Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-23
CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS.
Architect ClarksS Report.

WORK DURING THE PAST YEAR-ENPERIYESrs WITH
THE ELEcTRIc LIGHr-ME oLMsrED's REPORT on
THE GROUNDS
The architect OF the Capitol, Mr.. Edward Clark,
has transmitted his annual report 10 the Secretary
OF the Interior, incluiing with il the report OF Mr.
Fred. Law Olmstei, the landscape architect The
report states that number of changes have been
made In the committee rooms IN the Capitol re-
Quirlng an unusual amount OF fitting and repairs
Mr.. Clark states tnat from the report OF the engi
neer, Mir. Lanman, as TO the heating and ventilat-
ing apparatus OF the House. he learns that the vol
ume OF air carried to the hall is slightly in
OF the volume removed al the Louyres In the roof.
while formerly this was the reverse. During the
winter months the temperature has never been
hlsher than Il degrees or lower than 90 degrees.
IN REGARD TO TIE ELECTRIC LIGHTING
Mr.. Tacott the electrician, informs the architect
that the number OF night sessions requiring the
lighting OF the building during the last year was
quite small-leSS than is usually required for the
snort session. The supply or gas was not what
IL should have been on several OCCASIONS and I'm
the latter part or June a dense black smoke was
emitted. especially when the pressure was reduced
The report adds that an arrangement has been
made Win the l nited states Electric Light COM
pany Tor such lights may be needed at the ap-
proacheS To the building at the of ~ per
i lgnl per nghL Inc swan Brush lights upon the
dome are In the nature OF an experiment as TO the
possibility OF lighting the Capitol grounds and the
avenues OF the city radiat!ng from the grounds.
The archltecI states that these lights placed
there at the expense OF the company, and are 10
be taken away upon given notice
REPORT OF THE LANDSCAPE GARDENER
Mr. Olmsted, the landscape gardener In his
report, which Architect Clark inserts, states that
the important work OF the past year has been tnat
OF the south approach TO the terrace, and a short
section OF the terrace proper. "ENpcrience," adds
Mr. OlmSted. ''suStalns the lowest estimates OF the
cost OF the work that have been at any time pre-
Sented"
The increased breadth and depth OF foliage on
the ground causes greater ob5curty. facilitating
depredations and disorder IL Is recommend ed
that two rOundSmen De added to the watch, one for
day and the other for light duty.
Mr. OlmSted speaks OF the trees which were
transplanted some ten years ago. There Were
about one hundred OF them. from twenty TO nifty
inches In girth. or about one foot In diameter
average The roots We're cut off at a distance ul
about three and ahalf feet from the trunk and the
branches were closely shortened. on account oi
these circumstances 1t was considered questionable
whether the trees would survive. He says that in
the case OF two OF the trees the experiment was
considered very hazardous, but after three years
they We're still living and promising TO live, but
not to flourish. They were Therefore lelled.
"Of the remainder" continues Mr.. Olmsted
"no tree has died as the result OF the removal. and
those that have escaped serious injury from cause
not connected with their removal are all now living
ahu In tnrVlng conultlon. In general their heads
are much larger and denser than they were befor.
they were shortened. and they are growing more
rapidly than before their removal
THE CITY HALL REPAIRS.
The report OF Mr. Clark, In touching upon the
city court house, speaks OF the steam heating ap-
paratus being put in the east wing, and several
minor repairs. The architect recommends as a
measure OF economy and comfort, that the ste lm
heating apparatus be extended through the whole
OF the OLD portion OF the building, and that c
office rooms now unoccupiei In the upper story OF
this portion Of the building, as We'll as some rooms
In the basement, be fitted up for use.
In regard 10 the United States Botanic garden.
the architect states that the two large cOnSerya-
tories have been repainJed and the Barthodi fuun-
tain bronZed.
The amount expended on the Capitol extension
was $54 40 on the Capitol grounds Sos 0O0 and fol
lighting the Capitol and grounds, $4,000