Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-07
WORK OF THE MONTH
Operations on Public Buildings and Grounds
Reported
Identifying the City-A Reservatiou
That Has Long Been Neglected
-Washington Monument.

In his report Of the operations on public
buildings and grounds during the month
of November, Col. J. M. Wilson, the officer
in charge, details the number Of minor .m-
provements that have been made to the
Executive Mansion since his last report.
He also reports that a watch box, seven
feet by four and half feet by three and
a half feet, has been constructed and placed
In position for the use of watchmen on
duty at the Executive Mansion.
During the month Of November 10.051
persons visited the top of the Washington
monument, SCH of whom assembled by the
elevator and 1880 assembled by the stair
way, making a total Of l,023.92s persons
who have assembled since the shaft was
opened to the public. october 8. 1883. The
new ideal engine for the monument will
probably be placed in position early in De-
cember. The elevator and mac hinery arc
reported to be in good, safe condition. The
running of the elevator was suspended on
the Sd, 4th and 9th instants for the purpose
OF making necessary repairs to the fur
naces and boilers.
In regard to the work on the government
printing Office, Col Wilson says that agree
ments were made during the month for
iron, brick, lumber, cement, lime, sand.
hollow tiles wire lathing, roofing felt, win
dow frames. plastering, hauling iron and
placing iron imposition, in accordance with
the approved project Of Improvement.
Three new fire escapes were placed in posi-
ton during the month. at a total cost Of
1888. There are now nine regular fire es-
capes In position on the outside of this
building. four of them on the H street
front, two on the North Capitol street front
and three connected with other portions Of
the building. Good.progress has been made
in the work of Nmoving the east section
OF the southwest fire-proof building and
preparing the upper portion of the walls
for an additional story. Operations have
also been begun on the west section of the
same building. 1T is hoped and believed"
cold weather sets in. the brick work of the
structure will be completed by the close OF
December, and the fronwork be well adj
vanced. Plans and specifications are being
prepared for the new building to be erected
between the southwest and south-center
fre-proof additions, and proposals will prob
ably be invited for this work early in jan
uary"
All the public reservations have been
maintained On excellent condition. The
heavy fall Of leaves has been raked up and
carted off, and the walks and cutters kept
In good condition. The subtropical plants
winter, and similar care has been bestowed
upon the gold and silver fish in the various
public fountains. In Henry Park, just east
of 7th street, Alb lineal feet Of tagging
pavement, four feet wide, has been laid.
completing a flag walk through the parks
along the side of the main carriage road
between Itn ana 81 streets. InlS Is q gen.
eral route Of pedestrian travel, and here
tofore has been almost impossible during
the winter months. The stone removed
from the north grounds of the Executive
Mansion was used for this pavement
The work of laying out and improving the
unimproyed reservation at the southeast
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and Nth
street was commenced during the month.
The contractors for the excavation for the
Columbia railway, in order to obtain a
dumping ground for surplus material,
agreed TO remove and pile the top soil of
this reservation, and to bring the surface
to proper grade, with about 1900 cubic
yards of clean clay, without expense to the
United States. The offer was accepted. and
the work Is well advanced. Twelve old and
worthless soft maple trees were removed
from this reservation. and hope is ex-
pressed that the necessary appropriation
will be made during the present session of
Congress for the execution of the plans
prepared for identifying this prominen
place.