Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-02
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

for the year 1857.
Tue commissioner reports that, in addition to
tne usual ANIMAL repairs of the Capitol he has
"een Obliged to repair the heavy damage IL sus-
tained rom the great hail storm on the 2Ist of
June Every sky-light in the building was bro
Ash not only the exterior, but the costly interior
Siass and the copper roof was materially injured
More than 5000 panes of glss, were likewise de.
Stroyed In the Presidents greenhouse and much
SMsna2e was done to the roof of the Presidential
Nanslon. various Improvements have been
made upon this building; among them venti-
latlng iiae has been baiit from the basement to
we upper story, which has evidently proved ii
great improvement to the atmosphere of the
mousse which before was pent up and damp
hours.
oeen erected, and is now ready for use con-
serVatory has been built on the ives, terrace.
a country residence is recommended to be pro-
Nlued for the President where he can take up
Bis abode during the sickly months
The following works have heen finished, viz ::
The repairs, Improvements and extension of the
se-droom and greenhouse in the botanic garden :;
The grading and improvement ofthe mall, betwe, n
Twelfth aud Fourteenth streets the tapping Of
zoe inouthS Of the sewers on Pennsylvania ave
nur the extension of the culvCrt on Indiana ay-
room.
ably.
An addition to the greenhouse in the botanic
garden has been erected in conformity with the
adopted plan of the building, and il Is supplied
WIN water from the Capitol, in pipes provi-
utd ioE by an appropriation of the last session of
Congress. Two additional pTopapatinp houses
have also been built
The new Franklin engine house has been bu lit
ana turned over to the COMPANY
New Jersey avenue has been graded and grav-
elltd from ID to l streets, and the curb and the
Snutr paved on the west side of il. From
street 10 New FORK avenue it has been graded
anu hfty feet in the centre gravelled
The footways and carriage ways Of Pennsylva-
ma avenue have been repaired. IL is Iii tiicult to
ketp the avenue in good condition, the cobble
STONES arc started from heir beds by heavy vehi
'les The Belgian pavement. tried as an expert
Uncut, az the Intersection of Pennsylvania avenue
ana seventh street, has worked well; aud II is
recommended to adopt il in Tepaving that
nne The rock Of which 1t is constructed is
broken IN size adapted TO the feet OF horses,
which affords them firm foot hold without in
jury, and docs not wear smooth. 1t Is laid In
sand, can easily br removed and readjusted when
necessary to open the street, is thoroughly drain
ed free fson every thing offensive and perfectly
clean.
Mention is made of the injury sustained to the
Long Bridge by the foods, and of the action of
the Corporation and the Commissioner in re poet
to repairs upon 1t. The interruption of this me-
dunn of intercourse between the District and
virginia shores was immediately felt in the mar
kets Of the city by dimnution of supplies and
an enhancement Of prices. The difficulty and
expense OF reaching the CITY through other chan
nelS OF communication not only deprived the
producers, who have to cross the river Of :he
actually reduced the profits on the products of
thelr lanor so low scarcely to make IL an object
Tor them TO come 10 market. The Corporation of
w ashlngton finding that the Government would
not undertake TO repair the bride, reconstructed
u so Tar a. TO Te-establsh communication between
the shores. The Commissioner did not consider
IL Ills duty to interpose any obstacles to the ac-
conPllshment of the object the Corporation had
an view. and therefore made attempt to arrest
the worki bnt az soon aS the brid-e was thrown
open to public travel, and he was notified BIZ the
hiSN rErv1.s ~
then became necessary for him to resume charge
charge Of il and to make such additional repairs
as Were deemed important to make it perfectly
The Navy Yard Bridge is reported to be in a
bad condition. requiring new piles from one end
To the other; and the roads leading TO il are also
in ruinous state.
The Anacostia bridge is in good condition
Inc grading OF Judiciary Square has pro-
dressed as far As was contemplated by the appro-
pTlaton for that purpose. but much still RENAL rs
TO be done before the grading is completed
Eighty-one lamps have been put up in George.
town, and are now regularly lighted with the
other lamps OF the town. Thirty more lamps
are. however, needed to fully light the streets
The west wing of the Patent Once building
with the exception of the saloon, which will
soon be finished, has been completed and is now
occupied.
The plan adopted for the protection Of the bo
TAME garden against the violence of the Tiber
having proved Intellectual others are recon-
mended
Recommendations are made for the removal of
Inc County JAIL for the extension of the City
Hall to afford accommodations for the Criminal
Court. Orphans Court, and Register of Willis
Tor the further improvement OF the Government
avenues for the improvement of F rankin square
OF the triangular spaces formed by the inter,ec
tlHn OF New York and Massachusetts avenue,
and Tenth and Twelfth streets of the trianguIar
spaces on Pennsylvania avenue between Eigh-
teeEth and Nineteenth streets. and of the snare
en- the south side Of Pennsylvania avenue b~-
tween Twentieth and Twenty first streets; the
grading OF north Capitol street of Sixteenth
~ nf nDl. ~
val OF the naval monument from the Capitol
grounds; the purchase of a lot and the erection
OF house for the keeper of the upper Eastern
Branch bridge, and the reorganization of this
once the gradin, and graveling of East Capitol
street; and the opening and gravelng of Bound
aIy street; for the adoption of some plan for the
extension OF the Capitol grounds 80 that the
WORK may be commenced soon as the Spring
opens; 10 construct further sewerage and TO make
an Increased appropriation for the Washington
The great nuisance heretofore complained of
"a occdsioned by the Centre Market house has
IN some respects been mitigaied. Cummodious
sheds have been erected u tue rear of the mar
ket-house, on Canal street, far the accommoda-
ton Of vendors, and conseq uently the mis-sbapen
shantles which used to disigure Pennsylvania
avenue nave been removed. Wagons and other
vehicles which attend ma ket are no IonDer per-
mItted to ocrupy and ob<truct the Avenue and IL
IN now ifre oil the litter they produce, which, for
series OF years, had been complained of a. An
a6omnabie nuisance. But the old w hite- washed
moss covered market house stiil remains To mar
lhe Dedhty OF tue Avenue and To excite the won
der OF strangers that such unsis htly building
should be permitted TO occupy so cons picuous a
position Unless the Cooperation shall soon
make provision to have il taken down and to
erect IN It's stead some more appropriate and i'm
posing building, the Government ought in the
Commissioners opinion, to resume control OF the
reservation, and not suffer II any longer to be oc-
Cupied a. d market place.
IHE SOAP MAN-fOr several days past a young
man. clad IN the fashion of l776, has been PASS
ing about the streets, attracting considerable at
tehton aud exciting the curiosity Of folks as TO
bis name. business, &c, aud the questions rela-
tive thereto were variOusiy answered Yrs,er
day afternoon, while the Perseverance Fire Com
Pahy was testing piece of apparatus in front of
tbe Bank OF Washington, where a crowd had
assembled, this singular individual mounted a
bencn and commenced a speech in the style Of
me fsZor-StroP Man, drawing large crowd
around him. The subject OF his Grafton was IN.
qnailty OF certain soaps, which he offered for
siilt The police notif-d him that be was vic
Iafnn laxH- "A.