Evening star., 1895-07-11
For Drill Grounds.

count of lack of funds no effort has been
made in the year to improve that portion
of the reservation.
For Drill Grounds.
Reference is made to the frequent use of
the grounds south of the White House for
drills and parades by local militia, and
also by visiting military companies from
other cities. Some years since compsti-
tive drill, lasting several days, took place
in the park, and more recently the grounds
were occupied by the Grand Army of the
Republic in their memorable reunion. On
all of these occasions it has been apparent,
says Col. Wilson, that a wide walk around
the parade would be a desirable feature
and afford safe standing room out of the
way of passing vehicles for spectators, as
well as a path for pedestrians visiting the
loo ality. With this object in view it is
wide, be constructed around the outer
portion of the ellipse. separating 1t from
the carriageway by a parking thirty feet
wide. The American elm trees now border
ing the parade would afford partial shade
to this walk as well as to the roadway.
At all the principal outlets of the park to
surrounding streets wide walk openings
might be made to connect with these roads
for the convenience of the public. 1t is
estimated that the cost of this walk with
IT'S approaches. &C., will be $10,5O0. During
the spring and summer of 1895 the beauty
of this park has been greatly marred by
the construction Of a large sewer running
from 18th to 18th street, wlich necessitarel
heavy excavation through the lawns and
across the main roadways. In addition TO
the destruction of section of the lawn 1t
was necessary to remove from the line of
the sewer number of valuable trees and
shrubs.
Requests for Plants.
Col Wilson says that he is frequently in
receipt of requests for the loan of plants
from the propagating gardens for the use
Of oh, foi, l., oto
demands are constantly made for Towering
decorative plants for private purposes. He
says he is obliged to decline all such re-
quests, as a compliance with them would
be in violation of q provision Of the act Of
Congress approved June 20, 1878. After
the annual spring planting in the parks is
completed 1t sometimes happens, however.
that there is a small surplus of bedding
plants on hand. These are divided among
public reservations and institutions. the Dis
trict police and fire departments and the
various hospitals and orphan asylums. Af-
ter these are supplied. should there still be
few such surplus plants remaining, they
are given to whoever may ask for them.
Electric Lights.
1t Is again earnestly recommended that
the electric light system inaugurated in
1889 in the grounds south of the White
House be extended throughout the Monu-
ment park. There is now no method Of
artinclal illumination between u street, and
the propagating gardens south of the mon
ument between 14th and 18th Streets and
In the interest of morality and for the pro-
lection of persons crossing those grounds
at night, lights, in Col. Wilson's opinion,
are an absolute necessity.
1t is also recommended that the system
of electric lights now in operation upon
many OF the streets and avenues of the city
of Washington be gradually extended to all
the public grounds, especially in Lafayette,
Franklin and Smithsonian parks. Estimates
are submitted for the first two named
reservations. The cost of placing lights in
Franklin Park would be $4,000. Seventy
new boulevard lanterns and eighteen new
lamp posts have been purchased during the
year, and will be used in the more. import
ant parks in place of the old-fashioned
lamps now in use.
According to Col Wilson 1t Is becoming
more and more difficult to operate the
overhead telegraph system connecting the
Capitol with the departments, owing to the
growth of trees along the line, which in
terrupt the electric current. especially in
wet and windy weather. The necessity for
either replacing the present poles with tall
er ones or constructing a system of under
ground cable, he says, is so apparent that
argument in Its favor is unnecessary. The
cost of the underground system is esti-
mated at $4,000, and the matter is present.
ed to Congress for such action as may be
deemed advisable.