The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-03
PUBLIC DOCU M EN- Z.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF
A PUBLIC BUILDINGS efI ial04
orncr COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC BUILDINGS,

a 81 OFFIcE COMMISSIONER PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
! t October 49, 1857.
Sn am required by the fifteenth section of the civil
ana diplomatic act approved August 1854 to report to
you annually the operations OF this Office, and the
ner of applying the appropriations to he dsbursed under
it's direction, in time to accompany the Presidents
sage TO Congress and now respectfully proceed to dis
| charge this duty DIV AttA@9f "a
In addition to the usual repairs Of the Capitol
have been Obliged To repair the heavy damage it sustain
ed from the great hall storm that occurred the 2ls OF
June. Every skyght In the building broken not
only the exterior hut the costly interior glass and the
copper ROOT materially injured The roof also
yodably suffers much damage from the work going In
rebuilding the domo but by carefully watching it, and
making repairs needed, think it be pre-
served from leaking have also caused portions
the wood and iron work about The Capitol likely
be injured from exposure to the weather to be cpanted
chandeliers in the Senate Chamber and Hall Of Repre-
sentattveH, which had become much defaced and of
order from long USE have been thoroughly repaired and
renovated and all the gas fittings throughout the bull
ding in good condition The annoyance occasion
ed by the frost in the winter and spring of 1885, In fire.
quently preventing half the lamps from burning induced
me TO send agent last fall to the northern cities to i-
qure into the manner of lighting and tho of pre-
venting the troubles which the source of much
complaint In this city His inquiries resulted in the
certanment of much interesting and useful information
in regard to the whole subject Of gas lighting He
enabled to apply eecta remedy to the evils of which
complained and since there has been inter
rupton to the lights from the effects of frost The
roof of the Presidents house has also suffered much dam
age from the hail storm. The copper perforated in
many places and the joints generally loosened The
the roof had to be overhauled thoroughly
repaired, and painted This involved considerable
pendture which not taken into account in preparing
estimate for the usual annual repairs of the house and
grounds 'et@ ~ 81
The green-housesin in the Presidents garden were like
wise very much damaged by the hail. than five thou
sand panes of glass destroyed.
The ceiling Of the east and the woodwork Of the
principal stories have been appropriately painted Many
other improvements have been made in and about the
building, which absolutely necessary and with which
it would not be proper to lumber this report TWILL how
ever mention that ventating flue built from the
basement to the upper story which has evidently produ
ced great Improvement in the atmosphere of the house
which before pent up and damp whenever the windows
were closed for few hours. ts
The stable for the Presidents house has been erect
ed and ready for conservatory has been built
the west terrace and is completion that in
few days the plants may be transferred to it, The Pres
dent House, is well known is in very unhealthy To-
cation The knowledge of this fact has frequently elected
the suggestion that country residence convenient the
city ought to be provided for the President where he
could take up his abode during the sicky months Of
mer and fall a
new building in some other part of the city would
doubtless obviae the objection to the present location
but central and convenient could be found The
cost of residence for the President would be
nconsdrabc in comparison with the object desired to be
attained hf
The frequent and heavy rains with which the city has
been visited during the past operated very much
to retard work of every description There often
ystogether when nothing could be done, either from
the constant fall of rain from its effect upon materials
which rendered them unfit to be worked The outdoor
work. such grading streets and public grounds
very much damaged by the rains, which added consd
erabe to their cost Since the weather has become
settled the various works in progress have been urged
forward with the utmost speed consistent with due re-
gard to stability and much has been accomplished
than could reasonably have been anticipated from the
favorable circumstances that attended the greater portion
of the working season. F 'i a3 s
The following works. which We're stated in my last re-
port to be then in progress have been finished viz the
repairs, improvements and extension of the seed-room
and greenhouse in the botanic garden the grading
Improvement of the mall between Twelfth and Four
tonth streets the trapping of the mouths of the
es on rennsyvnnia avenue the extension of the cul-
vert on Indiana avenue and the alteration of the Dis
tct courtroom In regard to the pewertraps it affords
pleasure to inform you that they the rurpose
admirably for which they intended. Before they
constructed the offensive odor that from the
sewers constant of complaint but now not
the slightest unpleasant smell escapes from them The
traps ought to be frequently cleaned out and especially
there is ordinance Of the city to prevent the litter
of the stores, such as paper straw, and the like from
being swept into the CUTTERS which is ioated by
the slightest stream of water into the cylinders of the
traps and collecting and becoming mpacted prevents the
water from flowing freely through them Avery small
appropriation would keep them unobstructed.
An addition to the house in the botanic garden
has been erected in conformity with the adopted plan of
the building, and supplied with water from the Capitol
in pipes, provided for by appropriation of the last
session of Congress Two additional propagatng houses
have also been built @ t49a ivs
lot purchased last fall which to erect en-
house for the Franklin Fire Company but possession
could not be obtained until the spring large, COM
modous and substantial building has been reared upon
it, which, in few days, will be turned to the com
pany
New Jersey avenue has been graded and gravelled from
to Streets and the curb set and the gutter paved
the west side of it, From street to New York
has been graded and fifty feet In the centre gavelled
1t will be necessary to curb and gutter the whole length
of the avenue, both sides, to prevent its being
washed by the rains. This not included in the esti
mate submitted to Congress. More than contcm-l
plated has been accomplished by the appropriation,
The work for continuing the improvement of the mall
is progressing rapidly in that portion Of it which
the Armory Is situated l. in hopes of having the
grading finished by the termination of the working
The plan that has been adopted harmonizes with
doubtless add very much to the appearance of the MALL
which destined to be of the most interesting fea
tures in the plan of the city.
The footway the south side Of Lafayette square has
been taken up, underdrained and relaid Lamp posts
and lamps have been set upon the three sides of the
square which have not been heretofore lighted and they
show the square to great advantage AS evidence of
the favor in which Lafayette square is held by the public
it only necessary to direct attention to the crowds that
visit it on every fair evening.
All the footways Pennsylvania avenue, which
were very much broken, and in many of them whole
pieces Of the tagging removed have been repaired
in repairing the carrage-way 1t is difficult to keep the
avenue in good condition. the cobbc stones of which
it paved easily started from their beds by the
mentum of the heavy vehicles that run over them