Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-09
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Col. Wilson Reports the Operations During
the Month of October.
Repairs on FOrd's Theater Building
Severer Punishment for Defacing
the Monument Suggested.

Col John NJ. Wilson. corps of engineers,
mas made a report to the War Department
of operations on public buildings and
grounds in this city during the month of
October. from which it appears that they
have received their usual care and atten-
ton and are in good condition to stand the
rigors of wintry weather.
The Executive Mansion has been put in
order for the winter, carpets laid, curtains
hung, furniture uncovered, &c. The reno
walton and Improvement of the red parlor
has been completed. New carpets have
been purchased for one parlor and two bed
rooms. The gas and electric fixtures have
been made ready for winter occasions OF
ceremony and some additions have been
made to the china used on state occasions.
Washington Monument.
The washington monument and its ma
chinery have been maintained in good or
der. There were a few acts of vandalism,
One man was arrested for breaking a piece
from one of the tablets in the wall He
was released on so collateral and forfeited
II. 1t would be advantageous, says Col.
wilson, If severe punishment could be in
nlcted III a few cases of this character.
Ihe elevator and machinery were in good
working order at the end of the month
There were 14,S79 visitors to the top of the
monument during the month, of which
number 5,22 walked up, making a total
OF So,oI3 persons who have visited the top
tober 9, 1888.
In a chapter in regard to buildings used
py the War Department Col Wilson says:
AL the West End National Bank the
HoorS OF the rooms occupied by the office
OF the chief signal officer have been
strengthened with iron beams and girders,
thereby relieving them of any probable
hat he.
upon them. At present the second floor
mas maximum strength of so lbs to the
square foot and the third floor "A lbs to the
square foot. with a factor of safety of
three, the weight OF the floors in each case
being about 20 lbs. to the square foot
Ford's Theater Building.
work has progressed very satisfactorily
upon this building; all the brick underpin-
ming thus far authorized has been COM
pleted; all the iron girders and BEANS are
in position; all cracked and dangerous walls
have been repaired and all the brick floor
arches on the second floor have been COM
pleted. The side walls for the large arch
over the new portion of the cellar have
been completed, but the arch could not be
turned until the large new boiler which was
received October 81 was placed I'm posi-
ton. Arrangements have been made for
Georgia pine flooring and plastering and
proposals have been invited for the tile
noorlns IN the third story. Unless new ard
additional work is ordered it is believed
that sIe repairs of the building will be COM
pleted by December ~ next, If not sooner"
Parks and ReservatfOns
In all the public parks and reservations
the lawns have been mown, roads. side
walks and cutters swept daily, drain traps
cleaned, water drawn off from fountains.
aquatic plants and fish removed and basins
of fountains cleaned. The violent storm of
October II twisted off about three feet from
the ground one of the largest Oldest and
handsomest cedar trees in the White House
grounds and seriously damaged and dis
figured a number of silver naples After
the storm ten loads of wood and brush and
about fifty loads of dead leaves and rub
bish were carted away from the Presidents q
grounds alone The wind storms of the sea-
son of 1893 have done more damage to the
trees in the parks than has been exper-
fenced for great many years.
The damage done to the telegraph lines
connecting the Capitol with the various de-
partments by the severe gale of October l3
was promptly repaired. THE usual diff
culties occurred during rain storms on oc-
count Of the wires passing through the
trees, says Col Wilson. "and this will con-
tinue until the wires are either buried or
strung on high poles above the tree tops"