The evening times., 1897-06-10
WHITE HOUSE BATHROOM
Gorgeous and Beautiful From Gilt
and C0lOred Decorations.
improvements During the Month of
May at the Executive Mansion
and Washington Monument.

| Col. Theodore A. Bingham, of the corps
of engineers, has made his report of opera
| tions upon public buildings and grounds in
the District OF Columbia, for May, as
follows:
In the Executive Mansion the walls
and ceiling in the large bathroom on
| north front, second floor, were deCora~ed
III color, surrounded with border. the center
| piece gilded and the woodwork in the TooTn
| painted with two coats OF oil color \
| dozen new window shades were made and
put up. some additional furniture pur-
chased: the furniture in the northwest bed
chamber and the dressing-room adjoinin Z
was sre-upholstercd and re- covered with new
material, and repairs were made to other
furniture in the mansion as required.
''Twenty-two wire guards were placed
over the rain water spouts on the roof,
the tin roof covering repainted and thirty
two additional sections OF plank walk
made, painted. and placed upon the roof
where there would be the most travel over
1t, to protect the tin from injury. New
covers of wood Were placed upon the stone
steps leading To the area of the mansion
at the northeast corner, the tile floor in
the small kitchen was repaired and minor
carpentry repairs made throughout the
mansion. A portable derrick for hosting
materials was made and placed upon the
roof.
The plumbing, electric light and gas
fixtures were maintained in good order,
small repairs being made as needed. The
clock boxes were placed in position and
the mansion decorated with plants and
flowers on the occasion OF the reception
given To the delegates TO the Universal
Postal Congress on May 19. The usual
care was extended to the large and valu-
able collection of plants in the ConserYa-
tory and greenhouses the propagation Of
winter Towering and summer bedding
plants was continued"
In relation to the Washington MOnu-
nent, the report sets fol tn that the mon IL
meuf and machinery have been mainta ined
In good order, the usual monthly iIspeC-
tion of the elevator and it's machinery
was made, and II reported 10 be in good
condition. There were 1G, ,S9T visitors to
the top OF the monument during the month,
Of which number 9.0S1 made the ascent
III the elevator and ,S16 by the stair
way, making a total of 1896 ,9S5 per
sons who have visited the top since tie
shaft was opened 10 the public on Oc-
tn',er 8, 1885.
The grounds within the iron fence
around the Executive Mansion have been
maintained in good order. The pTOpaga-
tion OF winter blooming plants was con-
tinued. There were hauled out TO the
various parks for planting in the flower
beds 81 3, ,S0T tropical, subtTopiCal and
beGding plants; twenty-one vases in vari-
ous parks were filled with plants, and
water lilies Were planted in the basins Of
fountains in various parks.
"In the nursery, 3.O6I plants and $500
bulbs weIe planted for stock and summer
bloom; the In wns were mown, Washington
Monument, Smithsonian, Henry and Sedton
during the month. A statue to DGgueTrc
was placed in position in Smithsonian
grounds by the authorities OF the Smith
sonian Institution. Three dead trees were
removed from Henry Park. The reserva-
tions south and east OF the Capitol have
been maintained in good order. Forty-two
foweI-be1s and one vase were planted
during the month. Reservations north af
Pennsylvania avenue and west of the
Capitol are in good condition; los beds
and 1S vases were planted during the
month. N5lves, water pipes and drink
ing fountain swere repaired, and stoppages
removed from drain pipes.