Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-16
WORK OF A YEAR
What Has Been Done on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
COL. JOHN N. WILSON'S REPORT
A Separate Office for the President
Recommended.
PARKS AND RESERVATIONS

Col J. M. Wilson. Corps Of Engineers in
charge of public buildings and grounds, has
submitted his annual report to Gen. Craig
hill. chief of engineers. 1t Is compre-
sive document. and contains many things
Of great interest to the citizens of the Dis
trict.
An Executive Office Needed.
Attention is again invited to the import
ance Of providing suitable offices outside OF
the Executive Mansion for the President OF
the United States. This matter was dis
cussed in Col Wilson's annual reports for
1893. 1894 and 1895.
Il earnestly recommend" he says. that
an appropriation of $50 900 be made for the
erection. within the Executive Mansion
grounds. and directly opposite the Treas
ury building. Of a granite structure for the
Office for the chief executive of the nation.
This structure could be connected by a
wide corridor with a large conservatory.
fitted up as a winter garden, with tropical
plants, fountains and statues OF eminent
Americans: the conservatory could open In
to picture gallery connected by two wide
corridors with the east room. and these
improvements could serve double purpose
by relieving the mansion of the terrible
crush incident to the evening official recep-
lions.
Il earnestly hope that this important
matter may no longer be delayed. and that
action may be taken at the approaching
session Of Congress toward erecting suit
able Office building for the President Of the
United States"
In this connection he says that a settle
ment was discovered in the floor of the cor
ridor between the state dining room and
crowd congregates at evening receptions.
The floor was torn up and the old girders
and beams were found to be badly cracked
these were strengthened and repaired and
the floor relaid
The Executive Mansion.
Col. Wilson tells in detail the operations
Of the year in maintaining the Executive
Mansion. green houses and stables In good
condition. The conservatory and the other
green houses received such necessary re-
pairs as the funds available would admit
while extensive repairs were made in the
conservatory the work was confined TO the
very worst norton. several steel eirders
were placed in nnsiton. and a small brick
wall built upon them al the south and south
west ends of the structure. and the whole
of the woodwork Of the south face was re-
newed
Attention is again invited to the conserva-
tory. the frame of which ia Of wood. rapidly
decaying. and almost in a dangerous condi-
ton. A new iron superstructure. at an
estimated cost of $13. 900 Is recommended.
Annual repairs made to the old super
structure but according to Col Wilson It
seems almost waste Of funds to patch up
portions Of an old decaved wooden frame
with wood. which will also decay. when a
violent storm might possibly wreck the
structure at any time.
Col. Wilson tells in detail the operations
of the year in maintaining .he Executive
Mansion green houses and stables in good
condition. The conservatory AMI the other
greenhouses received such necessary repairs
| as the funds available would admit. while
extensive repairs were made In the con-
servatory. the work was confined to the
very worst portion: several steel Eir1ers
were placed in position. and n small brick
wall built upon them at the south and south
west ends Of the structure and the whole
Of the woodwork Of the south face was re-
newed.
Attention is again invited t. the conserva-
tory. the frame OF which is Of wood. rapidly
decaying. and In a dangerous condition. A
new iron superstructure. At an estima ed
| cost of $4,000 is recommended.
Annual repairs are made to the old super
| structure. but. according to Col. Wilson. II
seems almost waste Of funds to patch uI
| portions Of an old decayed wooden frame
with wood. which will also decay. when q
violent storm might possibly wreck the
structure at any time.
The Warrington Monument.
In regard to the Washington monument
| he says:
Every effort has been made during the
year to maintain the monument and Its
machinery in good condition. Vandals con-
| tinue to give annoyance by occasionally
| chipping pieces from the outside or from
| memorial stones in the inner walls: when.
| ever detected these thoughtless persons
| are arrested but. a rule. when brought
| to trial, escape with small fine.
1.-The elevator and all the machinery con-
l t11 hov hon nrit {onllr In,
spected monthly. and pronounced in excel
lent condition. 1t Is believed that the ele-
vator is as safe as it is possible for man to
make it, and every effort is made to pre-
vent accidents Should an accident ever
occur, 1t will result from something which
it was impossible to foresee
ION September 10, 1895, during a violent
thunder storm there was magnificent
display Of lightning at the apex Of the
pyramidion Owing to the excellent system
of protection, which was arranged when
the monument was built no damage what
ever was done to the shaft.
1.-The monument open daily during
| the year, except Sundays and holidays, and
| with the exception Of a few days in the
| autumn and again in the spring. while the
machinery was being overhauled, the ele-
| vator was in operation whenever the monu-
ment was open. There were 1870 visit
| ors to the top Of the monument during the
year. of which number 1O4.92S made the
ascent in the elevator and Alb by the
stairway. making 1.244.227 persons who
have visited the top, without a single ac-
| cident of any kind, since the shaft was
| opened to the public, October 8, 1888
The Public Grounds
| Most Of the report is devoted to the works
| in progress and proposed for the improve
ment Of the public parks and reservations
| The following extracts are made from an
exhaustive chapter on this general sub
| ject:
1.-The area covered by the parks and park
spaces in the District of Columbia under
charge of this office Is about 4O5 acres
within which there are 1874 miles of gravel
and asphalt walks. covering area OF
1863 acres. and 7.6 miles of gravel and as
phalt roads, covering an area Of 1903 acres
There are in all 3O1 reservations. vary
| ing in size from few hundred square feet
| to 80 acres. These reservations are CLASH
| fed follows:
Number. Acres.
Highly improved. ......... "a 351.12
Partially improved. 80 SGT
Unimproved ................ 1853 1880
Total .................. 3O1 4O5.OS
Each year an effort is made to add to
the list of improved reservations, but ow-
ing to lack Of necessary funds, the pro-
gress Is very slow. 1t Is not generally real
lied how much beauty the smaller spaces
are capable of exhibiting should they be