Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-16
Report of the Commissioner Of Public
Buildings.

sioner Of Public Buildings, gives an interesting
statement of the progress of work on the Cap
itol and the Improvement OF the avenues and
public grounds, with many important recon-
mendations and suggestions.
At the Capitol, the work on the old Hall OF
Representatives is completed, and the place
ready to receive such statuary as may be sent
spn"rs of sses iir p ne Sg the 9U
July 2, 1864. The Congressional Library has
been much enlarged; store-rooms have been
fitted up under the Supreme Court room, for
the convenience of the court. With respect to
the Capitol grounds he says:
"The necessity of extending the Capito
grounds becomes more and more apparent as
the two wings approach their completion, and
1t is TO be hoped that Congress will not suffer
provision for inclosing at least all the ground
north and south, contiguous 10 the building
which belongs to the United States Such an
inciosure would be very great Improvement
10 the appearance Of the Capitol and its sur
roundings.
> "In my report last year called the attention
Of Congress TO that part of the Washington and
Georgetown street railroad which passes
through the Capitol square. Congress took no
final action upon the matter. 1t must be very
evident to all that il Is useless to attempt to en-
force any regulation directing the Capitol
grounds to be closed after a certain hour OF the
evening while the cars run regardless ofhours.
If they are still TO be permitted by law to run
through the grounds, the only method of
remedying the inconvenience now experienced
is that recommended in my last annual report,
viz: The erecting of an iron fence on each
side Of the track, with proper openings in front
of the Senate and House entrances, to be closed
with gates, thus leaving the railroad track to
be controlled exclusively by the company, and
the grounds exclusively under the control of
the Government"
The necessity of repairing and refurnishing
the White House is referred TO, with the recon-
mendation that Congress make no delay in ap-
propriating the necessary amount. The por-
traits Of several of the ex-Presidents, painted
by Mr.. Healy, are also mentioned, with the
suggestion that they be framed and placed in
the Capitol as soon as possible.
OfPennsylvaniaa avenue. he says: "This great
roadway through the city can never be placed
in proper condition until it is entirely re-
paved and, as last year recommended either
the Belgian or Nicholson wood pavement, and
having seen no cause to change my opinion, i
again most respectfully recommend the repav-
ing of the avenue with one of these pavements
The latter pavement can be laid for forty dol
lars per square of ten feet, which would be
about S253, 40 per mile.
1--WE have been constantly at work on the
avenue for the past season, for absolute neces-
sity required it; and although the roadway is
very much improved, II is impossible to place
it, with the present broken pavement, in the
order that such q road should be. Crossings of
the streets intersecting the avenue, OF the best
six-inch thick blue stone, filled in with Bel
gian pavement, have been laid at every street
along the north side of the avenue, between the
Capitol and Treasury Department, and two on
the south side, which will last for generations
to come This was a necessity, and q debt of
about $4,000 has been incurred in doing It.
"As the Mayor and Corporation of Washing
ton have exhibited most praiseworthy and en-
ergetic spirit in repairing the streets under
their control, it is to be hoped that the broad
thoroughfare which Congress has heretofore so
generously adopted will not be permitted to
suffer in comparison with other streets of less
prominence. street, formerly perfect
slough is now one OF the finest streets in the
city, and will compare fayorabiy with any
street have ever seen anywhere"
Five thousand dollars are asked for to oon-
struct new draw to the Eastern Branch
Bridge, near the Navy Yard, the upper, or
Benning's Bridge, requiring no outlay at pres
ent. The crowded condition of Providence
Hospital is referred 10, and Congress urged to
increase the number OF rooms from forty to
sixty.
The following recommendations are made
concerning the approaches to the Capitol
''By the original plan of the city, PennsyIya-
mia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey
avenues intersect the Capitol square, All these
avenues, except Delaware, have been opened
and improved on both sides of the Capitol;
Delaware avenue has been opened and par
TALLY improved northeast of the Capitol, but
remains unopened and unimproved southwest.
North, South, and East Capitol streets COM
mence at the Capitol, and run each in the di-
rection indicated by their names. East Capi.
tol street is of the same width as the avenues,
of the city was adopted, that ii would be one of
the most prominent streets in the city, leading
as it does from the main front of the Capitol.
This street Is regularly opened, but is in great
"North Capitol street and South Capitol
street have neither Of them ever been opened.
The former, if opened, would give the most di-
rect access from the Capitol to the public print
ing office.
.tThe opening of those streets would add
greatly to the pleasant view from the north
very desirable, not only for public convent
ence, but as a national feature, connected with
the building occupied by the Representatives Of
tended to be imposing thoroughfares should be
opened. 1t will not be in the power of the Cor
poration OF Washington to open and improve
them for years TO come, if ever. If they are to
be opened at present, the United States must do
il. therefore most respectfully suggest whe-
gress to provide for the opening and grading of
North and South Capitol streets, and erecting
a culvert across the Tiber creek where it inter-
by the Mayor Of washington to the 0e Comms
siener of Public Buildings that the Corpora
ton Of Washington have taken the proper steps
they are graded; and also TO grade East Capitol
street under the same proviso No greater i'm.
proyement touching the streets Of the city
could be made than the one here suggested, and
the expense to the United States would not be
over $4,000.
..In my last report called the attention
ofCongress to this act, in the following lam
guage:
1.-THE Sd section of the act Of Congress, ap-
proved May 8, 1864, (Statutes at Large, vol.
10, p. &C, entitled IAN act to amend AN act TO
ington,' is in the following words:
"'Sec. 3. And be IL further enacted, That in all
cases in which the streets, avenues, or alleys
Of the said city pass through or by any OF the
property of the United States, the Commis-
eioner of the Public Buildings shall pay TO the
duly authorized officer Of the corporation the
Just proportion Of the expense incurred in i'm
proving such avenue, street or alley, which
the said property bears to the whole cost there
of, to be ascertained in the same manner as the
same is apportioned among the individual pro-
prietors Of the property improved thereby
i have already been called upon by the city
authorities and by your department to pay
the Government proportion for improvements
coming within the purview of the section
above quoted, but there being no money ap-
propriated to meet such payments, had TO
decline paying.
al last year asked for an appropriation OF
fve housand dollars to enable me TO meet the
demands which might be made upon me during
ne year under the provisions Of that law.
"l have been informed by the Mayor of
Washington that he has in progress improve
ments in the streets of the city which pass by
or through property of the United States, that
viii require at least one hundred thousand
dollars TO be paid to him by the United States
within the next year, under the above Quotsd