The national Republican., 1867-12-09

these gates, selected from the many dependent
and worthy soldiers who have been disabled
during the war BY loss Of An arm Of Id. eodld,
by some mechanical srrspsement nanasutre,
while seatsd In their lodges, the Batss, opspiug
or closing than fet ths paaer.by, Ths Coy.
ernuent htperimsptal, Farm would have to DO
removed TO some more suitable place Without the
limits Of the city, and the Various frame build.
ings, used BY tho Army during the war for hos
pitsls would have TO come down. The basin At
the mouth Of the Tiber might be partially hlled,
thereby giving en- increased number Of acres, and
suspension bridges could be built across the
canal. uniting the grounds TO those south Of the
Presidential Msnsion. BY some suoh plan beau.
tiful and continuous drivos can be had between
the latter building and the Capitol, free from all
dust And noise and hustle Of tho busy streets Of
the city. The accompanying sketch will Illus.
trate tho ideas which have endsavorsd to oon-
vey. II isto be hoped, too, in the event Of such
improvements, that action bs taken BY the asso-
citation having the matter In charge toward the
eompletiou Of the monument being raised 10 the
memory Of Washington.
In oil the contemplated improvements Of the
public grounds Of the capital, one very orns-
mental, as we'll as sanitary, feature should not be
forgotten; the free introduction Of water IS jets
d'osu, fountains miniature lakes, Into each and
all Of them, will greatly enhance their charms
by refreshing and cooling the heated atmos-
phere Of summer, and by the preservation In all
their natural beauty Of tho various shrubs and
trees which adorn them. The abundant supply
furnished from tho Great Falls Of the Potomae
by the Washington Aqueduot will be never. fall
ing source from which TO obtain all that may be
needed for such purposes. Groups OF statuary
should be artistically arranged throughout the
grounds, as other evidence OF enlightened taste.
Additional propssating houses should be built TO
furnish and replace tho various plants needed
for embelishmsnt.
Tho Washington canal Ia work upon which
much has bcen written, and many suggestions
offered In reference to its permanent improve
mort. All admit that In Its present condition
II is q great nuisance, extremely disgusting To
tho senses Of both sight and smell. It Is
nothing more than an open sewer. constantly
generating gases, which arc most delsterious TO
those not only residing Immediately along its
banks, but to the inhabitants Of the entire city.
Many plans have been proposed for cleaning II,
the most impracticablo and expensive having
generally been adopted. An inspection will
show how signally tho last project-sIsouted st
an expense to the city Of some sixty thousand
dollArs-has failed 10 accomplishing the much.
needed reform II 10 the main artery Of the
sewerage OF the largest part Of the city, being
the receptacle not only Of the sxorsment and
sediment Of the sewers, but also Of the surface
quantity Of material Is washed into II at every
heavy rain by the Tiber,
In the hrst place, the course Of the canal
should be altered at certain points, so Is to 70.
move all sharp angles, and Its bed be eIoayated BY
dredging TO such depth as to bring the sole at
least below the line Of low tide Of the river. A
portion Of the width Of the canal along the north
side should be then enclosed BY . substantial
wall. and arched over, converting 1t into regu.
lar sewer. The rivor at high tide would, to q
certain extent, aid In cleaning II; but . more
efficient way would be to make free use Of the
aqueduct water for thoroughly flushing II at fro
quent and regular periods. Tho remaining SEQ.
tion OF the canal should bs kept constantly
dredged after the first labor Of deepening II is
executedj but very little additional work will be
annually required. 1t could then be used for
the ordinary purposes Of trade, and become an
ornament to the city, instead Of remaining the
filthy water-course that It now 10. A propor-
tional part Of the expense Of placing II in order
should be borne by the Government, and annual
appropriations be made to keep 1t open and
clean. A general system Of sewerage should be
adopted. In all other cities this subject com
mands more attention than any other Whether
the Government, the Corporation, or private en-.
terprise undertake the work, II Is absolutely
necessary that II should be performed at once,
and In the most thorough manner Instead Of
the present unsightly structures and heaps Of
rubbish and dirt, magnificent mansions would
spring up. embellished BY beautiful gardens.
Being member Of q board Of engineers In
structed to examine an improved ship lock 70.
Gently patented, in relation to its adaptation to
aiding in the construction Of q ship canal
through the city Of Washington" the subject
Of certain improvement In the present canal
will probably be discussed at siderable length
In addition to the public grounds the
officer in charge has the care and improvement
Of m 10 Ia .nl
certain Of the streets passing through or sd-
joining them. Many Of these have been opened,
and 1t 10 respectfully recommended that au-
thority be given TO improve the emaining ones.
They form the direct lines Of communication
between different sections Of the city, and be-
tween many Of the public buildings and grounds.
In justice to property holders along them, and
for the public convenience, the grades should
be established as soon rs practicable, that each
may know the condition Of his property before
planning any Improvements; the roadw should
be placed In good travelling condition. Msssachu-
sets. New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jsr.
sey, Vermont, Delaware, New York, and Mary.
land avenues should be graded. But two sp-
propriations were made during the second sos.
pose. That "for grading and repairing Vir.
ginia avenue" has been applied to the repairs
lying between Sixth and Ninth streets east. By
arrangements made with Gen. o. o, Howard,
| Commissioner OF the Bureau Of Freedmen, the
work has been extended, the grading and grsv
cling has been completed to Tenth street, and
the grading as far as Twelfth street. Part o.
the following square has also been graded, th,
necessary excavation furnishing 4 very superior
gravel to form the superstruoture Of other por
tions Of the avenue. When the appropriation
was nearly exhausted Gen. Howard offered t.
| furnish q certain amount to enable me 10 en-
ploy laborers to continue the work, paying tn,
men out Of funds donated for the support Ant
relief Of INDECENT freedmen, and entrusted /,
him for distribution the balance Of appropria
tion remaining on hand was then applied to tn,
hire Of carts. This work has been Substantially
done and In very oreditable manner by Capt
7. A. Stone, who has had the immediate super
intendenoe Of II.
In consideration Of the great Importance o
Pennsylyania avenue, some most marked I'm
provements should be inaugurated to render 4
as great and beautiful in appearance as 1t ha
proved to be necessary and accessible. Tn,
very limited appropriation has enabled me Il
make only such repairs as were most needed
Some sections had become almost impassable
either from the effects Of the weather or havinl
been cut by the immense amount Of travel owe
them or from both causes combined. 1t 10 nov
only In tolerable order, although 1t Is said to b.
In much better condition than for many year
past. The seat Of government OF nation shoul
be able to boast Of at least one magnificent ave
nue.. That part extending from Rock creek, It
boundary the WARt n that 6Dl6ndid DilA a