The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-14
run,ic Grounds nnd buildings.

The annual report of the Superintendent
Of Public Grounds and Buildings of this
city for the year ending January 81, 1872,
shows tue total amount expended during the
fiscal year on grounds aud buildings TO nave
been 81 ,Sla.GS. Against this amount INC
sum of Sl.itG.a0 was received OH account oi
rents Of public buildings, &c, aud sales OF
houses.
Within the past year m cnginc-hollse mas
been constructed on Twcnty-iiith street near
Broad ofa substantial chnrtcicr;a considcraoic
addition To- Company ID cnginc-linusc. Brook
avcuur; a now brick stable for Company Is,
Third street. aud shed for Company a,
Broad street.
An appropriation cf $1,000 made by the
former luIlG,il has lcCu cNpcndctt during the
past year in planting trees and otherwise ilr-
proving Monroe Square. About 202 trees,
generally dcciduoUs. have hecn set out, and
are with hut few exceptions in fine growing
condition; I0se that have failed are by con-
tract stipulation TO he substituted by others
until a successful planting is accomplished.
The walks i'll tic square, one AMI one
quarter miles in length. have been under
taid wihiurnacc cinticrs, and, rs an cNpc,licnt
ri economy, hordcrcd with narrow heart
pine plank. AMI are now being covered with
-
stone used in macldamiHing Onc-half of
the total length of walks is covered. The
fountain well imS been brickcd and curbed |;
a rustic stone pile erected: IL dcmc or con-
vovutou2 has been introduced with pleasing
| ellcr!: the better portion of the street
swccpin-S and tlic MANURE from the city
stable have h.cn deposited upon the Square.
giving occupation to the city carts when the
| condition Of the streets prevented their
| being otilcrwi~" engaged. The report asks
for "a small appropriation to add to the
| cycr-.ccnS, frees and shrubs; and that the
| limr i not remote when the wirc--r;tSS now
praunira,iDy will be removed, and the
area SEED, Il with lawn grasses.
| Marshall square and taiuhlc's Hill still re-
min um;n,roycd awakening surnri>c at the
! contrast between the natural beauties Of the
| views they command and the bald Stcrilitv OF
| their surfaces The pail of oit-iSSertcd
| poverty h,s fallen upon every proposition tn
| devote from tincto time even small amounts
for @rldn. and planting III restoration OF
! those attractive features which the hand OF
| IN ur;cclinT civilization has 80 rudcly re-
| moved II is ,carcCiy probable the city will
| rnntintic in 10 osC>Siun Of these Squares with
oGIt al early etnrt towards their improve
| mCnt.
"EccklrsS Indifference OF the most ordi-
nary consideration OF comfort and safety has
| marked the cont!Ilcion Of our public build
| in.>. Lessons written in the flames OF the
| Theatre and TIN SpotSWood. aud repeated III
| the tuI!inr timocrS of the Capitol, seem
uowcr,SS for GOOD. Under the momcn-
| tuy horror G these caaMiticS grave
| assertion, Of criminal ignorance or neglect
| md poinll,s>s cXTc>>i0n; and were inIc>ii-
| cation instituted the responsibility would DC
| to.ind 80 divide, is to render punishment
scarcely possible. OF the buildings III this
city devoted to amusement. probably not
more than o!!c could bc pronounced suitable
in construction ~ safe in means of exit As
| canSrryatulS Of In, comfort and safety OF our
citizens the Counc should deem it al inn
rcraiiyc duty to t;.>c such prompt action in
This matter rs ther Judgment may dictate,
bearing in mind tld tn" correction OF these
Ills and dangers is II their hands alone, and
that they are hcc"ring more extended ana
alarnin" because surr&trllncd."
The report couclt ciCS aS follows:
Ill * respectfully suggested that your
committee recommend m ordinance cstali-
fishing such building regulations rs you may
deem cNprdi"nl, alal an inspection of all
puir buildings non existing. and of those
hereafter CONSTRUCTED before they are occu-
pi"d or opened for y lie use"