Evening star., 1895-11-08
BUILDINGS AMP GROUNDS
Colonel Wilson's Report, of Operations Dur
ing the Month 1of October.
Repairs Made to the Executive Man.
siOn-Treatment of Parks and Res
u
ervations-The Capital Growing.


Col. ]. NJ Wilson has made a report to
the chief of engineers. of operations on
public buildings and grounds during the
month of October. MinD- repairs and i'm
provemerts were made to the Executive
Mansion during the month. Arc electric
lights have been placed over the east and
west gateways on the north side of the
mansion. The work of reupholstering the
furniture in the east room Is in progress.
Col. Wilson says the old covering of this
furniture is badly WORT and would not last
another season. The usual care was eX-
tended to the large and valuable collection
Of plants in the conservatory and the vari-
Gus green houses The propagation of
plants for next season was continued, and
a number of bulbs were planted for winter
bloom for use at official receptions.
The Washington Monument.
The Washir gton monument has been
maintained in good condition. There were
II, ,2S3 visitors to the top of the monument
during the month, of which number 6,S47
made the ascent by the elevator and 4,i36
by the stairway, making total of l. ,152, 500
persons who have visited the top since the
monument was first opened for visitors, Oc-
tober 8, 1883
All the buildings occupied by the War
Department and its bran hes were inspect
ed during the month, and are believed to
be in safe cordition for the purposes for
which they are being used.
White House Grounds.
The grounds south of the Executive Man
sion have been maintained in as good order
as possible The extensive damage done to
roads and lawns while the construction of
the large sewer has been in progress by
the District Commissioners is now being
repaired. Excavations in roads have been
flied and graveled, and deep cuts in lawn
filed, covered with soil ard compost and
seeded down. Ii is expected that the park
will be restored to its former condition by
the spring OF next year.
Various improvements have been made to
the public nursery and green houses. The
propagation of subtropical and bedding
plants for the parks during the season Of
1896 was continued during the month.
About 10000 bulbs and 5000 chrysanthe-
NUNS were sent out and planted i'll the va
rious parks for spring and autumn decora-
ton, and $3.50 bulbs of various kinds were
pottetl for winter bloom for decoration of
the Executive Mansion on state occasions.
Parks and Reservations.
In all the parks and reservations lawns
have been raked of leaves, cutters and traps
cleaned, roads and walks swept, and flower
beds prepared for new plants. A number Of
flower beds have been seriously damaged
during the season by dogs. Col. Wilson says
it is surprising how much injury even a
small pet dog can do in a few minutes when
allowed to run into beds containing young
anG tender plants. He says that work has
been in progress in slow and somewhat
unsa tisfactory manner upon the pedestal for
the Hancock statue. The lower bases Of the
pedestal are in position. and it is expected
that the structure will lie completed before
the close of the present month.
The Capitol Spring.
The relaying, repairs. etc. to the Capitol