Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-21

cost of the protection, SIS OOO" This rec
ommendation was approved by the Secre-
| tary of War, and the officer in charge Of
the aqueduct notified the general manager
of the canal that he was authorized to pay
| the company $4,000, upon condition that
the trustees should execute a paper releas-
| ing the United States from all claims for
| damages on account of raising the dam
| and should formally authorize in writing
an official to receive the sum in question.
This was done and the award was paid on
| February 13, 1897. u,
| pletion the dam has suffered no injury,
either from Ice or freshets. -
| The work of raising the dam and
| strengthening the conduit has been COM
pleted at a cost considerably below the
| original estimate, leaving a surplus of S23,-
627.21.
Public Building and Grounds.
The Executive Mansion has received the
usual care and such repairs and improve
| ments as the funds available would admit
| Much repainting has been done to the in
terror and exterior Of the building. and new
| furniture, carpets mating curtains &C..
| have been supplied from time to time when
| necessary. Extensive repairs have been
| made to the tin roof covering. Repairs of
| various kinds have been made to the green
houses connected with the mansion and a
contract has been entered into for the iron
| work and the woodwork required for the
| repair of the west wing of the conserva-
| tory.
Every effort has been made to maintain
| the Washington monument and it's ma
i cninery in good condition, and to continue
| the improvement and Ornamentation of the
/ adjacent grounds.
The elevator receives the most careful
| attention, being constantly inspected by ex-
| perts. and is believed to be safe as it is
| in the power ef man to make 1t.
There were 1885 visitors to the top of
| the shaft during the year, making a total
| of 400, S22 persons who have made the
/ ascent since the monument was opened to
| the public, October 8, 1888.
| Extensive improvements have been made
to the building No. 1725 F street north
| west, occupied by the War Department
| branch of the government printing office.
/ The old annex has been torn down, a new
| brick annex constructed, the old main
building thoroughly repaired and reprinted,
| and new steam-heating apparatus intro
| duced.
| The house on 10th street between E and
| + streets northwest. where Abraham Lin
| coin died. has been purchased by the United
| States for the sum of $50 000 as provided
| in the act of Congress approved June IL.
| 1896. The sum of 81. 900 was also provided
in the same act for the repair of the build
i ing after purchase. but as 1t was found
| that the sum of $4,000 would be required
! to place the building IN thorough repair.
| repairs We're made ,to the roof only, at a
| cost of S173, leavineS a balance of $S27. No
| additional repairs will be made pending
| further fiction Of Congress- in connection
~lst t the Ptopassting sArdens and nurser
| les offensive repairs Gwere, made, too the
| greenhouses; about 9poooO plants We're
| probasated' fer use in the public parks,
| shops a.id storehostses were repaired ana a
| new greenhouse was constructed.
| Extensive improvements have been made
| in Hancock place. on the north side of
| Pennsylvania avenue, between fth and Sth
| streets northwest ineluding the erection
of d low ornamenthl stone wall, with gran
| ite entrance steps on the east and south
| sides of the reservation, and the conStruc-
| The fountla don for the PEDESTAL Of; the
! statue of General John a. Logan has been
constructed in Iowa Circle.
| Much damage was done to the trees and
| shrubbery in the parks and some damage
to the buildings by the severe hurricane
| which visited Washington on the night OF
| September %, 1896. Tho damage to the
trees was mainly to the silver poplars, sill
yer naples and the ash, although the ever
greens suffered to a limited extent.
Electric lamps have been installed in
| Lafayette. Franklin. Judiciary and Lin
4 colp Parks, and the gas lamps in those
I parks, With some few exceptions. discon-
tinued.
+ to the Telegraph line CONNECTING the. Gapt.
toll with the departments and the govern
ment printing office
The desirability of replacing the present
overhead system with underground con-
duits and cables is submitted for the
ton Of Congress.
| ONCE for the President.
The officer in charge invites attention
to the propriety of erecting a separate
building for office purposes for the Presi-
dent of the United States.
He also recommends the extension of the
electric light system to include the Execu-
| tive Mansion grounds, monument and
Smithsonian parks the Improvement of
several reservations, the construction Of
an asphalt walk on the border of the
necessary legislation for better defined
regulations than now exist for the protec-
ton of the national park grounds in the
District of Columbia, and for the better
security and comfort of the public.
| His estimates are as follows:
For improvement and care Of public
buildings AMI grounds in charge of the
! chief of engineers, SITS, 271; for compensation
of persons employed on public buildings
| and grounds, $5S3O0; for repair of existing
telegraph lines connecting Capitol and de-
partments, $1,000; for contingent and Incl
dental expenses of public buildings and
| grounds, $500; for care of Washington mon
| ument and maintenance of elevator tsal-
aries of employees, $1,000; fuel. lights, con-
| tlnsencies, ETC., $1,000, $12.O6O total, $780,,
631.
Defenses of Washington.
At the close Of the previous fiscal year
the modern defenses, consisted of two en-
! placements for 10-inch guns on disappear
| Ing carriages practically completed. but
| without armament. These were finished
in all respects and their armament placed
In position during the fiscal year.
With funds from the act of June 6, 1896.
one emplacement for 1O-inch guns was
commenced and entirely completed and
| armed during the fiscal year. fourth
emplacement for 1O-incir gun ON disappear
Ing carriage was commenced with funds
| from the act Of March7S 1897.
\ Under authority granted the Secretary
OF War by the act of Jnne g. 1896. a con-
| tract was entered into Sor the construction
Of three emplacemants sfor 8-inch guns on
disappearing carriages At the close Of the
| fiscal year all necessary preliminary work,
including tho construction of wharf, had
been completed. and most Of the excava-
! ton finished. b 1s
Defenses of Hampton Roads, Va.
The three emplaeements for 1o-inch guns
on disappearing carriages mentioned in the
last annual reportIwere completed in most
Of their minor details. afid their armament
put in position by artillery troops. The
mortar battery for sixteen 16-inch mortars,
which had been commenced during the