Evening star., 1895-07-11

MORE ROOM NEEDED
Col. Wilson Urges Changes at the
White House.
FAIRGROUNDS FOR CHILDR EN-
Thousands of Visitors at tho Wash
ington Monument.
I M P WING P A RK S.
IMP WING ARK S

Many intere sting things in regard to the
public parks and reservations of the Dis
trict are told by Col. John NJ. Wilson. tine
officer in charge. in his annual report to
the chief of engineers Of operations during
the fiscal year ended June 80 last. Consid-
cradle work was done in necessary repairs
to the Executive Mansion. In the red par
lor the southeast window has been cut
down to the level of the balcony and a
glass door constructed. New carpets have
been placed in the blue parlor and in two
bed rooms. New furniture was purchased
for the lower corridor. Some additions
were made to the china, glass, linen and
silver used at official receptions. Attention
is again invited to the bad condition of the
conservatory. The frame, which is of wood,
is rapidly docaying, and is in an almost
dangerous ccndition. A new iron super
structure is considered necessary, the cost
of which is estimated at $4,000. Annual
repairs are made to the old superstructure.
but Col. Wilson regards 1t as almost a
waste of funds to patch up portions of the
old, decayed wooden frame with wood,
which will also decay. A violent storm, he
says. might possibly wreck the structure
An ONCE building.
portance of providing suitable offices out
side the Executive Mansion for the use of
the President of the United States. and
Col Wilson earnestly recommends that an
appropriation of $3.50, 900 be made for the
erection within the Executive Mansion
grounds, and directly opposite the treasury
building, of a granite structure for of1ces
for the chief executive of the nation. II ms
structure" he says, could be connected
by wide corridor with a large conserva-
tory fitted up as a winter garden with trop-
ical plants, fountains and statues or emf
nent Americans. The conservatory could
open into a picture gallery, connected by
two wide corridors with the east room, and
these improvements would serve a double
purpose by relieving the mansion of the
terrible crush incident to the evening OIL
cial receptions. 1 earnestly hope that this
important matter may no longer be de-
layed and that action may be taken at the
approaching session of Congress toward
erecting a suitable office building for the
President of the United States
Warrington Monument.
In regard to the Washington monument,
Col Wilson says that vandals continue to
give annoyance by occasion ally chipping
pieces from the outside or from the me-
me rial shafts on the inner walls. When
ever detected these thoughtlfss person are
arrested, but, says Col. Wilson, as a rule.
when brought to trial, they escape with a
small fine. 1t is believed that the elevator
is as safe as 1t is possible for man to make
it. and every EFFORT Is made to prevent ac.
cident. Should an accident ever occur 1t
will, according to Col. Wilson, result from
something which 1t is impossible to foresee.
The monument was open daily during the
year, except Sundays and holidays, and a
few days in the autumn and spring, when
it was necessary to overhaul the elevator
and machinery. There were 159, I07 visitors
to the top of the monument during the
Nf Nj or, 1odo t1n
ascent In the elevator and 1852 by the
stairway, making 1,O9S, 1875 persons who
have visited the top without a single ac-
cident of any kind since the shaft was
opened to the public, October o. 1855.
In the City.
Col Wilson tells Of the operations for the
improvement of the government printing
Office, including work already done for the
erection of two new structures and the fire
escapes authorized by Congress. and takes
occasion to commend highly the work per-
formed in this connection by Lieut.. John S.
Sewef1, corps of engineers, who has assist
ed him in this duty. The report contains a
detailed account of operations in various
public parks, with various suggestions of
improvement. Hancock place, corner 7th
street and Pennsylvania avenue, has been
selected as the site for the statue of Gen.
Hancock 1t is proposed to improve 1t at
an estimated cost of s., 900 by the construc-
ton Of circle of 100 feet in diameter in
which a circullr mound sixty feet in diam
eter will be formed around the pedestal of
the statue, the circle and mound to he in
closed with dressed granite curb. An es-
innate of 5000 is submitted for the inn
provement of reservation No. 50, at the
southeast corner Of Pennsylvania avenue
and l4th street. 1t is contemplated to re-
move all the old soft maple trees, to con-
struct a granite coping, to construct a
fountain with basins and to construct gram
olithic paths. There are still 1853 Of these
,,,f~,
CITY," says Col. Wilson, land if the general
appropriations for various reservations
could be increased to $4,000 annually they
could be gradually transformed into ex-
qufsite little parklets, and add greatly to
the beauty of the capital city"
Childrcn's Playground
chapter of the report is devoted to the
children's playground, recently establish
ed by a special act of Congress south of
the White House. Under the terms of
this law" Col. Wilson says, at is pro-
posed to authorize the use by children of
the grounds within the ellipse for playing
tennis, croquet. and like games. Permits
will be Issued from this Office upon written
applications, countersigned by some repu-
table citizen, who will hold himself re-
sponsible that no unnecessary damage will
be done, and that there will be no viola-
tion of the ordinary police regulations. In
response to the request of the citizens
committee of East Washington and in ac-
cordance with the terms of the act of
August 80, 1890, I have authorized the use
for children's playground of U. s. reser-
walton No. 126 at the intersection of
Georgia and Virginia avenues This reser-
walton covers an area of about two acres
and is admirably located for playground.
The citizens committee has requested that
a fence be constructed around the reser-
walton, that trees be planted and water
introduced. The cost of the work requested
will be $500. and an estimate for that
amount is submitted. If Congress deems
1t best to continue the privileges extend
ed by the acts of August 30. 1890, and
March. 1895. there should be some punish
ment prescribed for breaches of the rules
and regulations, governing the parks, and
there should be regular watchmen on duty
at all hours. not simply for eight hours Of
the day. The duty Of these watchmen
should be to prevent improper characters