Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Colonel Wilson's Report of Operations
During the Month of August.
Repairs tn the Executive Mnnsion-
rt.
ment and the Adjacent Grounds.

Col. j. NJ. Wilson, in charge of public
buildings and grounds, has made a report of
operations during August to the chief engi-
neer, from which it appears that all the
parks, reservations and buildings under his
care are in excellent condition.
In Il chapter about the Executive Man
sion he says that the elevator and ma
chinery have been put in complete order
and the walls OF the shaft sc-aped and cal
somined. Contracts have been made for re-
painting the entire exterior of the mansion
and agreements have been made for paint
ing the east ROOM blue and green parlors
and the main cotrid6r. .-
All this work twaI be done during Sep
TENDER, and al The same time other paint
ing on the second fhoDr will be accomplish
ed. contract has also been made for lay
ins granoiithic pavement in the north
grounds Of the mansion in place of the old
slab pavement. Fading from Pennsylvania
avenue. The roof of the mansion has been
thoroughly repaired and has received "A
thick coat of waterproof paint.
Extensive repairs are in progress in the
main conservatory, the wood work of which
is badly decayedt The wooden beams rest
ing on the stone cDilmns on the south side
have been removed and replaced with eight
inch iron girders. upon which low brick wall
has been erected. Several rafters and other
decayed timbers have been removed and re-
placed with new material.
The all of the west section of the rose
house has been lowered and a bed of
smilaN planted in the Iearranged section.
The vermont boiler of the propagating
house has been removed and new one put
in its place The small rose house has been
repainted, and the came.ia house is under
going similar treatment. a contract has
been executed for rebuilding the geranium
and carnatiOn green house, which is in a
dilapidated condition. The usual care has
been extended to the large collection of
plants. Many have been repotted, and
seeds have been sown for winter and spring
Towering plants.
The Washington Monument.
| The monument, lodge and boiler house
have been maintained in good condition and
the elevator has been running continually
during the month. Its capacity was fully
taxed during the encampment of the
| knights of Pythias, and every possible
| courtesy was extended to the large crowd
| of visitors. Col. Wilson says that in spite
| of positive orders to the contrary some
| persons succeeded, while the foorman's at
tenton was otherwise engaged, in hurting
| a base ball from the window in the top of
| the monument in the expectation that il
| would be caught by one of their number
| standing on the ground beneath
Col. Wilson was ir formed that the result
was unsuccessful. ''Such schemes, he SAYS
| can only result in danger, and the persons
| engaged in them should at least appreciate
| the courtesies that the monument authcri-
| ties endeavor to extend at all times, and
| not deliberately violate the regulations
| which are prepared for the safety of the
public"
During the month of August 3l42 per-
sonA visited the top of the monumental az
ascending by the stairway and 1850 by the
eleVatOr-making total of 9Sti, IFS persons
who have visited the top since the shaft
was opened to the public, October ., 1888
The levels of the metal plates inserted in
the four corners of the monument, with
reference to the permanent bench mark
were taken August - last, and show an
apparent change since August s. 1893, as
iolloWS: southeast corner, .l12 inches:
northeast corner, .0Sl inches; southwest
corner, .1l2 inches; northwest corner, I'D
inches. The last reading shows that the
| metal plates in the four corners are now
exactly on the same level.
The Encampment Site.
The section of the Washington Monument
Park south of the monument and between
14th street and the river was occupied dur
ing the latter part of the month by the
Knights of Pythias as an encampment.
THE lawn covered by the encampment"
Col. Wilson says lis practically temporarily
destroyed, and will not resume it's former
beauty before next summer.
AS soon as the tents, water pipes and
electric light systefh are removed and the
debris raked up and carted off by those
temporarily in charge, every effort will be
made TO again ieeautlly the park. The
roads and cutters Will be repaired, board
walks, where brOkeR by carts and wagons
repaired; holes hntd up and seeded or
sodded; lawns faEed, edged, seeded and
covered with compost and every effort
made so far as che limit of funds avaiIa bic
will admit, to restore the park to a neat
and presentable condition.
| The Ellipse, named the Presidents Pa
rade by President Fillmore in ISL was
somewhat married by the grand review of
the knights of Pythias on the 18th ultimo
but will fully recover it's former beauty
when heavy rains commence. About 800
plants We're sent out to the various parks
during the month to- replace tho Sc in flower
beds destroyed by dogs. The continued
drought has injured the lawn and has had
a bad effect upon the trees and shrubbery
in all the parks. The gravel road in Ju-
dietary square, just south of the pension
building, will be covered with asphalt as
soon as funds will admit.
Col Wilson says that all the buildings
used offices by the War Department
outside of the State, War and Navy build
ing, We're inspected during the month and
are believed to be in perfectly safe con-
d,tion for the purposes for which they are
being used \ large vault, capable of hCld-
ing 40 tens of coal, has been construy ed
in the rear of Fords Theater building The
ceilings of the War Department printing
office, on F street near 18th, have been
strengthened