Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-08
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Progress in the Government Printing Office
Improvements.
Only One Case of Vandalism Mt the
MOnumemt-What Has Been
Done in the Parks.

Cfl. j. M. Wilson has made report OF
operations on public buildings and grounds
during the month of December to Gen.
Casey, chief of engineers. He says that
many minor repairs have been made to the
Executive Mansion, and that the building
is now in good condition. Repairs were
made to the roof, plumbing. gas and cleo
trio lights, and to the heating apparatus.
The old furniture in the upper corridor and
in the blue parlor was reupholstered, and
a few additions were made to the bedding,
table linen and furniture.
Considerable repairs were made to the
Washington monument during the month,
and it was found necessary to suspend the
running of the elevator from the 1st to the
10th uitimo. The elevator was inspected and
found in excellent condition, and the same
is true of the engines. Notwithstanding
they have been in constant use for many
years. There was but one case OF Vandal-
ism detected during the month, that OF
person cutting his name on the outside OF
the shaft. The man was arrested and hned
$40 in the Police Court. During the month
there were 1886 visitors to the top OF the
monument 1905 of whom made the ascent
by the elevator, and 1870 by the stairway,
making a total of l,U3I.303 persons who
have visited the top since the shaft was
opened to the public, October ., 1855.
Care of the Parks.
The usual care and attention was be-
slowed on the various parks during the
month. The propagation OF tropical, sub
tropical and bedding plants for use in the
parks during the season of 1875 was con-
tinued, and all the flower beds were
mulched and protected for the winter. The
group of evergreens on the south side Of
Lafayette Square, on the foundation origin
ally built for the Lafayette statue, has
been remodeled, and a number of the
shrubs replaced by others of more Or
namental character. The triangular reser-
walton at the southeast corner OF lith
street and Pennsylvania avenue has been
properly graded, and the soil, which had
been removed, was replaced by better earth
furnished by the contractor for the Colunl-
bia railway excavation, without expense to
the United States.
The Printing Office improvements.
In a chapter in regard to the government
printing office Col Wilson reports the
operations which have been in progress
during the month with hired labor, the
materials being purchased under contract
The roof has been removed from the west
section of the southwest fire-proof build
ing, the walls torn down to the level Of
about five feet above the fourth-Srory win
dows some of the window frames reset,
the brick work of the walls commenced,
the brick piers completed, temporary
false roof constructed and the iron columns
for the new story ana roof placed IN posi-
ton.
In the east section OF the building the
brick work has been carried just above the
level Of the floor of the fifth story, and the
iron columns, girders and beams placed in
position. All the iron for the structure,
amounting to about seventy tons, has been
received, and the greater portion hauled up
to the fourth floor of the southwest build
ing. A large quantity Of brick has been
removed from the walls ami cleaned for
using again. About 5000 bricks have been
laid, a number of stone sillS placed in posi-
ton, a hosting apparatus constructed,
cement shed built, and many other minor
matters incidental to such work completed.
Col. Wilson says that serious delays arose
during the month from heavy rains, SHOWS
AM excessive cold, so that the work has
not advanced rapidly as had been an
ticlpated. Borings have been made for the
foundation of the new structure to be
erected between the southwest and south
center buildings. An iron pipe driven four
teen feet below the bottom of the founda-
ton Of the present structures showed a
wet sand and gravel, with a little clay.
The gravel near the surface was about the
size of hens egg, and became smaller as
the depth increased. 1t is proposed during
January, II the weather permits. to COM
plete the brick walls, the iron work, the
wood and iron work Of the roof and to
place the floor tiling into position.