The national Republican., 1867-12-09


the steam for heating. The roof Of the mansion
10 also being placed In better condition, and
many minor matters attended to. A larger ap.
propriation Is asked for annual rcp,irs for tae
next fiscal year.
The plan adopted BY General Washington for
laying out the city Of Washington consists OF
wide streets and avenues intersecting each other;
the former running from north to spath, desig.
mated BY numbers, and frcr. east to west, called
by letters, cross each other at right angles and
arc again eat diagonally by avenues bearing the
names OF the different States Of the Union. In
consequence OF this system many public places
have beon formed, consisting Of circles, TRAN
gles, and squares. In different parts Of the city
sections are set apart as reservations for the
benefit Of oititens and for public buildipgs
Many Of these have already been beauti6ed, and
the remaining ones shcsli be improved as early
As possible. Whilst adding so much to the sp-
peAreneo OF The city, they at the same time
largely contribute to the health, pleasure, and
recreation Of its inhabitants The grounds i'm.
mediately about the Presidents house arc 10
excellent condition, and have been q iavorite
resort for many. The reservation to the south,
and extending to the canal, generally known as
the White lot, should now be laid out and
inoluded 10 the above, AZ the work on the
Treasury extension Is drawing to a close, the
workshops, which have heretofore interfercd
with this improvement, can bo removed, and tbs
plans Of adornment be extended Ono Of the
most charming places for recreation is Lafayette
square. II has been made very beautiful, but
owing to tho ground being so level, there Is de.
fective drainage; by adopting a system Of un-
der.ground drains leading toward the southwest
angle. aud thence connecting by n sewer through
the Avenue with that on Seventeenth street,
this objection can be remedicd. A very marked
change has taken place In the appearance Of
Franklin square, but still more has to be done
Daring the fall months 1t Is proposed to set out
Q large number Of deciduous trees, to further or.
nament the beds large number Of evergreens
have already been planted, and are in q flourish.
ing condition. The square has already been
undsrdrained, and the paths have been substau.
TALLY laid. Tho circle, at the intersection Of
Pepnsylyania and New Hampshire avenues and
X street west, also presents a more pleasing
feature to tho gaze. The grounds west of the
Capitol are in excellent order, and form one Of
the great points Of attraction, both for citizens
and strangers those to the east have been very
generally resorted to, large crowds collecting
from time to time to listen to the music Of the
band which weekly performs there. In all Of
these comfortable lodges have been built for the
watchmen. The enlargement Of the grounds
north and south Of the Capitol are being made
under the immediate direction ofthe architect Of
the Capitol extensioni the roadway and paths
on the east front should be handsomely paved.
A recent and very interesting letter from Gen.
Meigs, now travelling in Europe, describes, In
great detail, the style of pavement in use for
public squares in several Of the large cities, and
should bo adopted In our own capital q copy OF
the letter Is appended.
Most Of the triangular places along the main
avenues have been enclosed, and some Of them
very prettily ornamented with trees and shrub.
berry. A great deal more in the way OF similar
improvements should be attended to as soon as
aNta has raNE al. 81 Al
the value Of property, but afford for both rich
and poor the means Of enjoyment Particular
attention Is called to Lincoln square, which has
been simply inclosed by paling fence; the beds
and paths have still to be laid out, trees and
shrubbery planted, and other important changes
to be made. 1t 10 the only square in the eastern
part Of the city, and It Is due to the increasing
growth Of that section that steps should be taken
at once to ornament tho grounds. The vacant
places at the intersection Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. with North and South Carolina should also
be enclosed and improved. These are all east
Of the Capitol a hitherto much neglected por-
tion OF the city, so far as the General Govern.
ment is concerned Extensive improvements
have recently been made.
The two triangular spaces on Vermont ave-
nue., between and K streets, have been united
and now form one square, making most agree.
eble alteration. It is proposed to make q cor
responding square on Connecticut avenue, be-
tween the same streets, as soon as the frame
buildings Of tho Freedmen'S Bureau, now occu.
pying the public square, shall be removed Cir
cles should also bo laid out on Vermont avenue,
where It intersects Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island avenues, and also at the Intersection OF
Massachusetts,, Connecticut, and New Hamp.
shire avenues. The value Of these improve
msnts can be scarcely realized. Tho reservation
known as Judiciary square Is sadly In need Of
embellishm ment; 1t can only DO attended 10 whom
the frame buildings used by the Medical De.
partment Of the army are taken down. Several
prominent oitiIens-among others the general
commanding the United States army and the
Mayor Of the eity-haye urgently requested that
o new square be opened on New Jersey avenue,
Between II and street north This Is q very
beautiful and commanding part Of the city, and
many valuable buildings have been erected, and
others arc still In course Of construction. 1t II
| earnestly urged upon Congress to make an ap
| preparation for purchasing the necessary ground
The triangular space located at this point be
longed, not many years ago to the Government,
but was sold by authority Of one Of the previoul
Commissioners Of Public Buildings In planning
the city large reservation, known as Mount Yer
non Place, was laid out at the intersection Of Il
street north with New York and Massachusetts
avenues Most unfortunately for the ornament
| and health Of that part of the city the ofigina
design has not been perfected. Eighth stree
has not only been opened through u, separating
1t into two plrts, but on one Of these division
has been erected a most unsightly building for
market house The latter with its ATTENDING
annoyRnces, forms an intolerabls nuisance
which should be abated at once. By what au
thority the market Is located on this public res
ervation cannot be ascertRined. 1t should
removed and arrangements similar to those |
all our large cities be adopted to supply th
wants Of the community The grounds coul
then be improved, and become what they wer
originally intended to be
A nuisance similar to this has been create
by the dilapidated and unsightly buildings /
Pennsylyania avenue known as the "Centri
Market" This, too, should be abated. 1t
not only q reflection upon the good taste Of th
community that such an old and objectOnabl
structure should meet the gaze upon the prime
pal avenue Of the capital, but it isa disgrace
see this main artery, connecting the Capit
with most Of the public buildings Obstructed b
such diversified and by no means pleasing co
lection Of commodities as are usually offered Il
sale on every market day. Cannot a more sui
able locality be found, and one equally cow
nient Of access? And cannot an ornamental {
we'll as cOmmodious market be erected whic
will be a credit to the city Something shoul
be done toward improving the public spac'
formed by tho intersection Of Penhsylyania an
Louisiana avenues As long, however, as Il
market wagons are allowed to occupy them,
Is useless to attempt any needed reforms,
the corporation does not take the necessaI
steps to remove the cause Of this great nuisan'