Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-04
ton; the amount requested will be applied to

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tions, $1,000. II liz proposed to replace with
first-class asphalt walks the gravel paths in
Washington circle, Mount Vernon square. exc
cutive mansion grounds (south side), Lincoln
square, stanton square, Folger square, Marion
square. Henry and Seaton parks, and to renew
those In Farragut square and Iowa circle. In
the late fall, winter. and early spring these
walks are muddy, and pedestrians seek the
lawns, which are thus destroyed by trespassers.
The amount of these paths which It is proposed
to lay this year is about {, 500 square yards
Each autumn 1t becomes necessary to put down
plank walks, which must again be removed in
the spring. II asphalt walks are laid the an
nual expense incident to plank walks will be
avoided.
For improvement, care and maintenance of
various reservations, $4,000 The funds re-
quired under this head are for the purchase of
materials for and the care of, the improved
parks, and for the improvement of as many az
possible OF the 227 unimproved reservations.
Each year from three to FIVE are added to the
list Of improved reservations, and if the funds
now requested become available eight or ten
can be added during the fiscal year ending
June 90, 1880. As reservations are thus i'm
proved the expense of the care of the whole is
slightly increased, for the improvements must
be maintained
For the Improvement care and
MAINTENANCE OF SMITHSONIAN GROUNDS,
including the construction of asphalt roads and
paths, $4,000. This reservation, covering an
area Of over ffty-eight acres, is the largest
and one of the handsomest in the city, and has
within it's limits the Smithsonian building, the
national museum and the new army medical
museum. The roads and paths, with one or
two exceptions, are of gravel, and become
dusty In summer and muddy in winter; first
class asphalt road pavement is now in course Of
construction in front of the Smithsonian build
ing. running from It'll TO 18th street, distance
OF about 200 feet and covering an area of
about 1880 square yards; 5400 square yards
has been laid, and it is hoped that a sufficient
appropriation will be made to complete the
whole road during the season of 1889. With
the appropriation now requested it is proposed
to lay about 500 square yards of roadway
pavement, about l 900 square yards of asphalt
and to maintain in good condition the gravel
roads and paths, cutters. lawns, trees, shrubs
and drainage of this handsome park.
OTHER RESERVATIONS.
For improvement, care and maintenance Of
Henry (armory) and Seaton parks $4,000.
These reservations extending from It'll street
to the botanical gardens, cover an area of "a
acres. with road and walk surfaces of over TO-
600 square yards. They are in an advanced
state of improvement. Their beauty has been
marred by the depot and tracks of the Balti-
more and Potomac railroad. A mound has
been constructed around the depot, upon
which it is intended to plant trees and shrubs,
so that in time the depot will be hidden par
TALLY from view. The materials for this mound
have thus far been obtained free of expense to
the United States. and it is now proposed to
grade the mound and seed and plant it. The
funds requested are needed for this purpose,
and for the care of roads, lawns, cutters, &C.,
and laying out additional paths
For improvement, care and maintenance Of
the new pension building, 81, 600. This square
contains an area Of 20 acres, and includes
within its limits the courthouse and the new
pension building. 1t is crowded daily with
persons having business in these buildings.
The appropriation now requested will be used
If granted, for completing the improvements
around the pension building, including asphalt
roads and paths leading thereto, and in the
general care of this large reservation.
For lodges for park watchmen in Stanton,
Mount Vernon. Iowa, Dupont, Thomas, McPher-
son and FOlger reservations at $500 each, So, 500
The watchmen in these reservations are ex-
posed to the inclemency of the weather at all
seasons of the year. Rain shine. hot or cold,
night or day, year in and out, they must be
at their stations, and take shelter. when neces-
store as will offer its hospitality. The dictates
of humanity call for this appropriation.
THE NEW PENSION BUILDING.
For supplying and keeping supplied the
vases in the new pension building with suitable
plants and shrubs, 81 100 The joint resolution
of Congress approved March 29. 1886, requires
that the rs large vases ON the upper corridor
of the new pension building shall be file and
kept filed with suitable plants and shrubs.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
For care, repair, and refurnishing the execu-
tive mansion, $4,000. This old build
ing needs continual repairs and re-
painting to maintain it in neat and
habitable condition. Mueh of the furniture
is old and needs renewing. while new carpets
are required in many of the rooms During
the past eleven years the appropriations for
this purpose have been as fol ows: 1873 $40 900;
1879, S25 600; 1880. SIS. 000 1881, $40 900; 1882
$50, 1000; 1888, $4,000; 1884, $4,000; 1885,
S22.50O; 1886, $4,000, including "a, 900 for new
roof; 1887. $4,000; 1888, $4,000 and 1889,
$4,000. II will be observed that since July l.
1885, the appropriations have been much less
than previous to that time. 1t is earnestly
recommended that this appropriation be made,
as it is absolutely necessary in order to main
tain in a neat and habitable condition the man.
sion provided for the Office and residence
OF the chief executive of the nation.
For care and necessary repair of green
houses, $1,000. The sum appropriated for this
purpose during the past five years has been
annually only $4,000, while in previous years it
was $500. The greenhouses were constructed
previous to 1855. under appropriations made
by Congress, and need continual repair; they
require the constant supervision of three ey
perienced gardeners. while the assistance If
laborers from time to time is necessary Mt
this til ne the woodwork of the superstructLre
of the main conservatory is in very bad cohdi-
ton and requires immediate and extensive re-
pairs.
For erecting seven lamp-posts in the eilipse
south of the executive mansion from the top
of which shall be shown electric light. 81 900.
For electric lights for 1855 nights fHm seven
lamps, at 20 cents per night eacn. 81, 7s5. so.
The grounds south of the executive mansion
now highly improved. are without lights. 1t is
believed that the electric lights mentioned above
will shed a soft mellow light over the entire
reservation.
For replacing the overhead wires between
the capitol and the departments with dupli-
cate underground six-wire cable, IS, 500. This
subject has been discussed in the preceding
pages of this report. The growth of the trees
on the sidewalks renders it absolutely neces-
sary. in order to maintain Geographic commu-
nication over these wires, either to erect at
once taller poles at cost of about 81 800 or
to lay an underground cable at a cost of IS. 500.
The former plan is but a temporary expedient,
as in time the overhead-wire system through
cities must be abolished. The underground
cable is far preferable, and favorable action
upon this estimate is earnestly recommended.
MISCELLANEOUS
Under the heading miscellaneous are
few items Of local interest, including S5, 900 for
the care Of the collection of living animals at
the national museum. and for the expenses in
cident to the enforcement of the act to prevent
adulteration Of food and drugs in the District