The times., 1898-10-14
COL. BINGHAM'S REPORT
What Has Been Done on Pub
Lie Buildings and Grounds.
CARE OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Been Added to the Presidents
Conservatory-The Monument Ell
evator Shaft Strengthened by
Channel Irons other Improve
ments and Preparations.

Col. Bingham, in charge of the public
buildings and grounds in the District of
Columbia, yesterday submitted his re-
port to the chief of engineers.
The report says that the usual care and
repairs were extended to the Executive
Mansion, its furniture and fittings The
ceiling of the north portico was washed
down by an engine from the District fire
department and myriads Of spiders were
dislodged from the cracks and crevices
where they had found lodgment. The
work in progress for the construction oil
a new greenhouse for ferns at the EN-
ecutive Mansion was completed. The
woodwork In the Presidential grapery
was repaired and painted
The asphalt semi-circular roadway
leading from Pennsylvania Avenue to the
north front of the mansion was repairel
and its entire area resurfaced with new
asphalt topping, amounting TO 5'4YJ
square yards. Eight new electric lights
have been added to the White House
Grounds illumination.
Referring to the Washington Monu-
ment, the report states that twenty-eiSht
channel irons were placed in position to
strengthen the iron columns between
which the elevator car runs. These irons
have been placed in position up to the
lSO-foot landing. Two additional self
recording thermometers Were placed in
position, making u total of four now in
position.
There were II, ,157 visitors who ascended
20 he of he during Sem
tember. of which 5.syl made the ascent
in the elevator and f.ls6 by stairway This
makes a total of 1885, ,220 persons who
have visited the top since the shaft was
opened to the public, October 8, 1855.
All the tropical plants which have
adorned the city parks during the Sum
mer months have been moved TO the
greenhouses a new greenhouse, ll2 feet
long. % feet wide, and l6 feet high, has
been completed.
In the nursery grounds 3,Tl0 chrysan-
themum plants Were lifted and potted for
Fail planting in the city paraks.
The excavation for the foundation of
the equestrian statue of Gen. William
T. Sherman, IN the grounds south of the
Treasury Building, has reached suffi-
cient depth. and the work Of making the
subfoundation has begun.
Great care has been extended to the
large collection of plants. ne prop
agation of budding plants for next sea-
sons planting in the city parks and res
ervations has been completed. There
were planted $50 carnation and so asylum
plants. while iSO Roman hyacinth bulbs
were boxed for Winter forcing. Strings
We're put up in the greenhouses to sup
port 3. l35 smilaX and 400 asparagus vines,
and IS, 600 Dutch bulbs We're purchased.
During last month there was expended
for salaries OF the numerous employees of
the public buildings and grounds service
s1Ii2iu.
Referring TO certain reservations He
gally occupied, the report states:
Reservation 203 told number 3o5l. Ca
nal. First, and y Streets southwest has
long been occupied in violation Of law by
party who built a frame house thereon
in 1855 The case has been in the hands
of the United States district attorney for
the past seven years. March 10, 1897, the
Supreme Court of the District of Column
bia rendered an opinion that the said
party was a trespasser and unlawfully
occupying the reservation, and ordered
that he remove all buildings. fences. and
other distractions from the ground with
in thirty days and deliver the premises
into the possession of the superintendent
of public buildings and grounds. To this
decision the trespasser appealed, but his
appeal was dismissed October ). 1897. and
he was ordered to perform the decree of
March, 1897. on or before December l. 1897.
This he has not done. and on September
l3, 1895. the United States marshal en-
tered the premises. dispossessed the oc-
cupants, of the house, and turned the
property and the keys of the building
over to this office. The question of the
disposition of the building is still under
consideration.
THE question of the ownership of lots
13 and Il. In square 959, has been again
brought up by a letter written by R. D.
Ruffin, attorney. to the Secretary of War
September 13, 1898. stating that his wife
was defrauded out of the property by
other parties and expressing a desire tC
purchase the property The subject OF
the title to these lots has been matter
of Congressional investigation and a bill
was fayorably reported in the Fifty-fiftt
Congress by the Committee of the Dis
trict of Columbia to release and quit
claim all right. title. and interest in these
lots to one Thomas Yates who claims tC
be the owner of the equitable title to said
lots. 1t appears from the records
that the title to these lots is in the
United States, and the matter of their
sale should be left for the action of Con-
gress."