The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-04

sIONER OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
OFFICE or CoxxIsslossa OF PusLIc .BulInzres.
wAsH1No4os, February IL, teS3.
SIn: In the discharge of my olaciai duty. beg
leave to lay before the honorable body over Which
you preside the following annual report, showing
''the manner in which al appropriations fet the
public buildings and grounds have been applisd,"
30 far as they have come under my charge.
l have the honor to be, sir, your very obedient
servant, WIN. EASILY,
Commissioner of Public Buildings
Hon. LINN BovD. Speaker of the House of Repre-
seniahves.
TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Annwa! Report Of the Commissionsr Of Public Build
ings, shotcing s'the in trhsch all oppro-
pstatsons for TIE public buildings and grounds
haze been applied so for as they haze come under
his charge.
annual repairs of tie Capito ,Dater Closets public
aelts sta6tes, &c.
The late season of the year at which the appro-
priAton bill for the present fiscal year was passed,
rendered it inexpedient, if not impracticable, to
undertake, during the past fall, all Of the works
contemplated by that bill. From this cause, less
than half the amount granted for the repair of the
Capitol and its appendages has been expended.
Atthe request Of the Committee on Public Build
ings, door substituted for one If the windows
in the east front of the south wing of the Capitol
opening into the folding-room of the House Of
Representatives., and other Improvements were
made for the convenience of those employed in
that room. The cistern on the north wing of the
Capitol has been thoroughly repaired, and new
one constructed on the aouth wing capable of con-
tanning 900 gallons. On each of these suction
engine has been constructed, supplied with suf6-
cient quantity of copper-riveted hose to conduct
water to any part Of the roof. Water ia also con-
Quoted from these csterns to the several water
closets. The water closet of the House Of Repre-
sentatives has been reftted. The copper covering
of the roof has been extensively repaired. The
wood vaults under the terrace have been repaired,
and the faces thereof, ana archways, as well a.
the iron work on the terrace have all been panted
and the usual repairs within the building, such as
painting, whitewashing. glazing, &c, have also
been made.
In close connection with the repairs of the Capt.
toll is the appropriation of $4,000 to meet the ex-
penses incurred in consequence Of the fire in the
library room, in December, 1851. For this object,
including the cost. OF tin covered roof over the
committee rooms adjoining the library, which had
been unroofed, the sum of x3,2SS 81 only was
necessary.
By the fifth section of the act of 2lst July, 1882
the Commissioner was authorized to apply the un.
expended portion of this appropriation 'to the
payment of expenses incurred in repairing the
damage lately done by fire in the office of the
clerk of the Supreme Court, and in making other
repairs about the Capitol The repairs in the
clerks office, including new carpets and furniture,
cost 1SO5 on, and the balance was applied towards
the purchase of engines for the cisterns on the
roof.
To provide Room for the Congressional Library.
For this object the sum of 5 200 was appro-
prated, only ,13S 43 Of which expended,
and the best accommodation given which the
limited space assigned for the object would afford.
1t was thoroughly shelved for books, carpeted, and
furnished.
Iaking up, repairing, and reiaying the steps of the
east portico Of the Capitol, aud repairing the flag
ging under the Portico.
All of the steps have been taken up, adjusted,
and ortnan apti in Nd lir
which the arched carriage-way beneath them 10
made perfectly dry. The repair of the tagging
under the portico was commenced, but its compile
ton deferred by the frost of the season.
annual repair of the Presidenfs House, and i'm
procement Of the Ground, &c.
In addition to the common repairs which annu-
ally become necessary, the upper exterior of the
house, and the whole Of the north portico,
have been painted; new blinds have been hung to
the south windows of the principal story the
floors of the basement passage, laundry, kitchen,
and large coal room, are all laid with German
tile and the whole of the gravel walks on the
south front of the house have been newly formed,
and brick drains laid on each side. These walks
cover an area of $4,000 square yards, and the
drains mile and quarter in length. They
were an expensive work; but it has been we'll
done, and will require but slight attention for ma
ny years
On the north front of the house, the flag foot
ways around the circular road have been repaired
supplying new stone where the old were defective;
the carriage-way repaired; the coping on the
" as, and the iron fences, thoroughly repaired
and painted; and curbstone has been set and
brick pavements laid from the Treasury building
to the War and Navy Departments.
The ventilation of the basement story OF the
Presidents house is still imperfect, and will con-
tinue until better means are provided to correct
il. Ii is somewhat improved of late by fres kept
IN coal stoves in the passages. The fuel for these
stoves, well as for the entire house, is now, and
hitherto has been, paid for by the President out of
,,,p ITO fun is a a
rear took the liberty Of asking, among other ap-
,ropriations, for six hundred dollars for the pur-
base of fuel 1t was not granted but, in view Of
he justice of the measure, have renewed the APP
,lication.
Extending Gcs pipes to the Executive Buildings
and President's Square.
The great inconvenience experienced at night
rom the want Of sufficient light about the Execu-
i've mansion, has been obviated by the substitute ton
If an ample number of gas lights in place of the
ew oil lamps hitherto used. Eight large orna-
mel tai lanterns erected at the north and park
gateways, on massive candelabra, and four on
arge brackets, supported by shields, on the col
lmns of the porhco, each lantern containing hve
burners; and on the east, SOUTH and west sides OF
the house, lanterns with single burners have been
erected.
Gas lamps have also been placed around the Ex-
ecutive buildings, and in front of the Presidents
square.
Finding that the tin street lanterns heretofore in
use would not last more than four or five years and
that az they became weak they caused much eK-
pense in replacing broken glass, have, where pew
ones were required substituted strong brass ian
terms, gided. These should last twenty years
with but small repairs.
The Public Grounds.
You are aware that the public grounds, now un.
der a course of improvement. have been placed in
charge of special agent by the President of the
United States, according to law. The disburse-
ments for these improvements are still made
through this office, ia shown by the annexed
statement; butth "manner'' of the expenditures
is not officially known to the Commissioner of Pub
lie Buildings. The gentleman who fills that agency
will doubtless ma Ike report of his proceedings, if
il has not already been done.
Completing he East Wing of the Patent Office
Building
This wing of the building is 80 far complete that
it's rooms might now be occupied for the purposes
intended, All that remains to be done ID the steps
and roof of the portco; the last coat of plastering
on the large exhibition room, which 1t was deemed
best to defer until the spring, and the finishing OF
some of the painting all OF which may be done
by the lat Of May.
The grading, fencing, and otherwise improving
the grounds around this wing, can be completed
without interfering with its use.
By an error in the estimates before me last year,
the sum of money then asked for will prove in
sufficient for the completion Of this work. l have
therefore been obliged to ask for the further sum
of $4,000. This will assuredly accomplish the
end proposed. including the introduction Of gas.
nnes the fitting up of water Osets, the fixing of