The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-03
REPORT Oh THE c0MAIssIoNER OF PUBLIC
BUILDINGS. .,s
oSrcr OF COMmsslosER OF Pubic BpILDRas


section of the civil and dipomauc appropriation act APP
proved August 1854 respectfully report TO you the OPP
eratons OF this Office during the LAST year. and the manner
OF applying respectively the appropriations eohmted to
The duties Of the Commissioner extend over the whole
city and numerous various, and oneous To enter
into detailed description of all that has been done would
make this report ponderous document and was not con
tempaed by the provision Of law under which is made
SHALL therefore, conne myself the important OBJ
ct mainly such as OF pubceharacter and in which
general interest may be presumed TO be felt
Extensive repairs have been made the Capitol and
Presidents House The roofs of both buildings sustained
much damage from the heavy OF last winter and the
ceilings dscoored otherwise injured The leaks
have been closed the discooraons and the other
injuries remeded. hot-water heating apparatus has
been erected in the crypt In the south end of the main
building of the Capitol in the place of two hotar furnaces
which, from long use had become nearly good for nothing
The furnace is principally intended to aid in heating the
Congressional Library. IL has heating surface OF fifteen
hundred square feet and when the water kept up TO the
boiling point of air equal TO the size of the fue
through which passes flows into the library at temper
allure of Ito to 20 degrees satisfied that this fur
does all that expected of it, and that IL will con-
tribute its full share of heat towards rendering the library
comfortable.
ton for heating the library and requested by those
Immediately in charge Of the library to two hotar
furnaces to be erected in the place OF the howaer furnaces
In the crypt under the north end of the Capitol could
not well refuse yielding my assent to this request but
must in justice TO myself state that do not approve OF
heating apartments with air that has been in contact with
intensely irou ana Tor many and substantial re
sons which it is unnecessary for to state in this report
The old furnaces have been removed, and workmen
now engaged in erecting the hotar furnaces which will
no doubt be ready for they will be required
The Improvement of the botanic garden has been COM
peted SO far as grading soing and making the gravel
walks are concerned The dam at the mouth of the creek
will be constructed during the present fall and far
the appropriation will authorize trees and shrubbery will
be planted portion of the wall Of the creek was thrown
which has been rebuilt To pave the CUTTERS and connect
by ootbrdge over the creek the north walk small adj
dhonal appropriation will be necessary.
An appropriation made in the civil and diplomatic
act for the year 1885, for the erection of suitable house
for the plants which had recently been brought from Japan
for the government caused two houses instead of one
to be erected plan recommended Sy the experienced
horticultural in charge of the national greenhouses They
are admirably adapted for the preservation and propaga
ton of the plants, and have been highly approved by
distinguished horcuurss who have recently visited this
city.
The repairs improvements and extension of the seed
room and greenhouse contemplated by the appopra
ton made at the last session. in progress some OF them
already nearly completed and is my purpose that all OF
them shall be before the beginning Of winter
large barrel sewer seven feet in diameter, has been
constructed in straight line through Judiciary square,
from the intersection of and Fourth the inter-
section of and Fifth streetsa distance Of upwards of
one thousand feeand lateral sewer of three feet in d.
ameer and two hundred feet in length has been made and
connected with it SO to carry off the water of natural
stream which takes its rise New York avenue imme
dlaey north OF the square, and discharged into it.
This is an important Improvement removing an offensive
nuisance and contributing largely to the preservation of
health in the central portion of the city, The small appro
priaon for filling the ravine in the square su
cien to give it such grade drain the water when
it rains either into the sewer the surrounding streets 1t
is desirable that the square should be filed up to its
per grade and with that shall present to you fur
Their estimate for continuing the grading.
The old West markehouse has been removed, and the
triangular space occupied by it has been enclosed with a
handsome iron railing and the grounds graded and soiled
The Franklin engine-house has also been taken down,
and the triangular space it occupied similarly enclosed
and the grounds ready for culture Both of these rangu
will ha nlpptp with and md
IN other suitably ornamened as soon as the
son will permit.
The Circle, in Pennsylvania avenue near Georgetown,
was planted last fall with trees and shrubbery which,
ing to the severity of the winter not in thriving
condition had hoped and expected Unfortunately
appropriation made for it this year, and of
have been unable make any additions to it in the way
OF ornament or even to have properly attended and cu
tvated Its present enclosure is of rough wooden Slabs
and was only designed to be temporary 10 worthy of
handsome iron railing enclosure and shall include
1t in my neral estimate of appropriations.
The grading and improvement of the Mall between 18th
and l4th Streets have been prosecuted with great vgo
and hope by the close of the have it finished
am satisfied that in design beauty and taste it will
pare avoraby with any Of the public grounds in the city
and in saying this much discaim the slightest credit for
the pan as that is due to the gentleman who designed it
presume it is the intention of Congress continue the
gradual Improvement of the Mall until the whole is
pleed The sum necessary for continuing the improve
ment of the unmproved portions of the Mall will be found
in my estimate
The trapping of the mouths of the sewers on Pennsyl
owing to the difficulty of procuring proper materials but
have now reason to believe that it will be finished in
sh ort time
The extension of the cuvcrt in Indiana avenue through
which Tber creek passes the full width OF the avenue has
been common ed 1t is work of great difficulty, and
Shall feel anxious about until the foundations have been
well secured The creek is subject sudden and great
rise whenever there fall of any considerable quantity
OF rain, and the torrent sweeps everything before it tina,
can be moved We have had heavy rain since the work
commenced but by the foresight and judcious arrange
ment of the intelligent and skfu mechanic who has it
charge, suffered no injury from the rushing waters
Without accident expect the culvert will be finish
ed by the middle of November
The alteration of the district courtroom commenced
as soon as possession could be obtained after the adjourn
ment OF the criminal 1t is thorough including cell
ing aan floor and the work is pressed forward with all
practicable DESPATCH with the view be ready by the
session OF the circuit court From present appearances
think that end may be attained.
had hoped, with the appropriation made at the last
session of Congress for the repairs of the Potomac East
ern Branch bridges TO have placed them in substantial
and safe condition; but the diversion of large portion
OF IT to the defraymen OF the expense of making the
veys estimates and plans with the view the erection
new bridge ms directed by Congress and the limitation
the expenditure on the Potomac bridge to one thousand
dollars in accordance with the decision OF the Comptro
Ter OF the Treasury viii enable me to accomplish but lit
tie towards binding together the old rcketty and totter
ing fabric so as to preserve uninterrupted the
ton between the two Shores and to guard against acct
dents The travel and the amount of produce brought
over the bridge almost incredbe and any Interrupt
ton to Its passage would not only be severely felt in the
sudden and great enhancement in the prices Of many
ces that enter into general consumption but would like
wise shut out the citizens of the neghborng counties
virginia from easy to market where they al
ways sure to find ready sale for the products of their la
bor
10 Iaao, 49, 4.