Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08
BEAUTTFYING THE CITY.

BEAUTIFYING THE CITY.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Col. Wilson Explains the Reasons why
.lnereased Appropriation are Neees.
sary.
The book OF estimates prepared by the Treas
| ury department contains the following explanar
uon made by Col. ]. NJ. Wilson, commissioner
Oh puoic buildings and grounds, under direc.
tion OF the chief Of engineers, o. g. A., Of the es
inmates submitted for public buildings and
grounds, Tor the year ending June 30th, 1887,
some OF which are for larger amounts than
heretofore appropriated, and some for entirely
new objects:
For overseers. foremen, draughtsman, me.
| chanics' laoorers, &c, $4,000, or "a, 900 more
THAN appropriated for the year ending June 80,
1883. The amount appropriated for the year
ending June 30, 1885, Is s26. 900; an increase
| ol S4,ooo Is requested. The parks and reserved
public spaces in charge OF this office comprise
an aggregate area of about 40S acres. They are
| widely distributed and were evidently intended
70 be highly improved and to receive such per
manent care as would render them ornaments
| 70 the nations capital. The greater portion OF
the largest of these parks are generally located
and have been highly improved; they are at
| present popular places of resort. A number of
IN o2e small reservations in prominent sections
| OF the city have also been highly Inn.
proved, and form attractive spots Of
verdure amid their brick and stone surround
proved. The beauty of these parks depends in
great measure upon the neatness and order in
when tney are Kept. Their lawn surfaces re-
| cure frequent moving, and should be heeiy
| Wa.ered during the summer months, while
thelr walks. ornamental evergreen and decidu-
Gus trees and shrubs. their fiower-beds, &c, re-
| quire uuremtting attention to preserve them
| In best condition. The present regular working
for force of gardeners and iaborers employed, pro
| fr0r, I,Sc riofi Inn G
| not suheient to fully perform the duties re-
| CURED. The most necessary work in many OF
but important duties are neglected to the detri-
grounds The area of improved parks is an
nually increasing by the completion of work
for which special appropriations have been pro-
viu s,ei ana corresponding increase in the
| in tnelr improved condition.
Nlsht-watchmen, at cost of $500 each per
| annum are requested for Franklin and Lafay-
sorts for recreation and pleasure of citizens in
| the sections of Washington in which they are
| situated. They are generally more trequented
| IN the evening, after the hours OF labor of the
day-Watchman are over, and for protection OF
the citizens and of the property of the United
States, and the preservation OF the trees, shrubs
| and plants that ado so much to the beauty of
| the parks, night watchmen are necessary.
park Waterman Is recon- i.ended for the
| grounds south OF the Executive Mansion. This
| recently improved park is much frequented by
| pedestrians, and the rOadwayS form one of the
most popular carriage drives in the city. The
| protection OF the park iin prOvements and the
maintenance of regulations tor the comfort of
| visitors render the appointment OF watch
man i1nperatively necessary.
| For the Improvement OF the grounds north of
| the Executive mansion, $4,000. With this
| app. "priation it is proposed to remove the old
worn and broken flag pavement and the bound
airy wall on the Pennsylvania avenue front of
the Executive mansion grounds. which are not
| in Keeping with the surrounding improve
| Inents; to lay down a substantial dressed North
river bluestone flag pavement OF large size SIM
liar to the adjoining pavement of the State,
War and Navy department building, and to
construct suitable ornamental granite bound
airy WALL with .siers and coping-stOnc and a low
iron railing; also to rcsurface with Portland ce-
mcnt pavement the interior walks OF these
grounds.
For Improvement, care, and maintenance of
grounds south of the Executive mansion, SlO,-
geo. 1t is proposed to cXpend this sum fol-
lows: For purchase OF gravel and for labor re-
quired for resuriacing the roads and paths and
for construction of additional walks, 81, 900; for
purchase OF soil, grass seeds and fertilizers, and
for maintaining the lawns in good condition.
$500; for ornamental trees and shrubs and
labor of planting and caring for them, 81 900
purchasing and erecting four drink n. ft,tin tains
and making the necessary water and sewer con-
nectioiiS, $500; constructing 400 iinea feet of
ornamental stone walk, with piers and coping
stone. req uired for the northeastern boundary
of the park, SO 200, and Tor constructing ii park
lodge provided with cOnVenenceS tor public
comfort 81 200.
For care and continued improvement of reser-
walton Ne. ;, Washington Monument grounds
$1,000. II is proposed 10 maintain in good con-
dition the roads. walks and !;twn-surfices and
to construct additional walks lor the conven-
iencc OF travel through these grounds i'm por-
tirDs which would not be liable IT, change by
the construction o: terrace-SlOpes other i'm
provements which may be ado ted III coInplet-
Ing the work around the base OF the monument.
For continuing improvement OF reservation
No. Il, Gariieid Park, $4,000. 1t is proposed
to continue the work i'll progress for the i'm
provement OF this park; to lay out roads and
paths, construct cutters, drains. sewers, lodges
and to plant trees and shrubs OF the amount
rod f,p lin1
chase of gravel, soil, cobbie-stoe, dr.,in-;5ipc
bricks, &c, aid $4,000 10 the labor o! construc-
ton.
For removing snow and ice, 81 200 The
amount appropriated for this fiscal year is
= 900: for the year ended Both Of June, 1884
this amount was not sufficient. have asked
tex 5000 more to provide for con! ingencies II
the winter is mild it will not ali be used
For Improvement care. and maintenance OF
various reservations, $4,000. 1t is proposed
to provide materials and labor for maintaining
in good condition Tue partly improved parks,
materials required Tor il:e maintenance of the
highly improved parks, for which no specia!
appropriation is provided, and 10 continue the
i'm rroveincn; of totally uninproved public
spaces III various sections OF the city, the sur
roundings ofwhich have been highly improved
by the citizens. The amount of increase over
the appropriation for the present year is i'm
pera;iveiy needed for the prosecution of the
following wor, x, which should be done during
concrete walks in Iowa circle; repairing and
resuGfacing, in part, the asphaltuin walks in
RaSlins. Mcpherson, and Farragut parks: con
struction OF asphaltum walks on principal
lines o: travel in Washington circle, stanton,
Foleer, Judiciary, Mount Vernon. and other
parks, tine 1Ootwalks of which have become
pubiic thoroughfares. It is also proposed TO
construct suitable small ornamental lodges for
watchmen in Dupont, Iowa, Mount Vernon, and
other parks.
For improvement, care and maintenance of
the Smithsonian grounds, $4,000. This park
contains the Smithsonian Institute, the Ma
uonal museum and the site for the medical
museum, which viii be commenced this year.
II is proposed to provide materials and labor
TO maintain the park in good condition, and to
coat witt concrete material similar to that used
by the District government for street surfaces,
the principal roadway approaches to the Smith
sOnian institution and the National museum
Owing to the Increased travel OF vehicles over
these roads, it has been found impracticable to
maintain them, with their present gravel sur
faces, in good condition during the winter
months. II is also proposed to construct a suit
able park lodge, with the necessary con-
venences for pubic comfort.
For improvements Of Armory uare and reser-
vations east to Botanic garden, the reservations
to be hereafter known as Seaton park S. 600
These parks comprise area of about thirty
acres, with road and walk surfaces of over TO-