Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-20
IMPROVEMENT OF WASHINGTON
Public Buildings and Grounds
Annual Report of GEN. Babcock.

Q
MONUMENT LOT
The report details the various improvements
made in the several public squares and reserya-
tons. In the monument lot a roadway thirty
i've feet wide. commencing at the line of tbe
old canal, on Il street, between 18th and I7th
streets, and curving around the southern por-
ton OF the grounds and entering 18th street
nearly opposite the entrance to the Agricultural
grounds, was excavated, filed, and graded and
covered with nine inches of gravel. On eacl
side Of the roadway n line of tile drain pine was
laid and covered with broken brick for the pur-
pose OF drainage. The edges on both sides were
sodded, the better to define them and prevent
earth washing INTO the road after hea Wy rains
ARNURY SQUARE
has been thoroughly subo and water pipes SC
laid thst any portion of the square can be watered
tain in his square which had been out Of repair for
long time, was repaired az d the water turned on
opposite he main ehtrance to the smiths"nie e ~
Gr unds, and cuTSing around to 9th street. been
sraded, gravel, and dra!ued, as in the Monumen;
Grouud IN reference TO the roadway by and through
the parks from the White House to the Capitol
Themselves Uf this beautiful drive
OTHER PUBLIC SQUARES.
In Laiay cite square, sevente brick traps have
been consiIucttd and CONNECTED with the rs us Tor
the purpose q collecting and carry of the surface
rallied, the trees have been properly trimmed, and
az are in healthy condition:
RaNllus square. New York avenue. between
1sih aud l1h streets, was hl'ed in and subdraincd
Two FOUNTAINS were plac q in it, walk. laid GU sc.
at the intersection Of Massachusetts, Connecticut
anu new nam pshire avenues, iron lAts with a
cham hsve been placed around it, ana il was sup
piled with lamp poets.
Material Improvements were made during the year
in Farrsgut and Franklin squares Part Of ths Old
wooden fence around Judiciary square removed
placed in front Of the wooden settess along walk
Leading from the foot Of Pennsy avenue west
TO the Capitol much needed Improvement.
number OF trees Of various kinds were pnr chased
and PLANTED in Farragut, Scott, aud Franklin
utive Mansion none but long ed ha-dy and line
specimens were selected The of old trees stand
EXecutive Mansion to the War aud Navy depart.
meDts were removed, and a Of evergreens (hern-
proyement in the appearance Of those grounds Such
Of the trees removed as worth saving were re-
set IN the z OuDds south Of the mansion.
Lincoln square was subdrained aud water intro.
du9td for two fountains. Eighty bvshels of Ken
lucky blue grass seed were sown on the public
grounds last spring.
During the winter AIS bird cages for the sparrows
were made and securely fastened to the trees the
pubic GROUNDS. The sparrows appear to have be-
IHE WHITE HOUSE AND GROUNDS.
Tie greenhouse at the Executive Mansion under
Exeen1e have hsd Pgopr an TSP
attention 1he old iron fence that SUR. unded the
was removed and a granite curb set in its place,
thus relieving the grounds OF q contracted, gloomy
Executive Marsion was properiy sraiei and grsV
s,ed. Tic leaky copper root Of the EXECUTIVE
which we're put upon the roof. the old stairway at
the wet end Of he building removed, and a
can caIpe bought fer The East Room dnrinG tie
year. The exterior Of the manson was Thoroughly
cleaned, and necessary plumbing done from time 70
tine.
MIsCELLANEoUs.
A contract was entered into with MIR. s. Z. Dick
SOD, Of New Haven, 90 build the new Chain bridge,
but he did Loih,ng during he year on The work.
the Scott monument ib this city, Gen. B. says II
weighs ll9 llg7 stCo tons, and it is believed the
largest stone ever successfully quayred IN this coun
None Of the government horses under charge Of
Con. dicd from the epizo)tic.
No deficiency exists and the appr0pria' ions for
The hsoal year have al been expended with the eN
bridge across the Potomac at the Little Falls, and
for base for the Scott statue, these being under
contract and not Vet finished.
EsT-,IATEs FOR THE PRESENT FISCAL YEAR.
The estimates submitted by this office, for the
soldaed ard sggre gated under he following heads:
Salaries, S55.965 Improvement and care f the pub
llo grounds S265-6SJ. Repairs and furnishing the
Executive Mansion, cObtiEuing the permanent I'M
pToytment Of the green house, and fuel, S6O,Ol0
public grounds: purchase Of lamp posts, &c, and
for pay Cflsmp-lighters, and plumbing and gas-ht
and upper bridges $1,000 For the construction OF
new fridge across the Eastern branch with stone
iepsiring and extending the go1ernment water
pipes and those leading from Smith $ springs, which
p, bees q office, s2,c0 Making a total aggregate
II eI PLANTATION Of the sum Of SECS $50 asked for for
the Improvement and care Of the public grounds
"a GU Is for the ordinary care and protection Of
hose incl0sed and finished, and for the purchase Of
manure, tOCs, trees seats. &c, end for the hire Of
horse ard cart. snG are the usual appropriations
One hundred spd forty three thousand dollars is
IT continuing the improvement OF the several
grounds upsn which work has been Progressing
during the year, viz: The Monument and smithso-
Island and Vermont avenues; LincOlO, judiciary
Armury and Franklin squares; reserv alton No Il,
and those between 81 and 9Th streets, along the line
OF the Id canal aud for various reservations along
the different avenues.
Highly two thousand nine hundred and fifty dol
lars is the amount submitted for the commencement
81 new work; by improving the crcie az the inter
Hampshire avenues; building a fountain in the in
closed grounds south q the Executive mansion
lar reservation on Pennsylyahi avenue, between
9h and 2lst streets aud six triangular
circle at the eastern terminus Of Pennsy vania
nue. granite coping for the fence in front Of the
Executive mansion similar 10 that each side, to
make II uniform, and for taking mp and resetting
stone walk and curb that has become out OF plscs
moving the iron fence around Lafayette sIqare and
replacing it with post and chain, and for draining
and improving the grounds Of the cd canal along
the government reservations.
THE 7 sTRKET CIRCLE.
desire TO call attention TO thu Circle at the inter
section q Massachusetts, Cognt cticut, and New
Hampshire avenues, which is $50 feet ia diameter,
where the avenues and streets are being greatly i'm
proved by the city and the adjacent property BY the
rtsidahees II Is intended to erect in this Circle
fountain 50 feet IN diameter with coping and center
granite, and TO place very fine selection Of choice
trees, eyetgreens, SCI in IT, Tie erection Of foua-
sion, lately enclosed, would add greatly to the ap
pearance,
EASTERN BRANCH BRIDGE
The Item estimated for the constru etiOn of
bridge the Eastern branch OF the Potomac, at
the site now occupied by the old wooden
bridge, is sufficient to erect substantial bridge,
with stone abutment and an iron superstructure.
The WATER SUPPLY,
description Of the route Of the ST, 80, and 2inch
water mains is given, together with the location Of
stOp-cocks. The quantity Of water supplied duJiuS
the past year has averaged at least eO0 gallons
daily.
Amer speaking Of the improvements made at the
distributing reservoir during the year, Gen, Bah
cock says, referring to the use OF
The AgUEpUCT BRIDGE OVER ROCK CREEK
BY the Washington and Georgetown railroad, aud
by vehicles of every desert pOn that there to
be no authority Of law for the Of this bridge for
common travel although il was tolerated during the
late v ar on account Of the demand Tor passageway
on am the avenues and streets The constant Earring
TO which il IL subjected has caused many OF the Orna
mental scrolls which encircle the Joints OF the mains
10 become loose and drop, aud Gen. b says he has
doubt its continued use for general thoroughfare
will eventually destroy its usefulness fOr aqueduct
purposes. He therefore recommends that authority
BE given to prevent is further use as thorough
fare except for the passage OF pedestrians and the
cars Of the Washington and Georgetown railroad;
ard that the railroad company be allowed It's use
only for a time sufficient to enable them to build
bridge for their railroad, either ledi ately above
OF below the present structure.
The report capitulstes the work done at tbs re-
ceiving reservoir, Potomac dam and Cabin Jhn