The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-27

been expended in ..improving that portion OF 18th
street east which is between Pennsylvania avenue
and the Navy Yard bridge" This street Is OF
leading those W no enter the city from
several of the counties of Maryland. It's improve
ment was asked for by the Corporation OF Washing
ton and directed 10 be made by the rresiueh' vi
the United States according TO the i2th secuoh Oh
the act to continue alter, and amend the charter
Of the city of Washington, approved may IL,
lSas Under the came provision oil law, the sum oil
1851 rs has been expended IN repairing tne
opened and constructed by the United States, most
of which repairs were made necessary by an extra
ordinary fall of rain which occurred about the loth
of August last. The sum of S4,3I9 80 has been
paid for flag f otways in front Of public spaces,
and opening streets in front OF public grounds,
nearly all Of which had been expended by my pre-
decessor, but remained unpaid at the time OF ms
death. For removing nuisances from pubhc
grounds, and filling up where required, the sum OF
1921 81 has been paid; and for postage station
cry, printing, and other incidental expenseo the
office, $9l.
The number of lots sold since the l4th of March
last is 49, and from the books OF the office 1t APP
pears that Mr.. Mudd had sold II alter the date OF
his report; making the number cold withih Inc
year 1851 to be 204 lots
Deductipg these from the number reported by
Mr. Mudd as unsold the LIST of January, 1851,
viz 1852, would leave 9IS as the number OF city
lots unsold the Let of january, 1852. This,
however, is based upon the superstition that the
number stated by Mr.. Mudd was correct;
but fear that that report may have been incorrect
as have been discovered in the lists made
out from the books.
Having now "reported the manner in which all
appropriations for the public buildings and grounds
have been applied, and the number OF public lots
sold and remaining unsold," beg leave very re-
speCtfully to recommend the following as new OBJ
iscts Of improvement, viz:
To grade and pave with round stone the carriage
way Of Pennsylvania avenue from 18th street to
Rock creek. To set the curbstone, and pave within
the same for the width OF five feet with brick. To
plant the Avenue with trees, and to relay the flag
iooways Estimated cost, S "a, los
To grade and gravel New York avenue from
18th street west the United States Observatory.
To set the curbstone, pave gutter eight feet
wide, and pave within the curbstone with brick
for a width OF five feet, and plant the avenue with
trees. Estimated cost, s 500.
To grade and gravel Virginia avenue from llth
street east the public Mall near the Washng ton
Monument; TO pave gutter on each side thereof;
to set the curbstone and pave with BRICK Tor
width OF twelve feet within the same In front oil
public reservations; lay flag footways in front of
public spaces. and construct brick bridge over
the canal Estimated cost. $4,000.
To grade and gravel North Capitol street from
b to street, Cat such grade as may be adopted by
the Corporation of Washington and approved by
the President of the United States;) to set the
curbstone, and pave within II with brick, Tor a
width of five feet TO set the curbsione, pave the
cutters, and lay flag iootways where necessary
and plant the street with trees. Estimated COST
$3.50
And to grade and gravel Delaware avenue north
Of the Capitol, from to street; to set the curb
stone and pave the footway for width OF five feet
within the same, pave the cutters and lay nag
iootways where necessary, and plant the Avenue
with trees. Estimated cost, $4,000.
By the existing regulations Of this city, the foot
ways OF streets and avenues having Width of 100
feet and upwards, all 10 be 20 feet wide the
line for the being four feet outside OF the curb
stone w hen Congress directed Pennsylvania ave
nue., which is loo feet wide, to be paved, IT was
provided that the footways should be s. feet wider
than before; making IT. including the curbstone 20
feet wide-thus bringing the trees within the curb
line The advantage of this change Is SO univer
sally Acknowledged, that 0y predecessor, Mr..
Mud, in the improvement OF New Jersey avenue,
south OF the Capitol placed the curbstone 25 feet
from the building line; and In finishing that ave
nue. have carried out the plan which he com
menced. | would respectfully recommend that,
wherever the Government undertakes the improve.
ment of any avenue street Of over the width
of 1870 feet, the footway should be extended To the
width of % feet. Where the carriage way is to be
paved, the Coet not increased, the brick pawn
being cheap the stone BY this means the
proper proportion between the carriage-way and
the sidewalks on these very broad streets is pro-
served
In concluding my report, l must beg to be
cused for asking the attention OF your honorable
body to a subject which find by the report of the
Commissioner Of the 2lst January, 1850, was then
presented TO your notice refer 10 appropria-
ton TO compensate a clerk in this ottce.
In addition 10 the reasons then assigned for the
appointment Of such an officer, can add that the
extended disbursements and labors Of the office
renders il a matter OF impossibiity for any indi-
ydual 70 discharge the duties Of Commissioner OF
Public Buildings without the assistance Of clerk.
IL was not done even when the disbursements-
now over 100000 per annum-were but about
-50,0 900. Prior TO the act reducing the salary of
the Commissioner from SO 900 TO $1,000 per an
nun, he allowed the services Of a clerk. From
thai period the Commissioner out OF his salary Of
$4,000, has been Obliged 20 employ his own clerk.
Since have been in office ! have had the undi
Vided services Of a competent clerk, not only dur
ing ordinary office hours, bot generally all the
day and often at night. This extraordinary at
tendance is necessary for the performance OF du-
ties required at the Office. Most Of my time is EN-
.p0yed IN the performance OF official duties else
where. This being Office Of record, IL is rcqui.
cite that IL should be accessible at all business
hours. During these IL IL never closed.
have estimated for the compensation Of a clerk,
aud trust that you will not refuse 10 grant II.
THE estimates and tabular statement Of eTpen.
dturcs Of the several appropriations referred to in
the report are omitted
Most respectfully submitted.
(SiQned) WILLIAM Easily,
Commissioner Public Buildings.
FEBRUARY II, 1854.