Evening capital., 1888-05-18

President of the Local Improvements
ASSOCIATE ion.

II is near four years since on the 18th
Of June 1884 the Local Improvement AS
sociation was founded The objects the
Society had ia view, though easily de-
fined in their nature. are works requiring
much time aud labor 10 accomplish II
IS for this reason that. as work suggested
and planned at our first meetings has only
recently been completed, we have not
appeared prominently before the public
for some time. but as We are not ashamed
20 now give an account OF our steward
ship we will review what has been done
by our Association.
The first work undertaken by The As
sociation was the "City Circle which,
when completed, was presented TO the
city and until the present year has been
very fastefullv adorned with flowers and
plants contributed and cared for by gen.
erous citizens. An effort has been made
10 obtain for the circle. as an appropriate
center, some work Of art, either statue
or a fountain, combined with memorial
pedestal on which TO inscribe the record
Of the most important events In the his
tory of Annapolis. 1t was proposed to
procure a copy Of one OF the statues which
form part Of the famous Niedcrwa,d
Monument in Germany, but II was found
that no copies were permitted TO be made
nor did the sculptor himself think that
the statue would appear 10 advantage
separated from the monument of which 1t
was designed as a part. We owe our
thanks to Admiral ID. ID. Porter, Hon. L.
H. Bayard aud Col. Raine and German
citizens who took great interest In aiding
the effort. The kind offices of an Ameri-
can Artist In Europe has secured for us
the offer of very original work which
can be had in bronze at reasonable price
and 1t is proposed to obtain by subscrip-
tion the sum needed Success would add
TO the attractions of our city, and with the
memorial pedestal and possibly afountain
combined, would be very beautiful em-
belishment of the park.
In connection with this Improvement
the extension of Compromise street in Q
direct line TO Spa bridge Is particularly
urged as ii would restore TO Market
Space and Main street the travel which Is
prevented from reaching it by the steep
grades of Gloucester and Green Streets
A plan for the parking of the lower part
Of Main street has been made aud care
full survey was obtained from the city, of
which the accurate drawing by Mr.. Louis
Green should be preserved for future use.
A great saving in the expense of paving
would be had by the proposed parking.
The Bay Ridge road suggested aud sue
cessfully completed by the Association,
tested the tenacity OF purpose needed to
carry through the work aud has proved
a popular benefit. both as an attractive
drive or walk and as q convenient high
way TO q heretofore isolated section OF
country. To the energy of Mr.. j. w.
Randall, who, by untiring perseverance
Il ofa
of the committee on the read, the thanks
of the community are specially due.
This road with its right Of way has
been transferred to the County Commis-
sioners and if developed as it should be in-
to wide and permanent shell road, would
not only be noted feature of our city, but
would be very useful as dixie. aud lead
by degrees TO the reclamation and cultiva
ton as meadows of the swampy grounds it
skirts If the inland line of the road we're
planted with Carolina poplars. the nearest
approach TO to the Eucalyptus which our
climate permits, it would greatly aid In
drying the land, 1t is said.
The trees planted on st. Johns College
grounds, near two hundred In number,
have done well-few among those pro-
tected by boxing having failed to thrive.
Included among these are the circle cf
ten around the graves of the French OFF,
GERS aud soldiers of the Revolution who
were encamped on this spot 1t is to be
hoped that some memorial can be pro-
cured TO mark the resting place of our
ancient allies, and it would not be too lit
tie to ask of the State TO place a simple
slab or coulumn over their bones The
trees planted in the city streets and on the
State grounds have generally done well.
The triangular space between st. Anne's
Church and the Governors house has
been laid out and an estimate made Of the
cost of curbing and sodding it. Enough
earth has been placed ou IL to give the
proper hight to the plat and the improve
ment only awaits the needed subscriptions
to do the work. Ii was proposed to place
here some memorial to the late Reverdy
johnson, but our bar 10 whom the matter
properly belongs, have so far made no
motion, altho' The proposition met with a
hearty response the State over.
The committee having charge of the
matter of obtaining from Congress an ap-
preparation to made good road from the
city limits TO the Soldiers Cemetery and
thence to construct an avenue TO the Gov
ernment farm, received very favorable en- =
couragement from the Quarter Master
Generals Department, two OF whose en-
ginecrs made favorable report and re
commendation of the project, but the bill
introduced into Congress by Dir. Comp
ton was not acted on ia the committee
owing, it is said, TO opposing Influences
from an unknown source. As two appro
priations for Annapolis, enc y public
building and the other an item in the
Naval Academy bill looking te the pur-
chase of Lockwoodsville. are before Con
gress at present. il was thought best net
to renew our efforts until more favora-
bic occasion. We should not. however,
loose sight of this improvement as it
would be of great importance. as com
pleting drive of some ten miles. Of
which the Bay Ridge road aud the Ram
say drive already make the finest por
tions.
A very careful map prepared by Col.
Owen of the Q. NJ. G. Department is in
teresting 10 the Association as showing
the route of the proposed avenue or drive,
~e1o e~A