Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-06
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Improvements Of the Past Year.

II.
The annual report OF General Babcock, Super
intendent Of Public Buildings and Grounds,
just prepared, is as follows:
Office Of Public Buildings and Grounds,
Corner Pennsylvania avenue and 2lst street,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept. 1, 1872. J
General i have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report of operations on the works under
my charge for the fiscal year ending June 3Oth,
1872:
EXECUTIVE AVENUE.
Work was commenced on this avenue July
LIST, Isl l. and has been prosecuted during the
year with the following results:
The avenue wss opened through to Pennsyl-
vania avenue opposite 10th street, and the earth
taken from it was deposited in the inclosed
grounds south OF the Executive Mansion and on
the White lot. The trees that were removed,
furnishing some twenty cords OF wood, were
given to the Soldiers and Sailors orphan asy-
Ium located in this city. A IL the stone piled on
and around the avenue has been collected,
broken and properly placed on the roadway,
and an additional quantity of 800 cubic yards
purchased Ter the same purpose. Six granite
gate posts have been put in position at the
western entrance to this avenue from Pennsyl-
vania avenue, to which have been hung iron
gates; the whole being uniform with the gate
way on Pennsylvania avenue west OF the Treas
ury department
The necessary lamp posts have been set and
the gas main has been laid along the east side of
the avenue. The stone walk and iron fence
have been completed along the east side of this
avenue to Pennsylvania avenue, corresponding
with the walk and fence already i'm positions
the whole thus presenting a uniform appear
ance. The Executive grounds along the line of
the avenue have been graded, terraced and
sodded, and stone gutter has been laid to re-
ceive the drainage from the terrace. A large
quantity of old sandstone, the property of the
government, and which was useless for other
purposes, was used for the gutter. This gutter
connects with a ten-inch sewer running through
the enclosed grounds south of the Executive
Mansion, which leads into the sewer running
into the canal. In laying this ten-inch sewer
through these grounds, openings were left, into
which drain tiles can be led if it should be de-
cided to drain them.
A granite staircase of steps, 20 feet wide, has
been built upon the terrace, where the walk
leading from the Executive mansion ID the War
and Navy departments crosses the avenue, and
the gravel Of which these walks were made has
been removed, and an asphalt walk substituted
in its place.
The iron fence leading from the mansion to
the Treasury department was removed and
placed along Executive avenue, and a light
wire fence substituted in its place. The en-
trance to the Executive mansion, opposite 10th
street, has been concerted with the same ma
teral laid on Pennsylvania avenue. Part of
the tagging and all the gutter along the west
circular walk leading from the Executive man
sion to Pennsylvania avenue has been taken
up and relayed, in order to secure good surface
drainage, and to prevent water standing at the
gates after heavy rains.
The large iron fence along the circular
drive In front of the Executive Mansion has
been removed. the foundation taken up,
The removal of these division fences throws all
the ground in front of the Executive Mansion,
bounded by Pennsylvania avenue in front and
Executive avenue on the east and west, into one
open and extended lawn, increasing the view
and making the grounds appear more extensive.
Part Of the old fence on Pennsylvania avenue
has been removed, and the curved fence straight
ened and substituted in its place, thus making
the fence in front of the Executive Mansion uni
form. The sidewalk on Pennsylvania avenue.
in front of the mansion has been widened to a
m Wi mr. Ia mr. foo r. inch aSxuiT 10
where, in places, it was but IA feet inches.
GEoUNDs SOUTH OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
The enclosed g Ounds south of the Executive
Mansion have been graded. sown with grass
seed and oats, and rolled. Water pipes, with
street washers attached, have been carried into
them, and walks made and repaired, and sur
face drainage made on each side of part OF the
walks. Upwards of sixty trees, Of different va
rieties, and varying from three to eight inches
in diameter, have been removed to these
grounds from other reservations where they
were too much crowded. They have been
stsked TO keep them in proper position. and only
one of them has died, wing to the care taken to
keep them well watered Ahe Flagstaff in these
grounds, being rotten and dangerous from the
liability of its being blown down, was removed,
and very fine one, some - feet high, has been,
through the kindness of Rear Admiral Colds
borough, commanding the Washington navy
yard, erected in its place.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE.
The walks in this square were made of very
coarse UNI creened gr vel, and very unpleasant
TO walk upon. The experiment of rolling them
with 600 pound roller was tried, but did net
succeed in making them hard and smooth.
They were then taken up, the gravel thoroughly
screened and relaid, putting the coarse gravel
at the bottom and covering with the small after
mixing it with still finer gravel possessing a
oughly rolled, and the result is a hard, compact,
and smooth fOOtway. The grounds have been
thoroughly drained and eight lamp posts, twoo of
combined, have been placed in position, to
which necessary connections OF wa II and gas
were made.
Water pipes have been led into the square to
which are attached four street washers.
watchman's lodge of handcome design has been
erected on the north side of the square combin-
ing lodge, tool house, and urnaIs for the ac-
c0mmodation of gentlemen and for nur,es and
children at the different ends of the building
the latter especially supplying an accommoda-
ton long needed in this square. The building
Is approached at the ends by circular walks
screened by thick rows of evergreens upon each
side, and in front flower beds have been laid
out and small shrubs planted, the whole form
ing very handsome addition TO the square.
The beautiful bronze vases copies of an
antique have been placed on the granite
pedestals. They were cast through the kind
ness of Hon. George N. Robson, Secretary of
the Navy at the brass foundry OF the Washing
ton navy yard. They are some seven feet high
and weigh .ome 1900 pounds each. They are
very finely executed and are an honor to the
Government workshops and the mechanics who
Originally the trees were planted closely in
this square, with the intention OF removing them
as they obtained their growth and versh allowed
each other. To benefit some of the more vaua-
Die specimens a number of trees which crowded
them were taken up and removed to the grounds
south Of the Executive mansion.
Farragut Cquare and rcserva Ion, on Connec-
ticut avenue, between 18th and 10th streets, has
been commenced by removing part OF the
worthless rail and replacing IL with good. Gas
and water pipes have been introduced in the
square, the water to be used for irrigation and
dIiI king purposes. This square will be i'm
proved on plan similar to Scott square, with
the exception that an ellipse will be made in its
center o receive the statue of Admiral Farra-
gut, which YVES voted for this square at the last
session Of Congress.
SCOTT SQUARE.
In accordance with q plan agreed upon by
the board OF public works and myself for the
improvement of Scott Square, I have allo wed
roadway "a feet wide to be cut diago nally
through 1t, and running in o line with Vermont
avenue In consideration Of this the grounds
have boon extended II feet on each side, and 20
feet ON street, and the roadway curbed,
graded, and concerted by the board, which has
been done 10 my satisfsction. Further improve
ments have been made, by enclosing with an
iron post and chain fence, thoroughly grading
p-dressing, introducing gas and water for il
rigation and drinking, the erection Of gas
lamp and drinking fountain combined, by CON
cretipg the walks and sodding Q small strip
oro md <;-o. -