Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-18
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

are OF more special interest for our District
readers.
The Commissioner CDR Blake) states that
since he has been in Office the grounds north
Of the Capitol have been filled up and graded,
and the work has been transferred to those
south Of the Capitol, where the small balance
OF the appropriation that remains will be iu
diciously expended. To complete the unSn.
ished portion that has been commenced. and
which must necessarily be embrac ed in apy
plan that may be adopted, will REQUIRE
So, 900. This sum may strike the casual oh.
server as being large in comparison with the
amount expended in grading the grounds
north of the Capitol but it is readily ex-
planned by the greater extent Of surface and
deptn OF hlllng up, which are more than five
tunes as much as was required on tho north
SIDE OF the Capitol. As no plan for the extern
SION OF the Capitol grounds has been adopted,
1t Is impossible to state what amount Of filling
up and grading will be necessary, and of course
no estimate of the final cost can at this time be
made In the opinion of the Commissioner, il
would be advisable TO adopt plan as SOON as
possible, and proceed to carry it out without
delay, so that when tho Capitol is completed
the grounds may be in a condition correspond
ing with the extent and magnifcence of the
building.
The Improvement of the Botanic Garden
needs an appropriation Of $3.50 to complete
the grading and soiling, with the necessary
gravel walks and dam at the mouth of the
creek and to improve and ornament it, an
additional sum Of 81 900 will be necessary
The stone wall forming the southern bound
airy of the park at the Presidents, for the re-
moval Of which an appropriation was made by
Congress, remains untouched, for the reason
that the plan it was designed to carry into
effect was found to be inconsistent with tho
plan adopted for the extension of the Treasury
building. The Commissioner recommends that
the appropriation be made available for taking
down the wall, and improving the grounds
south Of it according to such plan as may be
approved by the President
The progress upon the Patent Office build
Ing is Satisfactory One story has been finished
and Is occupied by portion of the clerical
force OF the General Land Office. 1t is ex-
pected that the remainder of the building will
be ready for occupancy during the approach
ing winter, and that the portico and whole
exterior Of the building will be completed
during the next season.
An appropriation of $40, 900 is recommended
to extend the court house portion of the City
Hall. The eastern half of the centre build
ing and the east wing of the City Hall are ap-
prOpriated to the several courts Of the District
Of Columbia, and to the Office of the clerk
and marshal. 1t often happens, from the con-
nict OF the courts holding their sessions at the
same periods, that the Criminal Court is
obliged to tresPass upon the courtesy of the
corporation and occupy the Council chamber.
Congress has heretofore been memorialized, by
the parties Immediately interested, for an sp-
preparation to add to that portion of the CITY
Hall set apart for the courts, SO as to provide
for theiy better accommodation, and especially
for the Criminal Court.
Pennsylvania avenue requires much repair
and especially the gravelled portion of it,
leading from First street towards the Congress
sional burying ground.
The attention of the Secretary of the Interior
is called to the great nuisance the Centre mar
ketis to the avenue. The beauty of this great
thoroughfare Of the city is much narred by the
old and unsightly edifce, and during market
days it not unfrequently happens that its free
passage is INSTRUCTED by country wagons
which extend from Seventh to Eleventh street,
and create so much filth and litter rs to render
the avenue a decided nuisance. Visitors to
the city often express their surprise that such
. market-house should be permitted to remain
on the avenue and the nuisance it creates is
no uncommon complaint among the citizens
Unless proper measures should be adopted by
the Corporation of the city for the speedy
abatement of the nuisance, by the erection of
q more suitable building, and the Immediate
passage OF an ordinance to preserve cleanli-
ness about the premises and to prevent the
occupancy Of the avenue by wagons or pro-
duce, the interposition Of Government au-
IL.
house removed.
Attention is called also to the condition of
the mall which was designed by the founders
Of the city for a magnificent park, and which
remains uncared for with the exception of the
space between Seventh and Twelfth streets,
occupied by the Smithsonian Institution. In
the year 1850, the sum of So 900 was appro-
priated by Congress for the improvement Of
the mall from Sixth street westward TO the
Pocomac river, and almost the whole Of this
amount was expended in doing damage to
the beautiful natural surface Of the plat be-
tween Twelfth and Fourteenth streets The
mischief there done may be partially rsmc-
died, but cannot be entirely obviated without
q larger expenditure than Congress would
probably sanction.
The bridges across the Potomac and its east
ern branch are in very bad condition, and
stand in need Of extensive repairs to render
them safe. The caps and stringers are much
decayed, and require inceSsant vigilance to
guard against serious accident. An appro-
priation Of sll 900 will be required to render
them safe; an appropriation of 81 500 to buy
lot and build house for the bridge keeper
at Benning's bridge, is recommended.
From correspondence with the mayors Of
different cities, it is found that Government is
paying vastly more for gas than other cities,
but the Commissioner is at a loss to suggest
remedy, as unfortunately the pipes laid by
the government nave Deen L8nsIereQ 10 the
Washington Gaslight Company. No good rea-
con is perceived why gas should cost SO much
more in this than in other cities, and thinks
the whole subject worthy Of serious considera-
ton
The case Of the Franklin Engine-house is
mentioned. The Franklin Fire Company was
organized with an especial view to the pro-
lection against fire Of the Presidents House
and the adjacent Executive buildings, and
consequently the house they occupy was
erected for them and the engine given to
them by the Government. 1t is one of the
best companies in the city, being composed of
active, energetic young men, who always sig
nalize themselves whenever their services are
called in req uisition. 1t is apprehended that
unless the Government provides a house, in
lieu of the building that is to be taken down,
the company will disband, an event greatly
to be regretted on account Of the city and the
Government. The Commissioner is satisfied
it would be sound policy in the Government
to extend a fostering care to the fire cOmpa-
mics, and especially to such as are conve-
nientlv ocatad In the puhli huildin0s