Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-31

AZ sa2 forwarded from The STAR once.
RKPoRT OF THE CoNMssIoSER OF PvBLIc
submissive have before Us the concise and
admirably drawn up annual report of Conmis.
sioRer Blake, upon the public buildings and
grounds. IL reviews the operation of the OIL
duriGg the last four years; shows the improve
Inents that have been recommended, those that
have been made, and those for which no appro-
priatOn has ss vet been obtained; renews all pre-
vious recommendation, such as the erection Of q
new jail, the enlargement of the court house, the
Improvement Of franklin and Judiciary squares,
and a number Of other public reservations, the
extension Of the Capitol grounds, the construction
of new bridges in place Of the Long and Navy
Ward bridges, the opening Of Sixth street through
the Mall, cleaning out the canal, and a general
system Of sewerage, grading and graveling certain
streets and avenues, &c. IL
Daring the current year many necessary repairs
have been made in the old portion of the Capitol,
and gas lights have been more generally dIfiused
through Il. The cid Senate chamber has been con-
verted into a court room for the Supreme Court.
The plan was submitted 20 a committee of the
judges which received their approval. Whilst
care was taken TO provide every convenience and
comfort Of the court and adapt ii in all respects
10 the purposes for which Il is attended the main
features Of the old Senate chamber were preserved:
a desideratum insisted upon by the judges, and
which commended itself to the approval of my
own Judgment. The rooms attached to the SEN
ate chamber and which were appropriated to the
use Of the officers Of that body, have been thor
Oughly repaired and fitted up for the occupancy
Of The ecurt and its officers The old Supreme
Courtroom has been remodeled and adapted to the
purposes Of the law library. The arrangement is
believed to be as convenient as 10 was pOssb bic to
make il, every available portion having been ap-
psiated to cases for books, and great care taLen
not to Ohstruct the light II Is connected with the
court room by private stairway which is in
tended exclusively for the use of the members and
officers Of the court Two of the committee rooms
In the old portion Of the building have been made
lnto one aud fitted up as court room for the
Court of Claims.
The Capitol building is now so near completed
that arrangements ought to be made for improy-
lug the whole extent OF grounds within Its en-
closure.
The Presidents House is in as good condition
as u can be made with temporary repairs
The span Of the Potomac bridge contiguous to
the Virginia shore, which was carried of last
spring by vessel being driven against 1t in a
severe gale has been restored. and the bridge has
been repaired and strengthened as far as the ap-
preparation would authorize. IL Is still very
ricksty fabric, and to render II perfectly secure
would require the expenditure Of a sum OF money
almost SUFFICIENT to construct a new bridge. II
would be economy TO build new bridge Of ma
terials that would endure for years without need
ing repairs. The cost Of patching up the bridge,
mere temporary expedlent TO prevent travel
from being interrupted, has already amounted TO
sum nearly sufficient to have erected new and
substantial bridge. The drawkeepers make a
monthly report Of the travel over the bridge and
they sum up for the year ending the Goth Of June
last as follows: Persons 325 SIG; vehicles 50 26S;
horseback, $50; and cattle, I0,577 The navy
yard bridge is Of the utmost importance TO the
city and adj AGENT country. The travel over il Ia
immense, and IL by any accident this means OF
access TO the city should be cut of, II would in
fici serious Inconvenience and injury upon a
large extent Of country which relies almost ex-
clusvey upon the District markets for the sale OF
It's produce The bridge was not originally well
built, and has only been kept up thus long by
frequent though small repairs The piles and
any time give way. To renew and make Ii per.
fecuY strong would be attended with heavy
cost, and therefore IL Is questionable whether
II would not be better policy to construct an
entirely new bridge. One or the other Dug hi
certainly to be done. The two short roads
which are appurtenances to this bridge, are in
such bad condition that they can scarcely be
travelled In the winter One OF them leads to the
Government Hospital for the Insane an institu
ton Of 81 much interest that 1t is only visited
oy the friends OF the patients, but by numbers o.
citizens Of the District and surrounding country
ard strangers from a distance. Either Govern
IneEt ought 10 repair these roads they oug ht
be placed under the jurisdiction Of the Levy Cour
OF the county Of Washington Toaccomplish the
latter, an act Of Congress is deemed NECESSARY Al
IL Is thong bit there is other authority competen
to make the transfer. The Anacostia bridge is ii
very good order.
Pennsylvenia avenue has been extensively re
paired during the past season. The amount O
heavy travel over IL is great that ii is almost i'm
possible 10 keep II In good condition. and it is re
commended that a more durable pavement b.
substituted, either iron or Belgian the prefer
eRce being given TO the latter.
recommendation Is made for an appropriation
70 complete the north front OF the Patent OficI
building with a pogtico. An appropriation Il
needed for the grounds south Of the Presidentl
House also
OF new jail and extension Of the court house. tn.
Enclosure and improvement Of franklin square
Judiciary square, the triangular spaces on Penn
NIvasia avenue, between Eighteenth and Nine
teenth streets west and the one on the south side
Of Pennsylvania avenue between Twentieth and
Twenty hrst streets west. the space formed by The
intersection of New York and Massachusetts av
enues and Tenth and Twelfth streets wesr and
the one n the south side Of Massachusetts avenue
between Fifth and Sixth streets west the rad ing
and graVeiipg Of North CAPITOL street, Sixteenth
street west, immediately in front Of the President
House, East Capitol street, Boundary street, and
Delaware avenue, and the east portion Of PEN
sylVania avenue; general system of sewerage fol
the promotion Of the health ard comfort Of the
city, t1e Government 10 pay a just proportion OF
the same according to the value Of its property;
the purchase Of a lot and erecting house Tor The
Keeper Ct Anscosta bridge; the extension Of Sixth
street west through the Mall, aud building
bridge over the canal at Sixth street, the canal tC
be elelned out yearly from its bottom, and The
Government to pay fair proportion Of the ex
Pcnse, as the sewers from the Presidents House
Capitol, and all the other public buildings empty
into AZ.
The necessity for such improvements Is stated
Win much force by Commissioners Blake. In re
latOn to the City Hall he points out a fact no
generally known, that the half Of the building
occupied by the Court belongs TO the Government
nehce tne proprlety that Governmeht should aid
In the extension Of the building according to ID
original plan.
The good service done by the Washington In
hrmAry Is acknowledged. OF le2 Goyernmen
patients that were under medical treatment during
the year, 40 were discharged Al cured or i'm
proved, II died, and the Remaining IS continued
In the inhrmary under treatment
Eight hundred and two Government patient,
have been admitted into the iEhrmary during tn,
last four years, and out Of that number 60 hay,
died, which Is a fractioa over seven per cent. .H
The defects Of the contract system upon Govern
mentwork are pointed out, aud the Commissions
10 clearly Of opinion that the best course for tn
Government 70 adopt Is 70 have Its work done b.
its own agents. 81 -
Attention is called to the fact that the section
Of the city charter requiring certain improvement
70 be made on streets and avenues, fronting, o
adjoining, or running through the public feser
vations, and TO he paid for out Of the proceeds o
the sales Of city lots, are imperative, from th
fact that all the Government lots that could b
sold have been disposed Of some time since. -@
POLICE MArTkRs Bsfors JEsties BaTHaeio :
Daniel Dickson, charged with throwing stones u
the street, was fined 90 o. Vim. shaw, accuses
Of disofderly behavior and throwing stones; tne'
s2g. Richard Bradford, drunk and disorderly
sent 70 the workhouse for 90 days fhoma
Faulkner. for disorderiy behavior In the mar X Il