Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-15
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
REPORT OF COLONEL ROCKWELL.
WORK DONE AND PROPOSED TO BE DONE.

| III. G. Wright, chief OF engineers his report upon
the work performed during the fiscal year ended
June Both, 1882, upon the public buildings and
grounds In the District OF Columbia. The report
| gives in detail the work Of grading draining, &C.
THE GROUNDS OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
Some 1888 cubic yards Of earth and 3,S35 cubic
yards OF soil were used in grading upon the low
! portions OF these grounds during the year, and
about IS cubic yards OF gravel and 55s cubic yards
or broken stone and concrete the last being PRO
| cured from the excavations made In removing the
| carriage ways from Mt. Vernon square> were used
| In construction OF roadways and walks. The
necessary care and attention were bestowed on
| the government grounds, greenhouses and
| nurseries About 1900 feet OF additional cobble
stone cutters were laid on the margin OF the road
way.
IN THE GREENHOUSES
the usual care extended to the general collec-
tion OF tropical plants and the propagation of desr
ablevarettes suitable for planting in public grounds
was success ully prosecuted. An additional green
house was built, 100 teet long by IL wide. Some
10000 plants were grown during the year, which
were bedded out in various parks during the
spring months This plan OF decorating the public
grounds, begun as an experiment two years since,
has proved a complete success. The general stock
in the nursery grounds was Increased by the pur-
chase OF l .231 deciiuouS and evergreen trees ard
500 shrubs and box bushes. Some $500 trees and
shrubs were removed and planted in various pub
lie parks during the year.
THE SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS
Extensive repairs We're made to the roadwayS
and walks OF the Smithsonian grounds. 1850 cubic
yards OF gravel were used in these repairs
All OF the reservations were kept in good order
during the year, and such attention was paid as
would permit.
specific appropriation for the Armory Square
and reservations east to Botanical Gardens is much
needed.
IN JUDICIARY SQUARE
the rOadwayS and walks were resurfaced, 800
cubic yards OF gravel having been hauled from
reservation No. II for the purpose. One thousand
and fifty feet Of additional brick gutterng. and
600 feet OF small cobblestOne gutterng was laid
on the margins Of roadWays
IN LAFAYETTE SQUARE
25S cubic yards Of screened gravel were used In
repairing worn out places in walks
IN MOUNT VERNON SQUARE
the asphaltum carriageways which ran through
1t were removed. The asphalt surfaces and broken
stone were picked up, the curbStone removed, and
all the material hauled away AMI stored in the
nursery grounds for future use. The grounds were
improved by coating the surface intended for lawns
with VIII goo good soil Drinking fountains, lampposts,
was completed by planting some 200 ornamental
evergreen and decduous trees, and about 600
towering shrubs The Improvement OF this square
was undertaken at the request OF a majOrity OF
property owners and residents around it. 1t is
believed that the improvements have the approval
OF all who resort to the grounds.
OTHER RESERVATIONS.
The small triangular reservation at the inter-
section OF Rhode Island avenue and @ and 9Th
streets was improved during the year.
In Franklin square the grounds and walks were
Kept in repair.
Necessary care to maintain them In good order
was extended to Lincoln, Stanton and Sherman
squares and the smaller reservations east of the
Capitol.
PURCHASES FOR THE GROUNDS DURING THE YEAR
During the year purchases were made OF LIS
cubic yards OF stable manure and $40 cubic yards
OF good soil, and these were thoroughly mixed,
making rich compost, used as top dressing
upon the lawn surfaces on the public grounds
as most required this Treatment, and
also in flower beds. Five tons of guano were also
purchased, mixed with proper proportion OF soil,
and SOWn broadcast upon the 'l;IWnS. 436 SctteeS
were refastened, and 156 were repaired; $50 set
tees were constructed from material obtained from
old and broken ones, which had been removed
curing the past two years; 80 new ones were pur-
chased.
THE FOUNTAINS
in the public grounds received the usual care. In
the a utumn steps were taken to protect them from
frost. Repairs were made TO the fountains in
Franklin square, Iowa circle. Pennsylvania ave
nue., between 18th and 18th streets, at the inter-
section OF Bridge ana Aqueduct streets, George
town, and III Stanton and Arm0ry squares.
THE WATER PIPES
In public grounds were looked after and kept In
good repair during the year. -Four new base
valves were placed on water pipes in executive
mansion grounds to afford additional facilities for
irrigation, and a new hydra1t and new stop
grounds which carries the water from Franklin
spring to the mansion, and State, War and Navy
department buildings.
GAS LIGHTING, BRIDGE. ETC.
Average number Of lamps lighted during the
year, 321.
The necessary care was extended to the bridges
coming under the control OF this Office. The White
house during the year was thoroughly over
hauled, re-painted and refurniShed.
AMOUNTS NECESSARY FOR WORK THE NEXT FISCAL
YEAR.
Estimates OF the amounts required for the fiscal
year ending June 30th, 1884, are given in the re-
port as folio ws:-For salaries Of clerks and watch
men, $40 400. For improving grounds south OF the
Executive Mansion, $4,000. Care and improve
ment OF reservation at the monument,
fff For mpT9yng SaWor Saors nsse s1o
For improving reservation on South Carolina
avenue, between 4th and 9th streets east, 5000;
also, The one on North Carolina avenue, between
2i and 3D. streets east, 0G0 The four reservations
on New Jersey avenue northeast, "a, ,OCO. For inn
provemenJ and care OF Smithsonian grounds, $40 COO
For the improvement and care OF armory square
and reservations east to botanical gardens S. 0OO
For continuing the improvement OF reservation
No. II and site OF Old canal southwest of same,
$4,000. Improvement or Washington circle. 81 COO
Total amount asked for the care and improvement
OF public buildings and grounds is sls2, 500 For
care and repairs OF Executive mansion, $40, Coo
For refurnlshinS Executive mansion, $4,000.
WORK TO BE DONE IN THE RESERVATIONS.
The repO 1T, in explanation Of the various items
above, speaks OF the work to be done On the va
IlouS reservations. In the reservation known as
Seward Place, On Pennsylvania avenue, between
4th and 9th streets east it is proposed to remove
the ntersecting streets and avenues, together
with the street railway tracks, regrade, improve,
ana enclose the park in manner similar to STAN
ton and Mount Vernon squares, with walks through
IL on direct lines or travel for pedestrians only
IN the reservation on South Carolina avenue,
between 4th and 9th streets east It Is proposed to
reduce the grade TO correspond with the proper
surrounding street grades, to sow down in lawn
grass street parking to plant shrubs and trees and
suitably enclose the park
The reservation on North Carolina avenue. be-
tween "a and Sd streets southeast, and directly In
front OF Providence hospital, will be laid out and
gravel walks constructed, sow grass and plant
trees and shrubs
The four reservations on New Jersey avenue
northwest will be improved In the same manner.
In the Smithsonian grounds it tS proposed to re-
surface with gravel the roadway5 and walks, and
10 re-Sod and re-SOw worn out lawn surfaces, also
to build drains and cutters
The ArmOry Square and the reservation east OF
the Botanical Gardens will be improved in the
same way.
The Washington Circle win be regarded and
improved.
The Dorsey COauadrum.
From the New York Sun, to-day.
Why did Mr.. Dorsey publish hts letter to Presi-
dent Garfield? This is pretty hard cOnundrum.