National Republican., 1884-08-11
PUBLIC PAisKs AND PALACES.
Commissioner Rockweil's Report on Their
Condition and Prospects.

The condition of the public buildings and
grounds in the city is set out with great detail
in the report of Col, A. L. Rockwell, the com.
missioner, submitted Saturday. In the eNocu.
tive mansion the ceiling of the east room was
redecorated, and the three large silver and
crystal chandeliers taken down. All of the
metal parts were replatcd and the crystals
other parts Of the house were put in good
order. New mosaic glass was placed in the
semi-circulnr window at the west end OF the
upper corridor and In the panels and ransom
ufth9 trout door. The old i2-inCh terra Gotta
draiB pibcinthc north and west baSenidnt
areas, which carried oil the house ,draiiiage,
was replaced with new S-inch iron pipe. A
now ice house was constructed in the western
area.
The capitol spring situated north east OF the
FrCcdmcn's hospital, on the site of the new
reservoir, was cleaned and well cared for, and
u part of the four inch pipe which conveys the
wntcr to the capitol was lowered, owing TO a
change In street grade. The officer in charge
of the aqucduCt extension has signiled his in
tcntion OF protecting the spring and It's dis.
charge pipe so that the water from II will still
be delivered TO the capitol In the future as in
the past
new palm and croton house was con-
structcd and filled with that class of plants.
About 10000 ornamental foliaged and flower
ing plants were propagated In the several
houses during the autumn, winter, and early
spring months and beddcd out in the public
parks during the past spring. Additions were
made to the general stock by the purchase of
l,3OO trees and shrubs, which were set out in
the nursery rooms for thorough acClimation
before final planting l,lOl plants were also
purchased during the year for park decoration.
total of 1900 trees were lifted IRON the nursery
and tr0nsplantcd in the parks during the year,
principally in Dupont circle, grounds south of
the executive mansion, and reservations east
of the capitol.
II shows the total number of reservations to
be 2i6 comprising iOS acres. OF these, IS (236
acres are highly improved: IL 1l2 acres) are
partially improved, and l6l (59 acrcs) are un-
improved Seycnty-two Of them are enclosed.
In the reservations are located 10 statues, 81
fountains, p drinking fountains, and il0 gas
! lamps The work ofimprovcmcnt of on rcserva-
tlon No. IL was continued and satisfactory
progress was made in grading the grounds.
That portion between New jersey avenue and
Third street east. north of Virginia avenue,
about Ii ncres, was brought to the established
grade and sown down in grass seed. Thirty
six thousand cubic yards of earth and 1900
| cubic yards of soil were used in grading 1t;
| l,i0O lineal feet of drain pipe was laid in the
| lower portions of the ground 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 by them for use in district i'm.
| provcmcntS.
The work of preparing Dupont circle to re.
ceive the pedestal Of the statue to be erected
was completed In May last. Some $50 orna
mental trees and Towering shrubs were planted
md flower beds were prepared and stocked.
| The granite for the pedestal was received May
statue of Admiral Dupont, which will cost
| when completed $1,000, is being made by Mr.
1aunt Thompson, and is to be finished and
placed In position by the list of January, 1855
| Col. Rockwell asks for the sum of s222, 2l(
| for the next fiscal year. He asks for a few ad
ditiOnal employees, aud that the salaries o.
some of them be increased. He strongly urgei
an appropriation Of $4,000 forthe white house
lob
years. The total amount of expenditures fol
| the year was slSj, ,327Gi.