Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-07
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Col J. NJ. Wilson, in charge of public
buildings and grounds, has made a report
to the chief of engineers Of operations dur
ing September. Various minor repairs and
improvements have been made to the Ex-
ecutive Mansion all the carpets have been
laid, and the mansion put in complete win
ter costume in anticipation of the Presi-
dents return to the city. Wires for arc
electric lights have been run to the main
carriage entrances to the north grounds,
and lamps will soon be put in position for
use. The painting and repairs of the con-
servatory and green houses have been COM
pleted.
Washington Monument.
They were 1887 visitors to the top of the
Washington monument during September
of which number 9.306 made the ascent by
the elevator, and 1854 by the stairway,
making a total of 1,141,316 persons who
have visited the top since the monument
was opened to the public, October o. 1885,
During the electrical storm of the 18th ul.
timo the machinery was stopped for one
hour as measure Of precaution. The apex
OF the monument was struck by lightning
during the storm, but the excellent and
complete system Of protection appears to
have prevented any damage. SO far as has
yet been discovered. Col Wilson SAYS that
the difficulties and expense of reaching the
apex are SO great that no effort has been
made to closely examine the aluminium
point. He has, however, requested the off,
Ger in charge of the Naval Observatory to
Inspect the monument with one of his most
powerful telescopes in order to see IL there
are any visible indications Of damage.
vandals have again been at work on the
floors in the vicinity of the mural tablets,
and further damage has been done to a tab
let that was tempered with in August last.
Parks md Reservations.
All the parks and reservations have been
maintained in good condition. The lawns
were mown. roads and paths swept, cutters
and traps cleaned, flower beds weeded and
trees and shrubs were pruned where neces-
sary. The beauty of the park south of the
White House is greatly marred by the con-
struction through it Of a large sewer by the
District authorities. Col. Wilson says that,
although the excavation for and construc-
ton of the sewer over a large portion Of
the park have been practically completed
for more than a month. scarcely anything
has been done toward restoring the grounds
to their original condition.
The PropnRating Gardens.
The reconstruction of green houses at the
propagating garden has been completed and
a new propagating building erected. The
propagating of subtropical Towering and
bedding plants was continued. About Loco
chrysanthemums were sent out for plant
ing in the parks and about 1000 bulbs con-
SIStinS OF lines, nyaClntnS, tullpS, narclSSu9
and freesia were planted for winter bloom.
The reservation at the corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and eth street has been tenn
porarily disfgured, as work Is in progress
upon. the pedestal for the Hancock statue.
A foL ndation six feet in depth of first-class
concrete has been placed in position, and
the granite for pedestal delivered on the
ground. Col. Wilson says that at the close
of the month the parks were in excellent
condition, with the exception of the brown
appearance Of the lawns. due to the in
tensely hot weather.
The Capitol Spring.
The work of examining and relaying the
Capitol spring pipe is nearly finished Dur
ing the month 1854 lineel feet of foun-inch
water pipe was laid in a trench averaging
three feet in depth. After the pipe was laid
the trench was filled in, and either puddled
or rammed. OF this pipe seventy-six feet
was run under the tracks of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad at North Capitol and D
streets. and incased in a section of con-
crete two feet square. The upper surface
of the pipe trench was repaved for length
Of 1859 feet Valves were placed at proper
distances along the line. connections made
with the District twelve-inch main at AL
bany street, near the new reservoir, for
flushing purposes and a blow-on placed,
emptyfng into the sewer at North Capitol
and e streets. Some minor items OF work
still remain to be done, and the asphalt
streets through which the pipe was laid
IN he frod