Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09
BEAUTIFYING THE CAPITAL.
Report of Col. A. F. Rockwell. COmmis.
siOner of Public Buildings and
GrOunds-What was None the Past
Fiscal Year-What 1t Is Proposed TO
Do the Coming Year.

siOner of Public Buildings and
GrOunds-What was None the Past
Fiscal Year-What 1t Is Proposed Tu
Do the Coming Year.
Col A. F. Rockwell, commissioner of public
buildings and grounds, has submitted his annual
report 10 the chief of engineers 1t is an unusually
long and exhaustive document ACCOMMODATING II
Is map OF the District, upon which is shown the
locality and eXact.mea Surements OF every reServa
ton; and accompanying 1t Is a descriptive state.
ment OF the present condition Of the improvements
1t shows the total number OF reservations to be
comprising 40S acres. OF these 80 1886 acresl are
highly improved; AZ Q12 acres) are partially i'm.
proved and 16l 90 acresl are unimprOved. Seven
ty-two OF them are enclosed In the reservations
are located 10 statues, 81 fountains, % drinking
tlfnS, and 40 gas lamps. The report states
that the work in progress for the improvement OF
the western portion OF
THE PARK SOUTH OF THE EXECUTIVE MANSION
was continued during the year. Low portions were
brought to the required grade with $50 cubic yards
| OF good soil, and sown down in grass seed. The
roadway for the northwestern section OF the
grounds, leading from the main roadway around
the central elpse into 18th street constructed
and the approach across the sidewalk excavated,
curbed. &C: Two thousand nine hundred and
thirty linea feet Of stone guttering were laid on
the margins of the roadways and walks being con-
sructed with marble and granite spallS from the
works OF the Washington monument. Three hun
dred and twelve additional trees and shrubs were
planted mainly in the western half of the grounds
The improved portions of the park received the
attention necessary to maintain them In slightly
condition.
MONUMENT GROUNDS, GREENHOUSES AND NURSERY
The monument grounds, with the exception OF
the portions occupied by the monument and shops,
received necessary care The main carrIageway
was improved. good crop Of hay was secured
from these grounds {and the smithsonian grounds)
sufficient for the public animals belonging to the
ONCE A new palm and crotOn- house was con-
structed and filled with that class OF plants About
10000 ornamental foliaged and Towering plants
were propagated in the several houses during the
autumn, winter. and early spring months, and
betded out In the public parks during the past
spring. Additions were made to the general stock
by the purchase of 300 trees and shrubs, which
were set out In the nursery rooms for thorough
cllnat1on before flnat planting. 1400 plants were
also purchased during the year for park decoration
total OF 26O0 trees were lifted from the nursery
and Gansplanted in the parks during the year.
principally in Dupont circle grounds south of the
Executive mansion, and reservations east OF the
Capitol.
SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS, ARMORY SQUARE, ETC.
The Smithsonian grounds were kept In good con-
diton by needed repairs to the roatways and CUTTERS
Armory square and reservations east to Botanical
gardens received as much attention as the limited
amount applicable to their care would permit
RESERVATIONS NORTH OF TIE AVENUE AND WEST OF
THE CAPITOL.
In Lafayette square an additional asphalt foot
the square. In the autumn the flower beds were
planted with spring Towering bulbs and in the
spring with suitable ornamental Towering and
foliaged plants.
In Franklin square additional brick cutters were
laid and the walks were kept in good condition.
In Mount Vernon square new asphalt fOotWalks
were laid and the graveled walks repaired.
IN judiciary square, after the completion OF the
addition TO the city Hall bulidug the grounds
were rearranged. The ground Immediately ad1oin-
ing the new structure was teIrace,i and new roads
About 10000 bulbs We're planted during the a,l-
tnmn in Franklin, lafayette, Farragut and Judi
GiarS car, squares ana IhomaS circle for early spring
towering.
DUPONT CIRCLE AND STATUE.
The work OF preparing Dupont circle to receive
the pedestal OF the statue to be erected was conf
pleted in May last Some s56.ornamental trees and
noWering shrubs were planted, and flower beds
were prepared and stocked. The granite for the
pedestal WAS received May 1st, and Immediately
placed in position The statue OF Admiral Dupont,
winch VIII cost when completed S10,5 500, is being
made by Mr. Launt Thompson and Is TO be finished
and placed in position by the first OF January, 1885
RESERVATIONS EAST OF THE CAPITOL.
The work upon most of these reservations was
confined TO That necessary to maintain them in
good condition. The reservation on North Carolina
avenue, between 2d and Sd streets east, was par
TALLY improved a number OF years since by being
rough graded and enclosed. With the small sum
$1,000 provided for It's Improvement during the
past year very fair progress made. The new
and coarse gravel and surfaced with fine gravel
colnpactly rolled. The lawn surfaces We're Spaded
and sown with grass seed and SIX lamp posts,with
ornamental lamps, were erected and connected
with the street mains. A row OF young shade trees
were planted around the outer margin OF The reser-
yaton. The one Thousand dollars provided for the
reservation on South Carolina avenue between 4th
and 6th streets east, was barely sufficient to rough
grade IL In part and to purchase 800 cubic yards OF
Top SOIL 1Of small area OF the graded portion.
The work OF improvement on reservation No. II
was continued, and satisfactory progress was made
New jersey avehue and Sd Street east norh af
Virginia avenue, about fifteen acres, was brought
TO the establishcd grade, and sown down in grass
seed. Thirty thousand cubic yards OF earth and
nine thousand cubic yards OF soil were used In
grading it; 1430 lneal feet OF drain pipe was laid
In the lower portions of the grounds. New Jersey
avenue, Which cuts through the grounds, was
paved with granite blocks some years since by the
District authorities. and some $4,000 blocks Were
removed Oy them IOr use In District Improvements
PURCHASES WERE MADE
during the year OF 800 cubic yards OF manure and
600 cubic yards OF rich soil; 100 new park settees
One hundred and thirty seven old settees, tempo
rarly stored In the nursery grounds, were repaired
makin5 237 In all, which We're distributed as fol-
lows: 70 In Lincoln square, 25 in Mount Vernon
square, % in Dupont Circle, so in Smithsonian
grounds, 20 i'll reservation between Maine and Mis-
souri, avenues and 3D. and y Streets 20 in reServa-
ton between Maine and Missouri avenues and Az
and 9th streets, In Farragut, in McPners0l 10 in
Lafayette 10 IN Franklin, 10 in Rawlins, in STAN
ton square, IN two triangleS at Massachusetts
avenue and 18th street, and Is In Executive Man
SlOn grounds.
THE CAPITOL SPRING,
situated northeast OF the Freedmens hospital on
the site or the new reservoir was cleaned and well
cared for, and part OF the four-tnch pine which
conveys tie water to the Capitol was lowered ow-
Ing to change In street grade. The officer in
charge OF the Aqueduct extension has signided his
intention OF protecting the spring and its discharge
pipe, so that the water IRON il will still be deliY-
cred TO the Capitol In The future as in the past.
The average number OF reservation and public
Duldng lamps lighted nightly during the year
was 327.
IN THE EXECUTIVE MANSION
the ceiling or the East room was redecorated, and
the three large syerand-crystal chandeliers taken
down All OF the metal parts were replated and
the crystals cleaned and repaired The chandeliers
IN other parts OF the house put in good ORDER
New mosaic glass was placed In the sem1-crcular
WINDOW at the west end OF the upper corridor and
In the panels and transOm Of the front door. The
ola l2nch terra Gotta drain pipe in the north and
west basement areas, which carried Off the house
drainage, was replaced with new S-inch iron pipe.
A new Ice mousse was constructed in the western
area AudltlonS were made to the furniture as
needed.
CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENTAL TELEGRAPH.
Under permit the Standard Underground Cable
company OF Pittsburg have laid, Tor experimental
purposes and without cost, two Of the Waring un-
derground cables, each containing six wires, from
the Capitol to the Executive Mansion, State War
and Navy departments and office OF commissioner
OF pubic buildings aud grounds. These cables have
been In daily Use, for both telegraphic and tele-
phonlc purposes Tor several months with most sat