Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-18
OUR PUBLIC GROUNDS.
The Work Done by General BabcOck.
Extensive aud Decided Improvements.

public grounds are being pushed forward with a
notable activity under the superintendent OF
General Eabcock.- His training and abilities SIS
an eng ireer officer are brought into play here,
ensuring the work to be done with. taste as well
as in the most durable manner.
CONGRESS AT THE LAST SESSION
manifested decided liberal spirit towards the
District, and in a few years with such appro-
Propriations judiciously expended under such
surcrintendence as that Of General Babcock.
Washington Will indeed he one of the mos
beautiful cities in the world. The total amount
OF appropriations for the public grounds, excla-
slye OF that voted 20 the city proper, was some
thing over SEQ Geo, and this sum is being judici
Ously expended by General BahcOck, who has
at present about 500 wOrkmen employed in the
various public grounds under competent fore
nan and superiEtendeutS.
THE NEW IRON BRIDGE
over the Potomac river ON the site of the old
chain bridge is one of the most important i'm
provements. For this work 500, 900 was appro-
priated, and General Babcock has already in
vited proposals from various bridge builders and
holders OF bridge patents throughout the couu-
try These bids Will be opened about the mid
die of next MONTH and the best pattern selected.
1t will be constructed on the old piers now
standing which are OF stone and very strong
Tee bridge will be about 1900 feet long and when
completed will be a very substantial structure.
The work of its erection will probably be COM
menced late in the fall but the contract will be
ly after which the work upon the various parts
will be com me need at the foundry so that when
The erection of the bridge is begun it will
soon be finished.
TIE MONUMENT GROUNDS
are already being improved, large force OF
workmen having been at work there for several
days. Congress appropriated SIS 900 for this
work, which sum will be sufficient to do much
towards the identifying of that long-ueglected
site. The old frame buildings therein, which
were used during the war by the Commissary
department, are to be torn down Immediately
A handsome drive is being constructed to con
nCctlwlth the new avenue running south of the
Executive mansion, and extending around the
southern portion of the monument, thence in
an easterly direction to 14th street, and opening
avenue through the Agricultural grounds.
Trees and shrubbery are to be planted In the
fan and spring, and the grounds leveled,
Should the appropriation hold out, gravel side
walks will be laid, and next year it is expected
that another appropriation Will be made to make
another drive similar to the one now being con-
structed.
IN ARMoRY SQUARE
the work of making drive and footwalks will
soon be commenced, so 900 having been appro-
priated for that square. The drive through the
Monument grounds, above described, connects
with that through the Agricultural grounds
then through the SmithsOna grounds; and
when the Armory-squaTe drive snail be com
pleted there will be a continuous avenue from
the Executive mansion to the Botanical garden.
The appropriation now is sufficient to construct
one drive only through each park but il is ex-
pected that more money will be devoted to the
further Improvement of these grounds at the
next session, and another drive through the
grounds above mentioned from the Botanical
garden to the Presidents house will be con-
structed.
JUDICIARY SQUARE,
with the old Jail and other dlapidated buildings.
rough wooden fence, &C., for many years az
eye-sore to the community, will soon be com
pletely remodeled. ST, 800 having been appro-
| DrldteQ the imprOVempnt that
The grounds will all be leveled, gravel walk
constructed. trees and shrubs planted, and In
place OF the old fence on 9Th street, from f t.
q, along G. to 4th, and down 4th to +, there will
be a neat iren post and chain fence. The i'm
provements to this square, however, will not be
finished until after the demolition OF the old
Jail.
LINCOLN PARK,
east of the Capitol, recently enclosed and lev
eled, will be properly tile drained and suitable
gravel walks constructed. s. 600 having been
appropriated for this park.
CONNECTICUT AVENUE AND P-STRRET CIRCLE
is also to be improved imme dately by the intro
duction Of water and gas therein, erection OF
lamp posts, SC. The p street bridge having
been completed and the streets in that vicinity
improved, it will not be long before one of the
tayorite drives will be in that section, and the
improvement of the circle will do much toward.
beautifying that portion of the city.
THE l8TH-sTREET AND NEW YORK AVENUE
RESERVATION,
at the intersection of New York avenue, 13t.
and 18th streets, will be enclosed with an iron
post and chain fence, tile drains laid, walks con
structed, gas and water introduced, &C., 81 800
having been appropriated for the improvement
OF that reservation.
IN FRANKLIN SQUARE
a new fountain, with bowl 80 feet in diameter
will be constructed in a few days in the center
of the square, drinking fountains will b.
erected, keepers lodge built similar to that in
x q iatfO for
this square was $780, which will be sufficient
snm to put it in very good order.
TIE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRESIDENTS
SQUARE,
now in progress, will be soon completed and
executive avenue opened to the public. Or
account of the erection Of the new State
Department, however, the west side of that
thorougEtare will not present very neat APP
pearance for some time to come as it will be
filed with material for the new building, and
more or less encountered Herewith. Gravel
walks are being constructed to keep persons OFF
the grass in the White House square, and the
water has already been introduced in various
parts of the ground. The heavy cast-iron rail-
ing surrounding the semi-circular park imme-
diately in front OF the White House, is to be re-
placed by an iron post and chain fence.
THIS NEW RESERVOIR
above Georgetown, known as the distributing
reservoir. is to be excavated to a greater depth.
Its present capacity is about sc, 900 900 gallons.
and the proposed excavation will make il about
thirteen feet deeper, giving it a capacity OF
$50 goo 600 gallons. The object of this reservoir
Is, first, to collect supply Of water and give ii
ample time to settle and deposit its sediment be-
fore entering the iron mains leading to the city;
second, to hold sufficient supply to furnish
Washington and Georgetown with water when
the conduit may need repairs, or when the
water may be shut OF for the annual inspection
OF the conduit. The appropriation last session
for the excavation alone was eleven thousand
dollars, and the work will be pushed for
ward vigorously. The reservoir Comprises
forty -four acres, and is divided in the center
SO the water may be used from one-half only al
one time II necessary. A forty.eight inch main
Is to be laid from the upper half to the gate
house at the east side of the lower half, dis |
lance OF n,OC0 feet, so that the supply can be |
Drawn from both sides at the same time IL de-
sired A contract has already been awarded TO l
MI Coon for the erection Of q wooden fence
around the reservation to keep out cattle and
1t is expected that the entire work win be com
Pleted and the reservoir filled early In the fan
In fact 1t could be filed now, If necessary; but
as II Is Desirable TO get in the forty-eiRht inch
main above referred to, it has been deemed best
70 use direct from the conduit, Is the river IA
clear and there Is no fear Of heavy freshsf A.