Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-07
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Colonel Wilson's Operations During the
Month Of May.


COL }. M. Wilson has made a repor, "A
Gen Casey chief Of engineers. OF the oper-
auons upon public buildings and grounds
IN the District OF Columbia during the
month OF May, from which Il appears that
the usual care was extended to the parks
and reservations. Lawns were mown. tr.a.
shrubs and vines pruned; walks ana drain
traps were maintained In good order ana
outdoor planting was continued. About
2o,o0O bedding plants have been set apart
Tor that purpose. Eighty-three fowsr-b.ds
have been filled with foliage ana nowerins
plants; boxes planted with water nues
placed In the fountain basins In Judiciary.
Mt Vernon, Franklin and Iowa marks ana
at tne reservation, corner OF Pennsylvania
avenue sy and 18th street. and large vases
,iheq with tropical and Towering planu
nave been placed In Lafayette. McPhersop
ana other parks. More or less trouble
mas occurred during the month" saws Col
wilson, from flower and plant thieves and
from the destruction of plants BY dogs
Playing in fower-beds during the absence OF
the watchmen. Stake and wire screens
nave been constructed IN a few instances
"iVuho tne nower-beds TO protect them"
The Executive Mansion.
curing the month the floor Of the north
oaicohy mas been repaired. and the interior
OF the mansion has been arranged for the
cleaned and stored In the state dining room.
al SILK and wooden drapery has been mack.
ed In the attic, and the lace curtains nav.
been removed to be Numbered for next sea-
son. ne old WORKOUT mating Was re-
moved from the east room, the main cor
rldor, the blue and green parlors private
dining room and three of the bed rooms in
the second story, and replaced with new
mating. About 1000 yards Of new ma
terial was used. A new covering of limo
ieum has been placed on the floor OF the
corridor leading from the main vestfbule
10 the east room. New linen covers have
been placed on the furniture In the east
room, the red parlor, the library, the upper
corridor. two bed rooms and one dressing
room. The usual care was bestowed upon
the large and valuable collection Of plants
IN the conservatory and green houses and
the propagation and reporting Of summer
ana winter Towering plants has been con-
tinued.
The Washington Monument
The monument has been maintained in ex-
cellent condition during the month, no re-
pairs being necessary other than those OF a
minor character TO the steam pipes in the
tunnel owing 10 the fact that the lodge
house was beco ming a loafng place for
tramps. who were guilty Of fithiness ana
vandalism in IL. While the Waterman was
on duty AT the monument" says the report
days during the month";
There were 1855 visitors to the top Of
the monument during the month. o 24s hav-
ing made the ascent by tire elevator and
2.3l0 by the stairway, making a total OF
926,9S persons who assembled since the
shaft was opened to the public, October 8.
1855.
Ford's Thentcr PuiIdinr.
Operations on this building have been ia
progress, tearing down and rebuilding the
east wall, placing iron columns and beams
in position and enlarging the windows on
the west front. The east wall was entirely
torn down and its foundation removed, the
greater portion OF the old wall having been
found to be Of the very poorest character.
The ground under the foundation was ex-
cavated TO the proper depth. a bed OF con-
crete four feet wide and two feet thick was
laid and the new brick wall 26 inches thick
was carried UP until il received the iron
beams Of the second floor. This wall WI
be continued TO the third floor with a
thickness Of % inches, and thence 10 the
roof with a thickness of is inches The
wall of the annex was also torn down, the
foundation cleaned out, a bed Of concrete
placed in position ana the wall carried up
with a thickness OF Is inches.
More or less difficulty was encountered"
says Col Wilson, Tin tearing out this wall.
the portion built under the late Gen. Meigs
being of the most substantial character,
while the original wall was of the poorest
class Of materials, the foundation contain-
ing many large round boulders laid in COM
mon lime mortar. the lime frequently show
ing evidence Of not having been properly
slaked when used. The new wall Is built
in the most substantial manner = Ow-
ing TO unexpected difficulties encountered
In removing the east wall due to the neces-
sity OF constructing a new foundation and
the cavilg in OF the earth in the alley east
OF the building, the laying Of the new brick
wall was not commenced until May u. IL
will probably be completed by June IL and
the plastering viii then be pushed rapidly
forward. AS stated in my last report, IL Is
probable that the building will be ready for
occupancy by August l. possibly at an
earlier date"