Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-29
The Smithsonian Grounds.

employed IN cutting a series OF ditcheS across
the Smithsonian grounds from east TO west at
regular intervals of fifty feet, and averaging
three feet deep, preparatory to laying earthen
PIPE 1or draining the entire enclosure. Around
and north streets, six-inch THE pipe main
has been laid TO receive the drainage from the
three inch tile pipe laid in the bitches above
named. Upon survey 1t has been found that in
the main the formation of these grounds makes
apinclinstion towards It'll, 18th, and north b
STREETS, with a gentle rise towards the middle Of
the grounds where the building stands the larg-
est portion of the surface inclining towards It'll
street.
THE MAIN OR OUTSIDE PIPE
is laid to depth Of four feet, and the Joints
regularly set with fanges cemented, and bend
connections at every fifty feet to receive the
BRICK thing conveying the water. The three
The pipe Is laid with q small space between
the joints) in the center OF the ditch, which has
q smooth bottom, and the tiling is then cover
ed with about ten inches of broken stone. On
this Is placed the sod cut from the surface,
grass side downwards; then the ditch is rilled in
and well rammed.
THE DEPRESSION NORTH OF THE BUILDING,
and between IL and the 10th street gate, has
heretofore been partially drained into a seven
teen-inCh brick sewer leading from the build
ing to the old canal, the connection now being
made into the new street sewer, at the same
point where the six-inch outside mains now
have an outlet This drainage was put in under
plan for orDamenting these grounds originally
but the drainage has always been insufficient.
With the system now being introduced over the
northern and middle portions, it is believed
that the roads and fOotwslks will not only be
rendered dry and pssssble at all seasons, but
that the grass ard shrubberY will be benefited
and the necessary preliminary measures &C
complished for further improvements OF the
grounds.
THE PLANS OF MR.. DOWNING
contemplated many elaborate adornments, such
as the introduction OF flower beds, and for this
purpose a six-inch water main was laid across
the grounds, from north to south, to connect
with the 30-inch water main on south b street,
from which IT was proposed TO supply a large
fountain and hsh-pOnd in the middle, and To
conduct water by means of lateral branches
throughout the entire grounds TO water the
plants and shrubbery, and supply jets wherever
desired.
THE GREATER PART OF TIE EXPENDITURE
this season will be made in the northern portion
of the grounds. WOrkmen are also engaged an
laying the foundation for q concrete pavement
on the footwalk leading from the north porch
way 10 the 1Oth-street gate. Persons who have
had occasion to visit the Smithsonian in wet
weather well know the muddy condition of this
old gravel walk as well as all the others, but the
limited amount Of the appropriation will not
admit of further Improvements in this direction
this season. The whole of this work will be
finished in about one month.
The general supervision OF these improve
ments is by Mr.. George III. Brown, under Gen.
BabeOck. Mr.. John Mickle Ii the principal
oveTseer, with MIR. John l.. Morse assistant
should the appropriation hold out, it is con-
templated to improve that portion of Executive
avenue which passes through these grounds.
A
FINALE LAwYER AT THE BARNS
IockteOod Before the Court. - To-day Justice
Walters Office, opposite the City Hall, was
crowded to suiOcation, because Of the interest
taken il the case of Mary l.. Keen against A ,
II. and Eliza L. MoOrehead in which Messrs
). i. DruTy and z. II. Reinhard appeared for
plaintiff and Mrs. Belva A. lockwood for de-
before Justice I. j. Shea a few days since for
damages sustained in ejectment, $780," and
the ca-e was removed on affidavit to Justice
Walter. 1t appeared in the evidence that plain
tin on the lst of May entered into an agree
ment to rent from defendants the basement
floor OF house on F. street. for which plaintiff
was to furnish three persons with meals, sc
Mrs. Keen testified that on the 18th of July she
received notice 70 quit the premises, and after
leaving the premises the defendants refused
her entrance; and as in the agreement II was
stipulated that she should attend the door bell
she had the right TO enter by the hall. She de-
MED that she had broken the contract by re-
tusing TO furnish meals, and said that after she
Was refused entrance TO the premises, she sent
word 70 the parties that their meals were ready
few doors below. On the part of the defend
ants, il was testified that when the plaintiff left
the premises she bOlted herself out, (or rather
her son locked up and came up through the
hall.) ltwas also testified that she kept a good
table at first, but towards the last il was not 50
goCd-pork at certain seasons of the year was
not regarded as proper food. Mrs. Lockwood
exhibited considerable tact in examining the
witnesses, and raised the point that Mrs. Keen
being married woman, her husband should
join in the action; and al the conclusion of rhe
evidence, she argued that the evidence showed
that the plaintiff was entitled TO no damages
and that the plaintiff had no right to enter by
the hall Mr.. Drury replied, and the justice re-
served his decision.
TEE WASHINGTON MONUMENT CoSrRIBu-
TIoNs-A Loose Way Of Doing Bustaess.-Coma
plant Is made that the collection of the contri-
buttons for the Washington monument in the
Patent Office is loosely and improperly done
and that under the present system money n
liable to be stolen from the boxes. The latter
are placed at the base of a model OF the mOnu-
ment in the model room, one being at each cor
ner. They are made of glass, and have no bot
toms, being simply screwed to the wooden
foundation on which the model rests. ANY
person disposed has only TO take a small
screw driver, or even his iack-knife, unscrew
the boxes and remove the contents, which
has been done IN at least three instances. Once
in several months person, supposed to be au-
tboriZed by the society, goes to the Patent
Office, unscrews the boxes, takes out the money,
dumps it in a newspaper OF handkerchief with
out counting it, and departs. A considerable
amount of money was distracted at one time
by means of a fat stick dipped in muciIage and
inserted through the slits ia tAe boxes. viii
some of the officers OF the Monument Society
look into this matter?
IMPROVEMENTS By THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKs.-An order has been given for the gra-
ding, setting curb, laying brick and cobble
stone pavement, and constructing twelVe-inch
sewer on ID street, between eth and 18th street.
southwest, and laying f,sg fOOtways at the in
ersection of 18th and 13K streets; also, the
grading of 18th and 1877 streets, from MARYLAND
avenue to b street, southwest, the work to be
completed in sixty days. The superintendent
of roads has been authorized TO repair the
Major road from Good Hope 20 ALacOstia roads
Orders have been issued for paving the car
rage way of street, from 18th 10 18th streets
ana from 18th to 2ist streets northwest, with
the Stove or Miller wooden pavement, treat d;
also, caTriageway of 22d street from Il 10 Il
streets northwest, setting curb and la wing foot
walks on said streets between the points named,
and the carTIagewsy of 26th street, from o.
VI streets northwest, with setting curbs and
laying footwalks on said street between The
points named. The contractor for the improve
menr OF Sd street between II and Streets