Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-05

1
OF COL JOHN NJ. wILsoN-SUMBER OF Pro-
PIE WHO WENT To THE TOP OF THE MoSU.
MENT-woRK IN THE PRoPAGArING GARDENS
COL John NJ. Wilson. corps Of engineers. has
made report TO Gen. Casey. chief of engi-
neers, OF the operations upon public buildings
and grounds in the District, under his control,
during the month of April In the grounds
south of the Executive Mansion the usual
spring work was done. The roads were raksd.
cutters and drain trars cleaned. large amount
OF rubbish incident to the Easter festival was
removed; the lawns where the grass had been
| destroyed by trespassers were seeded down and
trees and shrubs were pruned where necessary.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
The roads and paths of the Monument
grounds were leveled and raked, cutters and
traps cleaned and repaired and a large amount
| OF dock weed was removed. Seven large cir
GUAR Hover beds. sixteen feet in diameter were
| excavated and prepared for planting aud the
monument and grounds generally were main
tanned In good order. The small engine con-
nected with the DYNAMO is in bad condition.
breaking down from time to time necessitating
the Use OF oil lamps in the monument The
engine car and machinery connected with the
elevator are in excellent condition
NoRTHwEsTERS RESERVATIONS.
This section OF the city contains a large num-
Der of highly improved reservations. including
Rawlins, Washington. Dupont LAFAYETTE.
Franklin. Iowa. Mount Vernon and Judiciary
parks and numerous smaller improved spaces
All of these have been thoroughly policed. and
at the close OF the month we're in excellent con-
dltion. In Franklin Park. in response TO the
petition of a large number of prominent citi-
zens living in the vicinity of the reservation
the large aspen poplars on the southern border
of the park were extensively pruned and the
same action will be taken i'm regard to the soft
naples soon the sap ceases to run freely.
Nandals still give annoyance by occasionally
chipping pieces either from the outside of the
monument or from the memorial stones in the
Inner walls, while some cannot resist writing
their names upon the walls. During the month
IL, 1877 persons visited the top OF the monu-
ment. making a grand total of 1851 since
October 9. 1883.
GREEN HOUSES AND NURSERY.
The propagating of different varieties of SUBJ
tropical and bedding plants for spring planting
In the public grounds was continued. Over
half a million OF these plants, covering about
800 varieties. have been propagated this season
and the work OF planting has been commenced.
The nursery grounds have been maintained in
good condition and the usual spring work has
progressed Gold fish have been transferred
as usual, from the nursery tanks 10 the park
fountains. Trees and shrubs TO tine number of
423 were lifted from the nursery grounds and
used in the ornamentation of various parks
throughout the city.
request was received for the removal Of
several eversreens and the trimming back of
the large trees on the east side of Judiciary
Square on the ground that trees SO thickiy
planted were a menace TO the health of the
neighborhood. As the officer in charge did not
concur in this view Of the matter the eyergreens
have not been removed
SMITHSONIAN, HENRY AND sEAroH PARKS.
These large and important parks have been
maintained in good condition during the month
Gravel roads and paths were repaired. lawns
resodded and a number of dying trees were
removed. la the grounds south of the Smith
sonian building portion of the main roadway
was removed and turned into a lawn. at the re-
quest OF The secretary OF the Smithsonian In !
on account Of the disturbance caused
by passing vehicles 10 the delicate instruments
in the small observatory recently ereciec IN TIE
grounds
RESERVATIONS SOUTH AND EAST OF CAPITOL.
This district includes the large aud handsome
known Garfield, Marion, STAN
ton, Folger ard Lincoln Parks. besides large
number Of smaller improved spaces. The
usual spring trimming has been comp.eted.
trees and shrubs have been pruned. roads and
"alks TAXED and repaired. cutters and drains
cleaned lawns winter-killed or injured by tres
passers have been sodded or seeded down. |
fountains have been repaired. &c. All the |
flower beds have been prepared for the season, |
twelve OF them being planted with geraniums !
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
The two rooms in the northwest section of |
the mansion, which had been disinfected in |
February. were repapered and painted and (
placed in complete order for occupancy The |
grounds were maintained in good condition. |
More or less damage was done on Easter Mon |
day by the crowd, and it required the use of a 4
horse and cart for four days. and labor equal |
to that OF one man for thirtv-eight DAYS TO I
clear up the rubbish left on the grounds The 4
grass was badly injured in some places particu-
larly upon the western slopes of the south /
grounds, necessitating resodding 30 square
Yards and sowing five bushels Of grass seed
MISCELLANEOUS WORK.
The repair and painting of the park settees
was continued There appears to be a suifi-
cient supply of benches on hand but a large
number require immediate repairs. At the
reservation at the intersection OF PENNSYLVANIA
avenue and North Carolina avenue east of
Capitol. II has become necessary TO replace l07
49, liz