, Vernon  6,126.46
Proj. No. 25-B-6—Additional   roll   for  flat  ironer  and
Linospeed washing-machine, Vernon Home for Aged 4,570.97
Proj. No. 200-B—Capital Region Planning, Victoria  4,713.12
Proj. No. 237-B—Purchase of house and lot, 521 Michigan Street, Victoria   5,200.00
Proj. No. 233-B — Alterations to elevator, Tuberculosis
Hospital, Willow Street  5,887.98
The Woodlands School—
Proj. No. 7-B-21—300-bed hospital  $1,059,868.00
Proj. No. 7-B-26—Auditorium   9,140.17
Proj. No. 7-B-28 — Underground steam-
lines to proposed 300-bed unit         33,420.33
Proj. No. 7-B-29—Landscaping and airing-court for No. 3 unit  4,991.43
Proj. No. 7-B-30—Equipment-shed, root
storage   house,   greenhouse,   fencing,
power-line, for vegetable garden         45,785.14
Proj. No. 7-B-31—Stucco exterior, Cedar Cottage   8,122.00
Proj. No. 7-B-32—New fire-alarm system       10,260.00
1,171,587.07
5,985,362.72   *$413,936.12
University Buildings
B.C. University Loan Act, 1945 "—Sundry works  1,425.53
B.C. Loan Act, 1951," Sec. 3 (c):   University—Electrical substation 43,000.00
B.C. Loan Act, 1951," Sec. 3 (d): University—Construction and
equipping Medical  Faculty  and  Pathological  Building,  Vancouver
General Hospital, for use of the University of British Columbia  507,484.91
B.C. Loan Act, 1952," Sec. 3 (b):  University—Sundry works  30.20
Sub-total, Capital Votes (including University Loans)  $6,588,521.00     $413,936.12
Grand total, Public Works Department expenditures  $10,043,511.48 $1,125,433.78
* Federal grants received tor the following in Vote 344 (Construction of Provincial Buildings):—
Proj. No. 7-B-21—300-bed unit, Woodlands School _.  $279,959.66
Proj. No. 5-B-18—TB. unit, Essondale _       86,250.00
Proj. No. 89-B—Provincial Health Building, Vancouver _       36,476.46
Proj. 152-B—Child Guidance Clinic and Day Hospital, Burnaby       11,250.00
$413,936.12
VICTORIA, B.C.
Printed by Don McDiarmid, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty
1956
360-1056-5222