Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-06
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Monthly Report of COL ]. N. Wilson, Com
missioner.
Damage Done to Trees by the Recent
Storm-WOrk Done in the Parks
-WashingtOn Monument.

-WashingtOn Monument.
Col. John NJ. Wilson. corps Of engineers,
has made a report of operations upon pub
lie buildings and grounds in the District Of
Columbia during the month Of August.
The Executive Mansion.
The renovation Of the red parlor has con-
tinued; the redecoration Of the ceiling and
frieze is nearly completed; the side walls
have received their first coat of light GRIM
son; the stained pine trimmings of the room
have been removed and replaced with ma
hogany; the reupholstering Of the furniture
Is in progress. minor repairs have been
made to the attic floors and to the plumb
Ing and lighting arrangements of the man
sion; the painting of the interior OF the
house where absolutely necessary has been
completed.
The green houses and conservatory have
been carefully repaired; the conservatory
and the rose house have been painted.
The usual care was extended to the large
and valuable collection Of plants; nearly
5000 young plants were potted ana num-
Der Of larger ones repotted; about oo.OOO
bulbs were cleaned and stored for use next
season.
The Washington Monument.
The monument received the usual care
and attention during the month. and no
acts Of vandalism have been detected.
The elevator was thoroughly inspected
and pronounced in good condition; 1t Will
be necessary to replace the governor rope
with a new wire rope Of different pattern;
the present one is perfectly strong enough.
but during damp weather expands to such
an extent as to cause more or less trouble;
II Is probable that the main sheaves at the
top Of the monument. which are more or
less worn, will have to be renewed during
the present fiscal year.
The boilers and steam machinery are in
good condition; bad leak occurred In the
pipes In the tunnel during the month. put
was promptly repaired.
The electric plant has given entire salts
faction during the month. There were
49, $50 visitors to the top Of the monument
during the month. OF these l2.267 made the
ascent by the elevator and ans by the
stairway. The total number of persons
who have visited the top Of the shaft since
October 9. 1855. IL SIS, 49,
The computations for the safe loads OF
all of the buildings occupied by offices OF
the War Department except The fifth and
sixth stories of the Union building have
poned in the hope Of obtaining copies OF
the plans Of the two floors occupied by the
War Department. All necessary repairs
and alterations were made.
Public Grounds.
In the grounds within the limits Of the
iron fences surrounding the Executive Man
sion all roads. walks. lawns. flower beds.
in good condition.
The storm during the night Of August %
did considerable damage to the splendid
trees in the White House grounds; two
very large trees were uprooted and four
others SO badly broken. that their removal
will be necessary; hardly a tree escaped
without the loss of one or more limbs; the
soft NAPLES and the silver poplars suffered
more than others; about sixty carloads of
debris have been removed from the White
since
In the grounds south of the Executive
Mansion park the roads and parks have
been raked and maintained in good order
and the roads daily sprinkled to lay the
dust: lawns have been mown. trees and
shrubs pruned and watered during the long
dry period and cutters and drstn traps
have been kept In neat condition; seventy
five lineal feet Of broken gutter has been
repaved and the block pavement on B street
relaid over line of new water pipe.
The water pipe in the southwest section
of the grounds has been extended Az feet
to the compost grounds at foot OF 18th
street; stand pipes were placed at three
points and. a broken 4-inch gate valve was
replaced by a new one.
During the storm on the night OF August
g. a large American elm was blown down
at the entrance to the park at 18th and E
streets. and more or less minor damage
was done to a number OF trees In the reser-
walton.
The nursery grounds have been maintain
ed in good order; lawns have been mown.
roads, walks, cutters and drain traps clean
ed and shrubbery and flower beds watered;
hedges have been trimmed and dead wood
removed from trees and shrubs.
The violent storm Of August Is did more
or less damage; forty lights Of glass were
broken In the greenhouses and a number
Of plants were destroyed
Smith sonian, Henry and Seaton Parks
Repairs were made to the various gravel
roads. which with the asphalt roads and
paths and the gravel paths were maintain
ed in good condition.
One hundred and sixty-two park benches
were staked and fastened In Smithsonian
Park. and seventeen IN Henry Park.
The storm of the night of August Is did
considerable damage to the trees, shrubs
and flower beds in these parks. necessitat-
ing the removal of twenty-seven carloads
of broken limbs and brush. The damage
possible.
Reservations East and South of
Capitol.
All roads and paths in the improved res
ervations were raked, rolled and repaired
where necessary and maintained in good
order.
Lawns were mown where necessary,
paths edged. flower beds watered and gut
tiers and drain traps cleaned.
The storm of August 2S did comparatively
little damage to the parks in this section Of
the city.
Reservations West of Capitol and
North of Pennsylvania Avenue.
The usual care was extended to the large
and highly improved parks in this section
Of the city; lawns were mown where neces-
sary. roads and paths raked and repaired.
cutters and drain traps cleaned, and flower
beds watered
The dead wood was removed from the
trees and shrubbery in Rawlins and Frank
lin Squares and the reservations on Penn
sylvania avenue between 18th and 2sth
streets west; similar work is now in prog
ress in Lafayette Square. The work OF
pruning and topping trees is confined to
the soft naples and aspen poplars, and
although ii always gives rise to unjust
criticism, experience has invariably shown
that the trees are greatly benefited by
work of this character.
The construction Of the asphalt walk in
Judiciary Square on east side of main road
way was completed. and the asphalt walks
in Dupont Circle and Farragut Square were
repaired with Portland cement: the pedestal
of the Dupont statue was pointed and some
of the stones reset; there has been more or
less settlement of this pedestal since its