Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-12
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Report OF Col. Ernst, Commissioners Of
Public Buildings and Grounds.

The annual report Of Col. G. II. Ernst, COM
missioner Of public buildings and grounds, TO
the chief Of the engineers Of the army 10 de-
voted 70 . recapitulation of the routine work
done in this department during the fiscal
year and contains no recommendations
Of importance. During the year three Of the
smaller reservations not hitherto improved
were partially improved, Is follows: Reserva-
ton No. lol, at the intersection Of Maryland
and Virginia avenues, between 7th and 9th
streets southwest, ground north of railway
tracts graded and inclosed by chain fence; res
srvation No. ISe, at New York avenue. LIST and
N streets northwest, graded, and reservation
207, ~ intersection Of North Carolina avenue,
9Th and A streets southeast, inclosed with .
chain fence. In the grounds north Of the
Executive Mansion the asphalt walks were re-
nswsd, and in the Smithsonian grounds 1,75s
square yards of additional asphalt pavement
and AS square yards Of additional asphalt foot
walks we're constructed. and an area of $50
square yards Of asphalt was laid between the
center building and the wings of the Army
Medical Museum. The work Of improving the
grounds around the Pension building in Judi
ciary Square has boon well advanced. and in
reservation No. II Garfield Park additional
ground has been graded for lawn purposes and
new cutters and drain traps constructed and
drain pipes laid.
The Washington monument has received the
necessary care, and the improvement Of the
grounds around its base was continued as far
AZ available funds would permit. There were
i7b. IVA visitors TO the top OF the monument
during the year, making total OF 297. las per-
sons who have made the ascent since the shaft
was opened to the public in October, 1883.
An additional green house was Effected in the
nursery grounds and large fountain basin,
with ornamental stone coping. was constructed
n m fs@rsQ nj
sylvania avenue and 18th street northwest
Necessary repairs were made in the Execu-
tive Mansion during the year and some new
carpets, mating and articles Of furniture were
purchased. An electric fire alarm was intro
dueed and facilities provided for extinguishing
fires. A portion of the four-inch pipe convey
ing water from the Franklin Square spring to
the Executive Mansion was taken up and re-
placed with new pipes. Additional water pipe
was also laid in the nursery grounds.
COL. HRNsT's ESTIMATES
for the next fiscal year amount to . total OF
SITS, 422. 20, as follows: improvement of pub
lie buildings and grounds, SlsS, 1877 20; compen-
sation of employees, SIS, $50: replacing over
head wires with duplicate siX-cOnductor under
ground cable and for care and repair of exist
Ing lines, Sl7965; contingent and incidental
expenses pay OF employees at Washington mon
ument and expenses Of running elevator. &c,
$l2, These estimates are somewhat larger
than the appropriations for the current year.
For the care OF the Executive Mansion and
needed repairs s43, 900 is asked, being an in
crease of $4,000. For putting granite curbs
around the edges of Lafayette and Franklin
squares $40. 900 is asked, and a like sum is
wanted for continuing the Improvement Of the
monument grounds. For replacing the pres
ent badly worn stone sidewalk on Pennsylvania
avenue in front Of the Executive Mansion with
a new granolith pavement q, 500 is asked. An
increase from 2,0G0 to 200 is asked for
the improvement OF reservations so as to admit
Of improving each year a considerable number
OF the 200 reservations still unimproved in the
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