Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-31
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS,
Col. Rockweil,s Annual Report.

Col. Rockwell's Annual Report.
WORK DONE DURING rHH LAST FISCAL YEAR IN IN
PROVING THE PUBLIC GRoUNDS-EsTlMATEs FOR
tbs NEXT FISCAL YEAR
Col A. F. Rockwell has submitted TO Brig
Gen. h. q. Wright, chief OF engineers, U.S.A-. his
report OF operations for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1893, upon the public buildings, grounds and
work In the District OF Columbia under his charge.
GROUNDS SOUTH OF THE ExEcUrrvE MANSION
The report first treats upon the grounds south OF
the Executive anson, notes the completion OF
the roadway I'm the southeastern corner OF the
grounds, early in the working season OF 1882. by
being heavily surfaced with $40 cubic yards OF
gravel The lawn surface bordering the road was
coated with 50 cubic yards or good soil. and the
margins sodded. The drive across the sidewalk
brick, set on edge: the earth and SOIL remov,d
therefrom being uset In grading low portions OF
me rfoHnd s oosaer,ng On street. The roadway
WAS outlined, excayated and fllled In with broken
stone and coarse gravel one foot in depth, and ne
gravel ten inches in depth. A continuous stone
gutter 3Gs4 feet In length and three feet In width
was laf with marble and granite spalls entirely
arouEd the central elpse on the inner margin OF
terlng were laid In the western section OF the
grounds gro s,r,. on the outer margin of
or cobble->tone gutterng were constructed
on the margins OF tie now roadw ~ leading into
the main roadway from 18th and Streets.I5 addi-
tional brick sewer traps were constructed ON
margins OF roadways and 2,13O feet OF terra Gotta
Train pipe was Laid, connecting with the main
ever running throu III the grounds and with the
i7th street sewer In order to Increase the facilities
tOr draining the storm waters from the ground.
Most satisfactory progress Was made I'm the plant
Ing or the grounds during the year, some one
thousand trees ana shrubs having be n removed
from the nursery during the last autumn
In Inc eastern part OF the grounds The grading
OF low portions OF the grounds bordering B street
was continued at Intervals. So: cubic yards OF soil
Oelng used Tor that purpose. The main rOadwayS
ana walks were extensively repaired.
THE MONUMENT GROUNDS, GREENHOUSES AND
NURSERY.
An account is given or the work bestowed on the
Monument grounds during the year. Including ex-
tensive repairs made to the wide carriage road In
the northern part OF the grounds. In the green
houses the requisite care was iended the gen.
eral coll ction or exotic plants AMI the propaga.
ton OF desirable varieties for bedding ont In the
public grounds was continued. About 10000
plants, suitab bic for park decoration, propa-
gated during the winter and bedded out in the
various public reservations during tue past spring,
az In addition there were propagated about
10000 plants for winter Towering ana to add
to the general collection or ornamental stock
The cons ructiOn OF new plant house was COM
menced In the early autumn and completed In
November, 1882. Another desirable improvement
was the re- obstruction OF the old palm house. One
o. the carpenter shops belonging TO The Office OF
construction or the new ST tie, War and Navy de-
partment building Was removed In November and
re-erected In the nursery gro undS where II is used
ior once, workroom and Sto fige purno es In the
nursery grounds additions were mad. TO the gem
eral stock ty the purchase OF 1852 tree, 1904
shrubs and 1871 plants. majority OF this stock
was transplanLed IN the various parks.
SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS.
Extensive and mu:h nesIed Improvement in
The surface drainage or these grounds and repairs
10 the gravelled roadways and walks have been
made during the year. 1926 feet OF new brick
were laid; 1926 Ieet OF Old brick guttpring
were relaid; IA additional brick traps were con-
sfructed. and 1,02 feet OF terra-c otta drain pipe
deStal OF the statue OF the late Prof Henry, un-
yelled April 10th last, was rearranged and re-
The snt \ triangular reservation at Virginia
avenue. 12th and b streets, has BEEN improved,
SEEDED and sodded. and suitable trees planted,
ana the Whoie enclosed with a chain fence.
The MALL
The Armory square and adjoining grounds. ex-
tending east to the Botanical garden, received
as much attention during the year as the limited
allotment from the appropriation for the sim
A note Is made OF the commencement OF the con-
StructOn, by the Bil!1mOre and Potomac railroad
company, OF bridge across 9th street, which,
Wnen completed, Will connect the ArmOry square
WIN the reservation east or 1t and provide safe
pasSageway for vehicles AMI pedestrians.
OTHER RESERVATIONS AND PARKS
detailed account is given OF the various i'm
proVements and the work done In various parks
and reservations. An effort was made to save the
ornamental evergreen and deciduous trees ana
shrubs In the northern section OF judiciary square,
selected as the Site of the new pension building
Two hundred and ninety were taken up and trans
Wanted fn the new park south OF the Executive
Mansion. Work having been commenced In the
new building, liz trees and shrubs necessarily
destroyed before their removal could be effected
IL Is estimated that the cost entitled upon the
Ohfce by reason OF its having been obliged to tear
up from the site OF the new Pension building the
improvements made during the past and previous
Years aggregated SOM $780, but IL is Thought the
materials saved-such gravel, sod, bricks, drain
pipe. trees and shrubs-will reduce that amount
THE Dc POINT sTATUE.
Work upon the concrete and brick foundation
for the pedestal for the statue OF Rear Admiral
Samuel Francis Du Pont was commenc ed In March
last and conn leted In May by the placing In posi-
in readiness to receive the pedestal when com.
pleted The preparation or the circle to receive
the pedestal was commenced In April, and at the
been made.
RESERVATION NUMBERED II.
Under the appropriation OF $4,000 for commenc.
Ing the improvem mt of res .rvation II at the
close OF the fiscal year the portion OF the resprva-
Gon lying north OF Virginia and west OF New
jersey avenues had teen brought to the proper
grade with earth filling and almost the entire sur
lace cOatei With good soil 10 depth OF about six
inches Good progress was also made in levelling
down the eastern portion OF the reservation, about
1910 cubic yards OF earth. stone and gravel
having peen excavattd and removed.
MISCELLANEOUS Matters
Note Is made OF work done in repainting iron
fences. vases and lampposts, laying water pipe,
repairing settees, painting signs and labels,
removing snow and ice, moving grass, protecting
fountains, e.. The fountain at the north part OF
the Executive mansion was ntirely reconstructed
The old roadway plank In the draw OF Anaco,tia
bridge WAS replaced in August last Repairs were
also made 10 BennngS bridge and portions OF the
guard ;tmbers or the Chain bridge were replaced.
A contract has been MI de for the construction of
new lodge house for the use OF the bridge keeper
at the Chain bridge.
report IS given also OF the work done In keep
ing the telegraph line running between public
buildings In repair
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
The Improvements accomplished on the Execu-
tive Mansion during the past yearwere as follows;
In the state dining room the side walls ceiling and
woodwork were redecOrated In colOrs, and the
west windows were cut down to the floor, and pro-
Vtded with glass doors FOL, entrances to the con.
Servatory adjoining; In the red room the sidewalks
ceiling an woodwork were redecOrated In coiOrs
Dew cherry-wOOd mantel was constructed In
place OF the Old white marble one (Which was
t'ken down and re-erected In one OF the
upper roOmS), and q new tile hearth was laid: in
the blue room the sidewalks and ceiling and wood.
work were redecorated in cOlOrS, portion OF the
white marble mantel was removed and replaced
with glass mosaic work, and the room refurnished
with new carpet. new window curtains and
iaces; four new side gas brackets, with seven
lights each, were placed upon she walls, and
backed with mos a1c work ScOnceS, and the furnI-