National Republican., 1883-08-01

gravclcd roadway and asphaltum footwalk on
the line of i street and IN the portion TO be
occupied by the new building comprising an
area of about 10000 square yards, were taken
up and the material stored away to be used in |
other portions of the park upon the compile |
tion of the building. lot of sewer pipes
iron gratings, lamp posts, &C., were also taken
up and stored away for similar use. Besides |
this 10000 square yards of surface aud soiding !
were taken up and soiled for use, which
drained the current appropriation to the |
amount of $4,000. It is thought, however, |
that the saving effected will reduce that
amount half.
The narrowing of the roadways of Lousi |
ana avenue by the district commissioners
added considerable strip of ground to this
square on its south side the entire width
from Fourth to Fifth streets. This strip was
inclosed in December last with an iron post
and chain fence and now forms an integral
part of tho square.
The improvement of the triangular reserva-
ton nt the intersection of Massachusetts,
avenue, Twentieth and = streets northwest,
was completed in the spring of 1883. 1t con-
sisted of soddng, planting trees and shrubs,
in constructing n brick and cement founda-
tion basin and. laying water and drain pipe
and inclosing the reservation with post and
chain fence.
In all the smaller reservations in the north
western portion of the city the lawns were
mown, flower beds planted with bulbs and
ornamental foliage plants, stakes and wires
removed and supplied where necessary.
THE DU PoNT STATUE
Work upon the concrete and brick founda-
tion for the pedestal for the statue of Rear
Admiral Samuel Francis Du POnt was COM
menced in March last and completed in May,
by the placing in position of the bluestone
course and granite stepping in readiness to
| receive the pedestal when completed The
preparation of the circle to receive the ped.
ngtul tyue rnnnrnnnppl "a Anil aud NJ ha
close of the fiscal year considerable progress
had been made.
RESERVATION H.
Under the appropriation of 1000 for COM
menCing the improvement of reservation Il
at the close of the fiscal year the portion of
the reservation lying north of Virginia and
west of New Jersey avenues had been brought
to the proper grade with earth filing and al
most the entire surface coated with good soil
to depth of about six inches Good progress
was also made in leveling down the eastern
portion of the reservation, about 10000 cubic
! yards of earth, stone, aud gravel having been
excavated and removed.
MIsCELLANEoUs MrrTERs.
Note is made of work done in rcpainting
| iron fences, vases, aud laInppOsts, laying
water pipe, repairing scttoes, painting signs
and labels, removing snow and ice, moving
| grass protecting fountains, &c. The fountain
| at the north part of the executive mansion
was entirely reconstructed. The old roadway
| plank in the draw of AnaCOstia bridge was
| replaced in August last Repairs were also
made to Beuning's bridge, and portions of the
guard tmbors of the chain bridge were re-
| placed. \ contract has been made for the
construction OF a new lodge house for the use
OF the bridge keeper at the chain bridge.
report is also given of the work done in
keeping the telegraph line running between
public buildings in repair.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
The improvements accomplished on the
executive man sion duiiuElthc past year were
as follows: In the state dining room the side |
walls ceiling, and wood work were redcco-
rated in colUrs, and the west windows were |
cut down tn the floor and provided with glass |
doors Tor entrances to the conservatory adj |
joining; in the red room the side walls, cell |
ing and wood work were redecOratcd in coOrs |
a new cherry wood mantel was constructed in |
place of the old white marble one (Which was |
taken down and re-crectcd in one of the up |
per rOomS), and II new tile hearth was laid; |
in the blue room the side walls and cell |
ing and wood work were rGdccOrated in |
colors, portion of the white marble mantel |
was removed and replaced with glass
mosaic work. and the room refurnishCd
with II new carpet, new window curtains and
| laces four new side gas brackets, with seven
lights each were placed upon the walls, and
backed with mosaic work sconses, and the
furniture of the room was recovered with |
new materials and the frames of the suite |
rcgildcd. The three large crystal chandeliers |
in the east room were taken down, filled with |
new ball joints, otherwise repaired, and re- |
placed upon the ceiling, and Il new carpet
was purchased and laid in the room. The !
side walls and ceilings of the lower main |
corridor were redeCorated, and the old ground !
glass in the partition separating it from the !
front vcstibule was removed and replaced |
with fine glass mosaic work. Mention is
onnHn nlg of hn utrzt tb,,h hoo tif,n
ratus, the Lew ceiling Of the east portico
and the painting Of the exterior of the house.
| Extensions were built to the two carriage
! houses of the executive mansion stable, iu-
creasing them to double their former dimen-
sions
ESTIMATES FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
The following sums are asked for the year
ending June, 1855: For the imrovement and
care of the white lot, $4,000; reservation on
South Carolina avenue, between Fourth and
| Sixth streets. $500; reservation on Worth
| Carolina avenue between Second and Third
streets, $4,000; reservation II and the site of
the old canal, S2000U for Improvement and
care OF various reservations, $4,000; improv-
ing Seward place, $4,000; improving four
reservations on New Jersey avenue northwest,
| $4,000 for improvement, care, and mainten.
ance of Smithsonian grounds, $4,000; for i'm
| provement and care of Armory square and
reservations east to botanical gardens, S5,000
improvement of Washington circle, $4,000
for care and repair of the executive mansion,
S25,0OO. The total amount asked for, of
| which the above are the most important items,
| is S2l60GO.
Tho appropriation of $1,000 is recom-
mcnded Tor improving the space on Mary
| land avenue, between Seventh and Ninth
streets southwest, and 100000 for the space
| Oh Vermont avenue, between q and U streets
northwest For the five triangular spaces on
| Pennsylvania avenue, between Eighth and
/ Twelfth streets southeast $1,000, and for the
| two triangular spaces on Massachusetts, ave-
nue., between Eighth and Tenth streets north
east 81 900.
The 10000 asked for in improving Seward
| place, which is at the intersection of Penn
| sylvania avenue and North Carolina avenue
between Fourth and Sixth streets southeast
| will provide for the removing of all tho roai-
ways now running through this space and
inclose the park in manner similar to Stan
ton and Mount Vernon squares
Attention is invited to the detailed report
| of the officer in charge and his estimates for
the coming fiscal year are recommended as
| follows:
| For Improvement and care of public
buildings and grounds. 10000
| For compensation OF persons employed
| in and around public buildings and
grounds. .....:,....,,.,.....,....,., 100000
| For contingent and incidental expenses. $1,000
| For rent Of olice public buildings and
grounds. ...,,,,......,.,.,...,...., 10000