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

Ing the yesr, and travel has been unluterrupted
lhey nave ooth received very extensive ru, ,..ans,
and are IN ~ good condition - the aprroprla-
The Navy-ysrd bridge AocOmm bdatss an i'm
mense travel, and requires almO q coT.stant re-
pairing. On the 29Ih OF July, is q. - a iosr-
horse team, belonging 90 tue Government
Insane Asylum, was crossing the NsFy-vart
bridge, = span OF the bridge broke and let them
through into the water. 4 patient fron the
hospital Was seated with the driver. and mar
rCNly escaped being drowned. Two OF tie
horses were drowned. The bridge Wa tmme.
ciateiy repaired. This bridge = the Ouls d.roct
mems OF communicating With the Assium sud
Washington. ard a. u contains some 615 pa
ticuts. any interruption Of this character Il OF
ser Gus embarrassment 10 the Institution.
TFLEGRArH.
An appropriation was made by Congress fOr
the purpose OF col Meeting the CAPITOL with tie
Executive departments ana the Government
Printing Ofice by telegraph line, snd direct
ing the officer In charge OF thefuhlic hatlinrr
and grcutds % construct the line. Proposals.
NtTe solicited frOm several parties engaged in
hat business and the contract WAS awarded 10
the loves. bidder. The lines were erected ana
proper it struments purchased and placed in no.
elton before the Assembling OF Congress In le-
@ niher. The lnes were 20 arranged thar the
several departments sre connected with each
other, fs We Il a. With the Capitol. To prevent
run irom North Capitol street =, the .p,,oY ere
Der ground. To accomplish this two cables Olive
wires each were iAid. Al North capitol street
tie various wires were sttsched 20 the cable,
AZ ornamental iron Po.t being naed through
the centre OF which the wires were lei. The
line was kent in good working order duging the
session OF CCnErtsS. and hRs proved OF great
service to the members snd 60 the vArious de-
par meufs. The posts have received two coats
cf paint 10 preserve them, ana 10 make their
apr piesrarce In The city A. uuohjectiOnable a.
no sible. A quaint u Of material was purchased
which vii be avail able duTiHg the coming wear.
J wCu'c respectfully recommend an extension
OF this line 80 a. 70 connect the navy yard,
arseI Al, Smithsonian Institution, Department
% Agriculture. the Naval Observatory, and
other national Institutions in the District OF
Columbia.
eovKRNNENT WATER rtrRs.
The government water pipes condactins
water 10 the Capitol from Smi "a = sprtng are
lslc aohg NcIth Nalltol street, IN which street
the Board OF Public Works has been Construct
ing large sewer. The nature o. the work was
such that the pipes were continually breaking.
To correct this, and 70 avoid the necessity OF
digging M the street in case OF a break, and 10
maintain the supply or water the location Of the
line was changed. IL being placed under the side
or foot walks, just inside OF the curb. II Was
discovered in moving thus pipe that many OF tue
pieces had been destroyed by rust These we're
replaced with new pipe. The supply OF spring
water 70 the Capitol was not interrupted during
the session Of Congress.
KXRCUTIvF MANSION.
The pubhc ana priySte portions OF the Eg-
ecuuve Mansion received the necessary care
Tor the protection OF the property sui comfort
OF the Presidents family. The bzth-tubs aud
water-closets were replaced with new ones.
Great care WAS taken with the plumbing 10
was SO arranged with lead that no water could
get through and damage the ceilings below in
case Of an overflow or breakSge of tue pipes.
The pipes leading from the bssement were en-
eased IN zinc TO prevent rats and mice follow
ing along them and getting into the upper part
of the house. one sleeping room was repaired
by being newly Iapered. q new CRATE put In,
painted, and a new stationary msrbie wash.
stand, to which hot and cold water pipes were
attached. Hot and cold water-pipes were led
into other rooms. Two (sleeping) rooms in the
upper portion and one (TeceptionD room on the
first hoOr OF the house were pspered; a large
and roomy wardrobe, made OF ash and walnut,
Was constructed and placed in one OF the rooms,
it taking the place of an old and worthless one
made OF pine. Carpets OF different STYLES have
been purchased and Put down in the several
rooms a. needed. New furniture was purchASad
snd placed in the house when required. The
curtains, carpets, &c, were taken up and thor
oughly cleaned. The entire exterior OF tue
Mansion was cleaned OF cObwebs. &c, &c., and
places which suffered from the inclemency OF
the weather were covered with a light coat OF
paint TO present uniform color. The heating
apparatus, gas and water pipes have been re-
paired as necessity required.
GREBN HOUSES.
An appropriation OF so 00a tor continuing
the permanent Improvement OF the green
house, was made by Congress It was conten-
Piated 10 use this in the construction OF an iron
superstTucture to take the place of the present
wooden one, which is old aud decayed. UpOn
getting estimates 10 was found that the work
would cost some $50 goo. and therefore il was
deemed advisable not 10 commence the work
unless an additional appropriation was made.
ne mouse was kept In good repair. and 50 much
OF the appropriation as was ne cessary for that
purpose Was expended. The unexpended bal
snoe Vas re appropriated for care OF and Beces-
ssry repairs 10 the houses for the next fiscal
year.
FUEL.
Advertisements sollcitins bids TO furnish fuel
Tor The Executive Mansion and the green
houses were published in the various papers of
the citv. The contract was awarded TO q. Il
lOder, who has filed il IN satisfactory manner.
FIrANCIAL STATEMENT.
The appropriations for the hscRl wear Just
closed have all been expended, with the etcep-
Ton OF that made for lighting the Capitol,
and tor Permanent repairs 70 the green house
At the Executive Mansion-the uneNpended
bslsnce for the former being s10, ,257 G2, and the
latter q r90l.s6. The unexpended balance OF
the lighting" fund will be covered into the
fTeasuIy. The unexpended balance for green
houte " as resPpropriEted by the last Congress
for the care OF and necessary improvements 10
the same for the ensuing year. The estimate
submitted for the services OF this ofice for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1S36, are a. follows:
Salaries, s53,Ol6; contingent Of Office, a. 900;
repairs snd refurnishing the Executive Man
sion, care OF green houses, and fuel for both
80 ooo; lighting the Capitol, Executive Man.
sion and The public grounds, purchase of lamps,
lamp posts, pay of lamp lighters, and plumbing
and gas fitting Of ali sorts, S5l 900; for purchase
OF gas fixtures, for corridors OF the House OF
keprese natives, 10 correspond with those In
the Senate, s5.tO0-s56 900. For repairs to the
navy ward and upper bridge, - 900; for repair
rug aid extending the government ater pipes,
and those leading from Smiths spring that
supply The Capitol, SO Ov0, for care and i'm
provement Of the pubic grounds, a. follows,
viz: For filling the grounds south OF the Execu-
tive Mansion, Slt Oto; Tor subdraiuing and re-
pairing and regarding the roads and walks OF
the Smithsonian grounds north Of the building,
md ior construction of fountain, SO 900; for
building approaches TO the bridge 70 be erected
over 9Th street by the Baltimore aud Potomac
Railroad company, s5,t1f for completing the
improvement OF the reservations betkeen 81
aDd6th streets, as per plan, $1,000, for improv-
ing various reservations along avenues, 20 har-
mCriZe with the work done by the Board
OF Public Works, 50, coo; for ordinary care
or and extension 10 the green houses
at the ErCpsgstiug garden, $500; tor
ordinary care Of Lafayette square, = 0aO.
for the removal OF the present. eambersoms
IRON fence enclosing Lafayette square, and sab
sutHting Eost and chain, $500; for paving
i,i2l square yards of walks in Lafavette square
SiO,552 90; for annual repair Of fences - OpB:
for manure and hauling the same, IS 200; for
TaintlDg iron fences, $1,000; fOr purchase and
repsr II seats, 81 90; :Or hire Of horses and
carts, - Geo. for purchase ard repair OF tools
5000; Tor trees, tree boxes, lime aud white-
washing, $500; for removing snOy and ice
1000; Tor IL wers, POTS, twine, wire, Italiens,
iVrCuOdeum. .Nc.. ST for - -