Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-07

from the trees in the public grounds. ssIectiny
only such varieties as are most desirable. and
ersl thousand young trees from this planting.
which, with proper care, will in few wear
furnish such trees ss will be needed in the pub
lie grounds.
TREES, KvERGRKKNs, Sc.
During he winter, when the ground wa
frozen, number OF large trees were removed
trsnsPlanted. They were of the following va
rieties and were distributed in the reservations
as follows:
S7ott SqHdTe.-Two eims. estalpa, Is enony-
n as, forsythias, spireas.
FdTrdgut NggGrc Three English mapies,
eIms, horstchestnuts, Norway NAPLES,
eBonymas.
M. Vernon Place One white ash. peram-
mon, Is elms, IA naples.
Circle, NassdobEsstts, CoHnsc'icuf ard W.
BdmT SHIRE dUefEcs.--One ash. I ash-leaved mA
Ple. sycamore, l sugar maple, ( cedars.
These, together with those placed in aw-
lins Square, already enumerated, make 10
trees 50 removed. In the spring the lsndscsp-
gardener, nv nv direction. visited nurseries ~
Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, aud
purchased number of fine specimens OF trees.
everereens, &c. that could not be purchas ~
this vicinity. They arrived in good order. and
were placed temporarily in the nursery. Some
ooo OF these were trsnsplanted, being placed
Rswlins squares, and Mt. Vernon plsce. Nearly
al have grown well during the summer.
CHAIN BRIDGE.
At the date of the last annual report the re-
building Of tie Chain bridge was under con-
tract with Mr.. s. Il. Dickson, OF New Haven.
Connecticut. BY the terms of bis contract the
bridge should have been fully completed by the
first day Of june, ls13 He was repeatedly no
tined 10 commence and finish his work, and or
the 10Th OF October, 1873. (there being no evil
Gence that he bad ever commenced it, he wa
finally notified tn st his contract was annulled
With the approval of the chief OF engineers, q
c0ntI act Was then entered into with Messrs
clarke Reeves * CO., of the Ph9nixville Bridge
works. Their contract was dated November
IA. 1913 to be fully completed on or before the
lst OF May, IS4. They Immediately com
meLced the work, and their first shipment OF
iron was received December 20. 1873. Other
shipments followed in rapid succession, and the
entire work was fully completed on the 9TH
cay of March, 1874. It is due TO Mr.. Dickson to
state that the several communications sent 10
him from this Office 10 the address given by
him were not received by him. but were re-
turned TO me by the postmaster of New Haven
tie 10th OF January, 1874.
FOUNTAINS.
The various fountains have had proper care
and attention. In the fall the water was turned
on and the bowls filed with leaves 70 prevent
their being damaged by frost. In the spring
the leaves were removed and the water turned
on, aid ii was found that the bowls had sus.
talneo no in jury from the frost during the " N
ter. Much annoyance is experienced in the
spring from fish spawn that gets into the ietr
OF the fountain and prevents the free play OF
the water.
SCOTT STATUE.
Since my last annual report the granite ped
estal for the Scott statue has been received and
same at the intersection of Rhode Island ana
Massachusetts avenues. The largest stone
weighing ll9 tons sBd ], l9l pounds, was moved
from the foot of G street northwest in eishs
days, without damage TO either tbs stOne or In,
rCadways over which IL was moved. The bronz.
statue was placed on the pedestal a. soon as II
Wss feaoy Tor II, and without any damage {
either.
NIsCELLANRoua
The post and chain enclosing Farragut sau mare
and the iron fence enclosing the triangular res
EFEAfl0u BpInsVt haft
and 2lst streets, and the " ashiugton circle weTs
PAINTED. The rustic seats in the 18th stree
circle we're repaired, scrsped and vanished
L he other st ats in the public squares that werr
torn iTom their fastenlngs during the winter
we're repaired, placed in position. and fastened
again. large number Of c0cOons OF the baske.
caterpillar we're picked from the evergreen
snd Il. StToyed, thus preventing an immeDss
amount OF damage being done them Thea,
worms are very injurious to evergresns, and IA
a very short time viii destroy them if nos re-
moved. Tie snow aUd ice was prompt'v re
moved from the walk along the pubic rrs.rys
tiohs under my charge. Three hundred and
fifty boxes for the sparrows were made by the
carr enters daring the winter, and in the sprino
were securely fastened to the trees. The ia
crease OF the sparrows has bees so rapid ths'
all the boxes were occupied almost Immediately
They have not been so much disturbed by the
boys this year, In consequence OF which thev
are becoming more tame. Much annoyance il
experienced with The wild garlic which grows ir
mcst of the public reservations. Large ausnri-
ties have been dug up and removed, especially
from Lafayette and Franklin squares and tn
grounds around the Executive mansion.
The President presented TO this ce a hand
some specimen OF an American eagle which
had been sent TO him from Wisconsin. cage
was constructed for it and placed in Frsnklir
Square, thus adding to this square feature OF
much interest to the children OF the city Spec
linens or animals are frequently offered to th,-
ofice from officials of the government and pri.
vate individuals, which are often declined for
the want OF means 10 properly house and care
for them. In few years, and at a compare
lively small expense, vety fire collection O.
American aud other animals could be collected
Such collection would be great source o.
entertainment TO the people OF the CAPITA, an
nose yislins t. DC sides being of grest value 10
the students OF Natural History. / would re
specuuIly recommend that an appropriation b.
made to provide for receiving such contribu
uons. Inc uets, eversreens, &c, in the va
rious reserE EatiOns have been cared for, ano
properly trimmed in season. Some Of the ever
greens were tied up TO prevent the breaking O
their branches from the weight Of the SNOW
falling on them during the winter. While ths
leaves are falling force is employed TO collect
and remove them. They are deposited in piles
thns FORMING vegetable mould which is very
valuable, and which Is used in the green houss
for propogstng purposes. What is not usea
for this purpose is used for top dressing f0r
lawns.
The electrical lighting apparatus in the Ca,
ltol has been kept IN thorough repair. No
trouble has been experienced in working il Al
any time by careful supervision of the CON
SUMPTION OF the gas in the entire Capitol build
ing during the (long) session, q great saving has
been effected, enabling a return 20 the Treasury
of the United States OF the sum Of so, % oi
the " hghting fund"
The triangular reservation on Tth street ana
Pennsy ivaUia az enue, which was opened to tue
public IN June, 1871, has been closed, the abuse
OF the privilege more than counter balancing the
benefits to the public.
The public gar deDer has been employed during
the year, when bis services were not otherwise
T. .quired, III preparing maps OF the reservations
that had BET n improved by this Office. These
maps give ne rosdWays and walks; locate the
fountains, drinking fountains, and the drains.
and gas and water pipes. Msps Of the following.
named reservations have been SO prepared viz.
Lafayette Square; Lincoln Square; Judiciary
Square; Scott Square; Fsrrasut Square; WASH
ington Circle; 13th-street Circle; the circle AZ
the intersection OF Massachusetts Connecticut
and New Hampshire avenues; Mount Vernon
Place; the grounds around the Executive Man
sion; two triangular reservations on Pennsyl-
yania avenue, between 18th and 18th streets.
triangular reservation on New York avenue
between 10Th and 18th streets; and "Ashland
Place." reservation on Massachusetts, ayenue
between 5th and 9th streets
III ls the intention to make these mans ss wall
as others yet to be prepared, show the location
OF the various trees and shrubs, with the local
ana botanical name Of each given, 20 that at
any time In the future when tree dies, an ex-
mil ANE@