The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-07

TO give place to the fence These works in pro-
gress, and presume will be so far completed as to
admit the fencing to be done in time for the plant
ing Of trees the ensuing spring. considerable por
ton of these grounds, the most extensive and inn
portant Of the public rcseryntions, in
condition TO receive such ornament IA the highest
skill in landscape gardening can impart, but IT will
require additional labor and expense, owing to
their disfgured and broken surface, to bring the
whole of them 20 similar condition. In this re-
spcct, from inadequacy Of means, as much the
heavy character OF the work Of preparation, have
done nothing beyond planting, in these and other
public grounds, some two thousand small trees,
nearly all Of which present remarkably thrifty
appearance. At the suggestion, however, of seve-
raj prominent gentlemen Of this city, and by the
appreciation of the President, invited A. J. Down
ing, esq. of Newburgh, New York, to examine
and inspect the public grounds with reference to
their more decorative and artistic Improvement
Mr.. Downing, who is gentleman of the first
complshments in the art Of landscape formations,
readily accepted the invitation, and upon recent
visit TO Washington for that purpose, made
thorough examination of their surface, soil, and
features From his own observation and the plats
and proiles furnished him from this Office, he will
be able to submit, at convenient period, general
plan for improving the public grounds, which
shall probably communicate to Congress.
1t is proper to state, in connexion with the I'M
provement Of this division of the public grounds,
that the managers of the National Washington
Monument Society have formally requested me, by
a resolution of their Board to construct stone wall
along the margin Oh tile Sltc upon WHICH tnc
mont is being erected, far as the Potomac river
forms its western boundary. Having no means for
such object at my disposal could not OF course
comply with the request; yet do not hesitate,
as fully approve both the necessity and pro-
priety of the proposed undertaking, to commend
it TO the favorable confederation Of Congress. At
some period or other, and the more speedily the
better, enclosure OF some kind will be necessary;
and, all things considered, stone wall should be
preferred. wooden fence, in such an exposed
locality, would be liable to constant depreciation;
and, even if there were no cause for apprehension
in that respect, be otherwise Objectionable. pre-
sumo such wall might be constructed, and its ap-
pendages provided, by an appropriation pf $a,oOo.
BY the deficiency bl'' Of the last session Sl0,-
600 was appropriated ''or continuing the improve
ment of The grounds south of the PresidoHts house,
and, incidentally necessary thereto" for cxtend-
ing the sewers from the Executive Departments and
the Presidents house to the Washington canal; and
further appropriation, for tho object, Of SIS,
900, made in the general appropriation bill, at
later period Of the session. The extension OF these
sewers, covering distance of forty seven hundred
feet, is work OF considerable magnitude, and OF
a character at all times costly; but rendered more
80 the last consequence of the scarcity and
high price of materials, and is not properly charge
able against the public grounds They arc now
nearly completed AS shown in the tabular state
mcnt OF this report, the unexpeEded balance OF the
appropriations for these improvements Ia h ,273 D,
which will be further reduced by the amount ncces-
sary to complete two of the sewers, estimated at
S 1000. This amount will hence be exclusively
applicable to the cmbankment, grading, and mat.
ers incidental thereto, which, with the sum stated
in the table Of estimates for the next fiscal year,
will be sufficient to render portion OF these grounds
fit for the reception of suitable trees and plants and
the application of such artificial means as may be
deemed appropriate to their locations and character
The square Immediately west of the Capitol en-
closure selected by the Joint Committee on the
Library, the most suitable for the location OF the
public green house.
The two small buildings on the Patent Office
square have been, as was required by the appro-
praton contained in the Deficiency bill, approved
May Is, 1850, removed, and, by the use OF such oil
the materials as were suitable, reconstructed. And
to afford ample room for the and preservation
of the botanical collection, in addition to these,
moro commodious building has been erected, which
is SO planned and located as to form wing TO some
more elevated and handsome structure. Although
these buildings may answer their purpose, the site
upon which they located will require very ex-
tensivc improvements, in consequence OF being co
low to occasionally subject 1t to an overflow from
the tide water of the canal, and some parts never
free from standing water
To remove this evil, and render the grounds ell
gible for the purpose to which they have pecn as
signed, would require the surface to be raised ana
so formed as to ensure good surface drainage at
all times; by this, and walling in the Tibcr stream
from the Pennsylvania avenue culvert to the canal
this lot of ground would present an entirely differ
ent aspect, and, Ibave no doubt, well adapted to
the ornamental features which the artlstic sKiH
of the gardener may design 1t.
The cost for materials, labor &C., so far incurred
has unavoidably exceeded the appropriation about
twelve or thirteen hundred dollars, which sum will
be further increased by the subsequent payment
of several claims which will be due to persons VINO
have not yet entirely completed their engagements
for the performance of certain portions OF the work
The location and style of execution OF these erec-
tions have been conformable to plan approved by
the Joint Committee the Library; this plan con-
templates more elevated and ornamental struc-
ture of which the present central building as be-
fore stated, is designed as the eastern wing.
In ho anti mt nf L
furnished the Treasury Department. and which VIII
be found in another part of this report inserted
an item Of $5,500. for grading and improving
Franklin square. This square was originally prl-
yate property, but was purchased by the Govern
ment some twenty years ago, because oil the nne
springs Il contains. II is from this source that tne
Executive Departments on 10th street. ana the
Presidents house, mainly supplied with water
and the supply of several streets contiguous TO 1t s
also conducted thence by the corporate authori-
ties of the city. The streets which surround II nav
ing been filled up to the proper grace renaer ~
necessary that the square itself should be graoco
and the spring, which is valuable, suitably pro-
tccted.
u Lafayette square, which fronts the Presidents
house, is among the most beautiful OF the puphc re,
scrvations, and have again to urge II, as urBcu
in my last report, upon the attention of Congress
Its location independently of the fact that 1t is set
apart for the reception Of the equestrian statue 70
General jackson, makes 1t particularly desiraoie
that il should he promptly improved. An appro-
priation of $4,000, for this purpose, (" to be cx-
pended under the direction of the President, was
made at the last session but such sum was so
manifestly inadequate to make sueh Improvements
as sound discretion and good taste would justify,
that it remains unex xpended. That appropriation
directed the grounds TO be fenced, but did not indi-
cate the character of tho fencing IL strikes me that
upon this point there should be little difference of
opinion and that all at least who feel an interest
in the public improvements in Washington. will
concur In recommending fence oil iron, not alone
on account of it's greater beauty but because tis in
the end, chcaper'than one Of wood
phc deficiency blp' appropriated $500 for
"enclosing with substantial wooden fence, grad
ing, and planting with trees, the low grounds be-
tween Third and Sixth streets" TITS sum has
been exclusively applied to that division of the
grounds but constitutes part OF the aggregate
amount of Sl2,500, which, as have before stated,
was appropriated the last session for the improve
mcnt Of the grounds west of tho Capitol A large
proportion of this sum was necessarily expended
in grading. where the grounds were low and
marsby. Their surface is thereby rendered favor-
able To- cultivation and tho planting OF trees, which