Evening star., 1896-11-09
RACING BICYCLISTS
Colonel Wilson to Stop "Scorching"
on the Ellipse.
THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS and GROUNDS
Repairing the Damage Done by the
Great Storm.
THE w WASHINGTON MONUMENT

In his last monthly report to the chief of
engineers, Col Wilson, in charge of public
buildings and grounds, makes the following
reference to the practice of 'scorching" on
the ellipse south Of the White House:
"An effort was made to prevent the fur
ther destruction Of the lawn of the ellipse
by trespass paths, and to carry out exist
ing law and police regulations in regard TO
speeding bicycles on the road around the
ellipse. Owing to the Illness of the watch
man at this park the ellipse road was be-
ing used by bicycle owners for speeding
and scorching to so great an extent that
many complaints came to me from pedes
trans and drivers of teams. So far from
aiding me in stopping this practice. l am
informed that one of the police force OF
this city actually took part in violating the
regulations. which. it is presumed 1t is his
duty to carry out. In answer to the COM
plants reaching me. 1 withdrew four Of the
United States watchmen from other parks
and directed them to break up. If possible,
the existing conditions. Before doing this
l visited police headquarters and obtained
from the senior captain. who was tenn
porarily in charge, copy OF the police
reSula tionS, informing him of my object in
| asking for them. The result of my efforts
was the arrest of three young men engaged
| in racing their bicycles on the road. When
brought DerOre the court tney were QlS-
missed on their personal bonds.
Repairing the Damage by the Storm.
Considerable space in the report is de-
voted to the operations during the past
| month in repairing the great damage done
by the hurricane of September %. The
stone coping on the north side of the White
House grounds, the stone piers at the Penn
sylvaEia avenue entrances and the high
| iron fence on the north side have been re-
paired and painted. The flagstaff .he
White House has also been replaced Good
| progress is reported in the work Oh the
War Department printing office and the
tin roof destroyed during the gale has been
replaced.
ecutive Mansion have been maintained IN
as neat condition as possible. and the dam
age done by the storm repaired so far as
practicable The grounds were cleared of
all brush, wood and leaves. thirty-nine
tree stumps were dug up and holes filed.
tfirty-five trees were topped and put back
| in as good shape possible and twenty
eight trees were trimmed. About 100 cart
leads of brush, &c, were hauled away.
In the reservations north of Pennsylvania
avenu, and west of the Capitol the dis
astrous effects of the gale We're most ser-
ouSly felt. In them ffty-fve trees were
entirely destroyed, 2;lI trees badly damaged
and 3l9 slightly damaged. 1t took 30 cart
loads to remove the debris. At least 364
gathered up in Washington Monument,
Smithsonian Henry and Seaton Parks as
result Of the storm. and hauled to the
dumping ground.
AT the Executive Mansion carpets have
been laid. curtains hung and the building
generally placed in winter costume. Minol
repairs have been made to the windows
doors and furniture and to the heating and
lighting plants and everything is now in
| readiness for the social functions of the
season
The Lincoln Memorial Building.
Col. Wilson says that the law officers of
the government still have the abstract of
title Of the house on 10th street in which
Lincoln died under advisement, and are
awaiting the execution of an important
paper before its purchase can be consum-
mated, under the law. He says that his
Office can take further action in the
matter until the final report Of the United
States district attorney is received. The
| funds for payment are in the treasury, sub
ject to check. and the property can be paid
for the moment the law officers report that
the title is satisfactory
The propagation of different varieties of
tropical, subtropical and bedding plants has
been continued at the greenhouses and
nurseries. During the month !, 43o chrys-
anthemumS were sent out for planting in
Lafayette Square, and 5000 Towering bulbs
for planting in the various parks All sum-
mer foliage and Towering plants have been
removed from the parks, and the beds
planted with spring Towering bulbs. The
work of improving Hancock Place is still
under way, and the ornamental stone wall
around it is nearly completed.
The work of replacing the old telegraphic
system between the Capitol and the execu-
tive departments with new poles and wires
Is progressing satisfactorily. During the
month new crosS-arrnS were placed in posi-
ton, guy ropes attached to the poles and
new wires substituted for old wherever
| necessary. All the old poles were cut down
and, being absolutely worthless were given
away to any one who wanted them for fire.
! wood The work Of making new battery
and connecting up the circuits will be COM
pleted this month, and it is expected the
line will be in better condition than ever
before.
AT the request of the secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution the road i'm
mediately south of the building has been
closed to wagon travel. The SECRETARY also
requested that the asphalt road between
the National Museum and the Smithsonian
building be similarly closed, for the reason
that wagon travel disturbed the delicate
instruments i'll the aStro-phySical observa-
tory. No action toward closing this latter
| line of travel has been taken by Col. Will
son.
The Washington Monumcnt.
There were 1858 visitors to the top of
| the Washington monument during the
month of October, of which number 10 i64
made the ascent by the elevator and 3.O3o
| by the stairway, making a total of BIS, 416
| persons who have visited the top of the
monument since it was first opened to the
| public, October 8, 1888
One act of vandalism occurred during the
month, a person being caught in the act
! of breaking off a piece of the monument
| He was taken before the Police Court and
| fined $40.