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

| THE WEEKLY REPUBLIC
WILL BE PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
which alone cost large portion of the appro-
priated. Contracts were made for the execution of
the work. but the contractors for the bridge having
discoDkinued their operations 1t WAS finished by
| "day's work"
| The payments under this head have exceeded the
appropriation by $4,l35 81, and there will be a
balance due to the contractors for the emban
when his uccount shall be settled. For the payment
of these sums, and the further improvement of the
avenue. by setting curbstones, paving guters, and
planting trees further appropriation Of 80 900 10
asked. The paving Of CUTTERS 10 essentially neces
| sary to prevent the new embankmcnt of earth from
being washed away.
Continving Pavement around the Capitol Square
The SUN of y 900 appropriated for ths object
only intended to pay certain outstanding claims for
work done on the north, south, and west sides Of
the square, the whole Of which has been applied
The east front Of the square is not yet paved
have therefore estimated for it {, 500.
| Grading and Paving 18th and l4fh Sreets.-
| These streets have both been we'll paved where
| they pass through the public Maii-say from the
| canal to south b street
Grading and Improving Maryland Avenue from
tn Street to the Potomac Rivsr.-The estimate upon
which the appropriation for this work granted
contemplated very desirable change in the sstab-
shed grade of this avenue from llth street to the
| river. ] therefore obtained from the gentleman
| who is charged by the Government with the duty
of completing and revising the grades of the city.
prepared and recommended plat of grades which
| was supposed to be satisfactory to all parties
then advertised for proposals for grading and gra-
Yelling. but before they were received il was ascer-
tanned that one or more persons owning improved
property had refused their consent ~ the change
| of grade except upon condition of being paid the
cost OF necessary alterations in their houses.
| to adapt them to the change OF the avenue. 1t
| WOULD have been waste of money to put gravel
| on the surface of street already much too high;
| declined. therefore, to expend any thing upon
4 that part of the avenue and have only graded and
gravelled that part which extends from 7th TO llth
street, where alteration in the grade was noces-
| sary. In doing this the sum OF $a,25O % was ex-
| pended. The balance of the appropriation, $4,-
| 249 II, will not complete the work proposed.
| have a further appropriation of $500 to be OK
| pended when the existing difficulties shall be re-
moved This will finish the work and construct
wall at ts southern extremity to protect 1t from
| the action Of the river.
| Grading and Paving nth Street from Psnnsyl-
pania to Ne,D York Arenue, and containing Se,oer.-
| The street has been properly graded and paved,
| and the culvert extended, for sum within the
| amount appropriated, the small balance having
been expended in improving the connexion be-
tween that street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Completing the Graveiing on - Shesf.-The ap-
preparation Of ST. 200 (by the act of 3Oth septem-
ber, ls50) has been applied, and the street is in
excellent order. OF the appropriation made by
the same act for irnPIoving Indiana apenue. bal
| ance of 1881 81 came to my hands, which has
been expended in gravelling a mere carriage way
from lst to Sd streets have estimated the cost Of
completing the gravelling setting the curbstono.
| paving the cutters. and planting this avenue with
trees from Sd street to New Jersey avenue, at
| 5000.
THE PUBLIC BRIDGES.
| The bridge across the Potomac is at this time
safe for the passage Of heavy wagons. Much Of the
wood work is very old and decayed. The amount
expended by me in repairs Is $50 20. including
| the compensation Of the draw keepers. There re-
mains in the Treasury Of the last appropriation $%
600. This sum is quite nsuthcientto make general
repair Ihave estimated that 20 900 will
be required for this object and for the pay Of tho
| keepers during the next fscal year. The frequent
occurrence Of heavy freshets in the Potomac
poses this bridge to destruction from ice. owing to
the plan upon which it il built and It 10 worthy Of
| consideration whether steam ferry would not be
| the best of crossing the Virginia channel.
The bridges across the Eastern Branch have been
repaired 30 far as the sum appropriated would jus
tify. reserving only enough to pay the keepers 10
July These structures arc also very old, and
| require more than the usual amount FOE repairs.
| / have estimated the sum necessary for repairs,
and pay Of keepers. at s.. 900. The utmost econ
omy hss been used in making repairs, the draw
keepers being required to assist In that work.
| THE AUXILIARY euAsp.
| The numerical force OF this valusble watch
| having been increased by the act Of 3D. Of March
| last, the expenditures have been increased also.
Beside the liked pay OF the guard, the sum OF
| s222 % has been aI pended for repair Of watch
house, OIL fuel, &c The uney pended portion Of
the appropriation will be sufficient Tor the remain
der OF the fiscal year. 1h. efficiency OF the guard
| has been much increased by the addition to It's
number, and increased security is fel, 10y tho
| community.
| coMPsssATios or VARIOUS PsssoSs, Sro.
| The compensation Of the public gardener aud
the leborers employed ON the public grounds under
his direction, the keeper Of the western gate, the
messenger employed at the crypt. and the lsborers
employed ia cleaning the rotunda and water
closets has up end OF the lsst fiscal year. been
provided for IN the same appropriation ne the re-
| pairs Of the Capitol. Up 20 the Let OF July last
i ttav Maid from hat hat tot
they were paid out Of the specific appropriations
made Tor these objects. The accompanying state
ment Of moneys expended" by me viii show that
thes. persons, as well IA the additional ~atchmsu
on the Capitol grounds and the vstcbmen EN-
ployed in and about the Presideurs House. under
| the act OF 30 March last, have all been cOmpen-
sated according to law.
/ IiosTtNo pkSssyLy.sIs AvsSUg, THu CAPITOL,
AND pasaDsST's souss.
Shortly sfer came into office, I received q let
ter from the President Of the Washington Gas.
Light Company complaining OF the very bad con-
dition of the gas pipes laid upon Psnnsylvanis
avenue. stating that "the leskag. - nov over
twenty per cent, and in shor, tune they would
be wholly useless" sscertsined, upon invs-ti-
CATION, that the pipes we're unsound, aud had been
badly laid, but had no means my d,spo~al tor
| correcting the evil. An appropriation Of $1,000
made at the lsst session Of Congfess for
tending gss pipes and providing lamp posts, nc.
in front OF the Executive buildings and President.
House, but ths sum would scarcely be sufficient to
iny good p,pss, Of an enlarged srs, over the pro-
posed extent.
| A proposition therefore made by the Gas
| Company " to lsy free OF cost 10 the Government
| the new pipes required for the executive square
nd buildings, on the condition of having the pri
vileGe of taking up the Government pipe, and sub
stituting one properly laid and competent for all
wants, and relsying the old one one of the lees
| important streets" After q full examination OF
the subject by the Hon. Secretary Of the Interior,
| he authorized me to accept the proposal, with
| condition. however. that the company should be
| bound al all times TO supply the Government With
gas. - OF quality not inferior TO that nVw (then)
IN use, all hours Of the night or day and in sucb
/ quantity ns may be required, (aitsr lst OF Isnu-
sry, 1927 at the rate of three dollars and fifty
cents per thousand cubic feet" I accordingly en-
| tered into a contract with the Gsshght Company,
| ON the ltth Of June last, upon these terms not
however, binding the United States 10 use THE gas
| IL il shall be determined otherwise. BY THE
rsngemsnt the appropriation for extending gas
pipes and providing lamp posts and lamps IN front
Of the executive buildings will be much more than
sufficient to provide very handsome lamps and
| posts. OF this appropriation only 3 40 has been
| expended.
| The Caalfght Cpmpsny has laid down a good