Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-13
Communicated
The Report OF the Com m ssioner of the
Public Buildings.

.- Communicated
The Report OF the Com m III Toner OF the
Public Buildings.
In looking the report of the Commissioner Of what
he had done since his appointment, and what he
mends to be done, not little mortified to observe
certain insnuatons duplicating the character Of the late
incumbent Ignatus Mudd who hns believe always been
regarded by his felowitzens honest and upright
though not educated lie had with him, however,
cerkpad, for the most part, by htaasC-as competent
an officer understand, the employed by the
present incumbent, and whose books, have doubt,
kept with at least equal correctness and The
present Commissioner states that the extended dsburse
ments and abors Of the office render 1t matter of mpossi
by for any individual to discharge tho duties Of Commits
oner without the assistance Of clerk 1t not done
when the Disbursements $500 900 per annum,
but $5oo0o There must be error in this state
ment The disbursements the records think will show
while the Commissioner paid for the services OF his
Clerk who received but small compensation, double the
expenditure he mentions for which he received the salary
The Treasury, Post Office and Patent Once build
ngs erected Mt annual expenditure Of double the
amount the present Commissioner states that he has
pended during the last year. When Commissioner Lane
died. Mr. Egar who had boen his clerk proposed that
pointed he would discharge the duties of the office ofComm
soner without the assistance of clerk 900 per
lie appointed and continued in office till Dismissed by
General Jackson he discharged with great fidelity and
efficiency his official duties without assistance though those
Is In fact present nothing than clerk and
the salary he would all times command the
vices Of qualified both from taste and education, to fill
the Office in creditable to the government He
should, however be than mere clerk The person
selected to fill the Office Of Commissioner Of the Public
Buildings and Grounds should possess ordinary quaif
cations 1t is not enough that he should know how to keep
regular account of his receipts and disbursements Of the
he enters into the number of hands he employs
and pays &C. but he should be- In degree acquainted
with architecture engineering landscape gardening and
above ALL of taste. Such should, Of course
compensation equivalent to his talents and attain
Unfortunately, have never had such officer
since the office created and hence the want of plan and
taste In the disposition and arrangement of the public
grounds. Mr. Downing the rural architect WILL from his
experience and TASTE make the most of the patches
squares been selected to lay OUT but they will be
nothing apprehend from the want of space than
cumps of trees erpenne walks and doubt taste
fully arranged such limited spaces will admit of and
pleased to that skfu has been employed to
lay improve the public grounds 1t Is Perhaps to
be regretted that person Of similar taste and qualifications
had been appointed at much earlier period that
handsomer form might have been given TO the Capitol
grounds But to return: The Commissioner recommends
the grading and paving with round stone the Pennsylvania
avenue from 18th street to Rock creek; to plant with
and relay the flag footways to grade and gravel New
York avenue 18th the Observatory, &c This
is all well enough; but think it would be equally If not
important grade pave, plant with trees and light
with gas that portion of Pennsylvania which
tends from the Navy Yard; because in
that direction great public OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
Marine Barracks and Navy Yard-wthout including the
Congressional Burial Ground are located; while in the
direction he recommends to be improved there IL
public establishment whatever. But have objection
these suggested improvements provided they not
tho exclusion of the eastern portion of the city,
which has heretofore been altogether too much
elected. Although did not properly appertan to the
duty of the Commissioner to speak of the Congressional
Cemetery 1t be proper in this conuexon to suggest
that small appropriation should be made for the further
improvement that last resting of the dead that
the skill of the rural architect should be engaged
make it like the Pre La Chas-a beautiful garden of
the graves defective, the trees numerous and the
whole not attended to and improved 1t should be
der 1t what might be msde-an attractive though
choy resort to the meditatve, afflicted, and sorrowful
may, hereafter comment large the dsorderly
collection Of children that permitted TO assemble
Sabbath without restraint check, the great injury
the tombs headtones and other mementoes Of the
And will ask how 1t happens that the whole direction
and emouments Of this Burial Ground should
apperain exclusively to the vesry of Christ Church, be-
eve of the weathiest churches in Washington If
correctly informed, the Presbyerians contributed
largely the Epicopsans TO this Cemetery and the only
assigned for the transfer that church that
the vestry incorporated bodyi
mar l3-1t AN OLD CITIZEN