Evening star., 1896-10-07
DAMAGE BY THE STORM
Col. Wilson's Report on the Injury to Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Large Number Of Trees Blown Down
and MISUNDERSTANDING Into the
Lincoln House Title.

Col John NJ. Wilson. superintendent of
public buildings and grounds, devotes most
of his report of operations during the past
month to the damage done by the hurri-
cane of the night of the 10Th ultimo. He
says that the Executive Mansion escaped
serious damage. The Flagstaff on the roof
was broken near its base. and twenty-nine
rancs of glass We're broken. The sheet
iron chimney caps were blown off, and the
high iron fence on the north front was
damaged in several places by falling trees.
Slight damage was sustained by the roof
OF the grapery. Col. Wilson says that
considering the great damage done to the
tees in the grounds, the escape of the
conservatory and green houses was marvel
Gus.
Damage 10 the Trees.
Excessive damage was done to the fine
tees In the Presidents grounds. About
twenty-five trees were uprooted or twisted
off near the roots, twenty-five more We're
SO badly damaged that it has been neces-
sary to remove them, and twenty-five more
suffered serious damage to their limbs.
Great damage was also done to trees in the
other public parks The Smithsonian Park
however, suffered the most. There twenty
nine large trees were uprooted and COM
pietely destroyed. and hundred and fifty
two more were SO badly injured as to re-
auire removal. Many splendid trees i'm
Lafayette and Franklin Parks were
wrecked. 1t is estimated that not less than
500 large trees in the various parks were
seriously damaged Many of this number
We're entirely destroyed. Col. Wilson says
that the mon ~ value of these trees cannot
b" estimated They were the growth of
many years, and ii will take long time to
replace them. The greatest sufferers We're
the ash. the silver poplar and the silver
maple. While the immediate danger has
been large and is greatly to be deplored -
says Col. Wilson, lit is believed that in
one year the track of the tornado i'm most
OF the parks will hardly be noticed"
ne ashlnyton monument proper sus-
tanned no damage during the storm hut the
boiler hous" and the engine house suffered
slightly. There We're IL, 1y3 visitors to he
top OF the monument during last month of
which number 1901 made the ascent by ,hc
elevator and 3,W' by the stairway. making
total OF l l.:'ol ,?I3 persons who have as
c"nded the shaft since il was first opened
to the public, October .. 1855.
The House Where Lincoln Died.
The United States attorney for the Dis
trict Of Columbia is Tow engaged in search
ing the title of the house on 10th street
where President Lincoln died, in order that
its purchase may he consummated as ,li-
rectcd by law.
All the tropical plants have been removed
from the parks to the nurseries, and ihci.
places generally supplied with chrysanthe-
NUNS. The work of improvement at Han.
cock place is still In progress The walks
have been laid out and prepared for as.
phalt coating, and the old curbing has beer
removed and concrete foundation prepared
for a new ornamental wall.
Colonel Wilson says that the work of re.
placing the old poles carrying the tele-
graph wires connecting the Capitol with ths
various executive departments is now being
Carried on under the terms of the acI oi
Congress approved June IL, 1896. Fifty
| five poles have already been erected, OF
which three Were eighty feet long, eight
were seventy feet long. forty-thrce wer,
sixty feet long and one WAS fifty feet long
| II is expected to transfer the wires 10 III,
lew poles and remove the old poles during
| the present month.