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

thing more than casual repairs, have stated in
another place Of this report, euch improvements
must be provided for by direct appropriations from
the treasury, not done at ALL Those of the most
urgent necessity at this time and which deem it
my duty TO recommend to the consideration of Con-
gress those parts of 18th and I4th streets which
pass through the mall, and that part Of
south Of Pennsylvania avenue, so far at 1e the
extent of the grounds connected with the War and
Navy Departments. would recommend that
| these be paved with round stone.
would also earnestly recommend to the tayora-
BILE consideration of Congress the grading and inn
proving Maryland avenue from Seventh street
west to the Potomac bridge distance of two thou
sand eight hundred feet That division east OF Sc
vcnth street to the Capitol has been well improved
but the western extension, though many years ago
partially improved by Government funds in con-
ncxion with the Improvements of the Potomac
bridge, at the same time, ia now in such a conoi-
| ton some occasions to defy the passage Of
heavy loaded ,caIns. Its connexion with the Poto-
mac bridge renders il an important thoroughfare,
| besides that OF its being the road which the
passengers daily conveyed between the railroad
| terminus and the steamboats, connected with the
northern and southern lines of trade; and nearly all
the merchandise brought by water is necessarily
conveyed to the merchants on the avenue by the
same route This, well as most Of the other ave.
nues, being of great width of carriage way, il it
was well graded and covered with thick layer of
gravel, would endure for many years without much
expense of repair have caused careful estimate
to be made OF the cost of this improvement, and be-
lieve it may be relied approximately correct
1t embraces repairing the curbs, footways, CUTTERS
gregate amount is $6,50O
GAS LIGHTS.
| Under the appropriation for lighting the Capitol
and Capitol grounds, Pennsy ylvania avenue, and
the Presidents house, gas has been supplied by the
! Washington Gas Light Company, by means Of the
Government pipes, for all the burners at those
| points during the year, and, SO far | have the
means of ascertaining, (wIth few exceptions, to
an ample and satisfactory extent, in quantity
we'll quality. The company has now reduced
the price Of gas twenty per cent, since the date Of
my last report; in which took occasion to remark
that the price then charged was excessively high.
The superiority OF gas any other kind OF light,
| furnishes, in my opinion, sufficient for
extending its advantages to such other of the pub
| lie buildings or institutions may not be too
mote from the present pipes to justify the extension
| Of sufficient branches for the purpose. would
fret recommend an extension from the main pipes,
| from the avenue in 10Th street, in front of the
Treasury and State Departments, thence the
avenue passing the north front Of the Presidents
house; and from thence down l7th street,
for the grounds Of the War aud Navy De-
partncnts extend. This line is now lighted by
oil, and have doubt at insch greater cost
than gas would be, while it affords not ono
fourt, the light. A branch might be extended
New Jersey avenue, as ocover the front and afford
lights in the interior Of the Coast Survey Office, at
n very small expense. There several other
Government institutions in the city consum-
ing considerable light, but isolated from each
other and from the present main pipes, that, until
there is population on the streets leading to them
| their supply with gas, manufactured in the usual
way, would be attended with large expense, conf
pared with those have spoken of. The Navy Yard
is perhaps the least liable to that objection few
years will most likely these difficulties,
far TO enable all parts of the city to be supplied
| with gas, well as water.
The appropriation for lights on the avenue, Cap
| ito, and Presidents house, for the present fiscal
year, will, presume be sufficient, and thus con-
clude that the same amount for the present num-
Der Of burners will be sufficient for the next fiscal
year. But if the pipes should be extended, md the
number of burners increased the cost Of gas would
be proportionaby incrcasci.
wATER-woRxs.
/ The iron pipes, through which water is drawn
! from the Government spring, about two mile.
north of the city, for the OF the Capitol and Ex
ecutivc buildings, is believed to be in good order.
AS is generally known, the quantity of water from
this source is totally insufficient for the objects
templated, and is rendered more so, as have
to believe, by drafts made it for private USE
from those pipes along Pennsylvania avenue.
One Of the important purposes for which This
water designed was that Of watering the
nue. but the supply has been so inadequate, even
for the other more indispensable objects, that little
or application OF il has been made for that pur
pose for some years past.
As understand surveys are now being made by
a distinguished officer OF the Typographical Bu-
reau with view tain the practicability and
cost Of obtaining more ample supply Of water for
! the Government and city purposes, under an ap
| preparation made last session for that purpose,
means for obtaining such limited additional sup
ply as possibly might be obtained by pipes of larger
capacity from the present source OF supply.
POTOMAC pHIpGE.
| livery briefly alluded in my report Of last year
to the condition of the Potomac bridge, upon which
| l should have submitted further remarks, but for
the fact that survey OF the river above the bridge
and full examination of the bridge, had been
ordered by resolution of Congress, and knowing
that, in compliance with this resolution, such
| vey and examination had been made under the di-
| rections of the Typographical Bureau, and that a
report upon the subject would probably be made
| to Congress by the time my report was presented
to Congress; as anticipated, the report made,
and is now among the printed documents OF Con-
gress
That report recommends the reconstruction of
the bridge its present site, upon plan of more
extended sections; such, infer, that part the
Virginia side, constructed como seven or eight
years ago, resting upon piles. supported by sribs
filled with stone. This plan of construction is, in
my judgment, the best that can be adopted for the
naygable interest," and aso to render the structure
less liable to be injured by frcshcts The report
further recommends the taking up OF all the cause
way across the middle flats. Ihavc much doubt Of
the expcdency of that proposition; at any rate, II 1t
should be determined to take up the causeway, it
might well be deferred until the other two divisions
Of the bridge could be constructed.
lwoud most respectfully recommend that an
appropriation be made the present session for pro-
crossing with the work. That division Of the open
structure the city shore might be rebuilt the
i present year. The sum of $4,000, l presume,
would be sufficient for tina. much. And I would
further recommend that the material of construc-
| ton should be iron.
The appropriation "for repairs of the bridges
the eastern branch Of the Potomac, and for objects
Incidental thereto, was S 900. Thick ofthese
| two bridges, which ia the longer, has been we'll
paired, and now satisfies the public convenience.
The upper bridge, known as the Anacostia, is in
progress of repair, and will be, practica
bic, placed in equally good condition.
| The appropriation provided for the pay OF two
draw keepers" at each bridge; but, on exa-
mnaton am led to believe that one draw-keeper.
stationed at the lower bridge, where such services
are almost exclusively required, and seldom re-
quired even there, viii be sufficient to attend both
| bridges Unless circumstances should hereafter
require another draw keeper there will be SO much
more of the annual appropriation applicable to re-
pairs. There has been expended 50 far S ,359 II,
| aud in addition TO the balance on hand, an ap-
preparation of $500 will be necessary to com
plete tho rcpairs for the present fiscal year, and