The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-23
THOUSANDS FOR REPAIRS.
II Made So Only by the Expends-
ture of . Small-SIsed Fortune
work Falls on Chief Engineer.

Special Dispatch 70 the Past-Inseli.gencer.
WASHINGTON. Aug 2a-The war de-
par-nient oe the United States has some
thing else TO do besides carrying On war,
providing Notifications. coast defsnses
and subsistence for the standing army.
Entire charge of the public buildings and
grounds in and arexnd Washington City
Is under the control OF the chief of engi-
neers, one of the most prominent officers
of the war department. Many people viii
be surprised TO know how large sums are
expended annually in identifying this city
Notwithstanding this fact, complaint is
continually made by the officers IN charge
and by the citizens that congress Is mig
gardiy In this respect. In truth, whila
many Of the public buildings and parks
are neatly kept up and we'll cared for.
others are neglected, due 10 no other fact
than that the appropriation has not been
sufficient 10 employ as large 4 force as is
necessary 10 do the work properly.
Take, for example, the sums 10 be ex
pended during the !iccal year, as provided
for at the session or the congress just
closed The care. repair and refurnlshing
OF the White House alone viii cost <So1Do.
which may be expended by contract or by
day labor, the president may deter
mine. In this matter ne has as much con-
troll over the expenditure as If the money
came directly from his own pocket. Then
again. 5000 Is required 10 properly heat
the executive maasoE, the green houses
attached THERETO and the stables where
the presidential steat1s are stalled. These
green houses and stables are not elabor-
ate affairs by any means.
Many residents. OF this city, to say notn-
ing of the metropolis and other large Cit
les throughout the country where more
miliionaires reside, can show far better
accommodations for their horses and more
extensive conseryaiories. filled With more
valuable plants. Nevertheless. the annual
cost OF repairs to he executive conserva-
tory is $3.olo. and the care and repair to
the green houses, where are grown the
choice flowers that grace the presidential
.easts given In honor Of the titled ambas-
sailors OF foreign nations. require at least
S5,Ba9 annually.
All visitors TO Washington admire the
beautiful grounds surrounding the presi-
dents house. The lawn in front, stretch
Ing from the Par,henon pillared porch 10
Pennsylvania avenue, is always weli-kept,
dotted here and there with beautiful. flower
beds and topped above by massive trees
cs ali known varieties. many of which have
been planted by the hand OF former presi-
dents, and some few date back to the
time wheE4 this lovely spot, one OF the
seven hills that overlooked the Potomac at
the close Of the last century, was selected
for the Nations capital and was frequent
~ referred TO by the writer's of that time
as the American Rome Far broader
In extent are the sloping grounds back Of
the mansion where on Easter Mondays the
children OF Washington are wont 10 gather
and roll their mulii-colored eggs. Ii is nat
at all surprising 10 one who has seen these
broad lawns. beautiful fountains, beds or
flowers and lofty, towering trees. to read
tha, the cost OF maintaining and improv-
ing them Is $500 each year.
Then there are other green houses and
nurseries where plants are propagated for
the adornment of these grounds and other
parks, and the ordinary care OF these cost
every year 5000. Lafayette park. just
across the wide avenue from the White
House where stands the heroic, equestrian
statue Of Gem Jackson, the cannon used
az the battle Of New Orleans, the bronze
vases presented by the French nation and
the life-siZe figures OF Washington and
Lafayette embracing each other. Is kept III
repair at the annual expenditure of 81 600.
Franklin park is given the same sum.
while Judiciary square, in which are st
uated the court houses and the pension
building. takes $50, and Lincoln park, the
great resort Of that portion Of the city
living upon Capitol Hill. is kept up a. the
cost OF Sa.r3
Between the White House grounds and