The evening times., 1899-06-13
COLONEL KNGHAM'S
REPORT FOR NAY
Damage Done s1by Crowds at
the Jubilee Fireworks.
Cost Of Restoring the Ruined Trees
and Flowering Shrubs.
Nearly Twenty Thousand Visitors to
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS mt the
White House.

Col Theodore A. Bingham, Superintend-
ent of Public Buildings and Grounds, today
submitted his report on operations for the
month of May. The report says that the
usual care was extended to the Executive
attention paid to the plumbing. The ele-
vator shaft and car were cleaned and oiled
| and the seats reupholstered. The platform
used at the Saturday afternoon concerts
given in the Executive Mansion grounds
has been enlarged by the construction OF
twelve additional sections containing 700
square feet. Awnings for the mansion
were put up and carpets replaced with
mating. In the Blue Room the mirror
frame was regilded, walls and ceilings
scraped and repapered. and the woodwork.
cornice, and centrepiece on the ceiling
painted. Work In connection with the
construction of the new conduit sewer sys-
TEN was continued and 110 linear feet of
main conduit and thirty-six feet Of side
also done on the green house. while the
lawns Of the mansion were well cared for
and large number of summer plants set
out.
The usual care was extended to maintain
the interior OF the shaft of the Washing
ton Monument and to protect the struct-
ure from vandalism. During the early part
of the month. the elevator was thoroughly
repaired. On May s. the monthly inspec-
tion Of the elevator and its machinery was
made by an agent OF the builders and it
was reported in good condition.
There were 1880 visitors to the top Of
the Monument during the month Of May
of which number 9.ll5 made the ascent in
the elevator and $685. by the stairway.
This makes total of LESS. .5S1 persons who
have visited the top since the shaft was
opened to the public on October 3, 1883.
In reference to the erection OF the poles
and frames with canvas scenery for the
fireworks on the Monument grounds dur
ing the Peace Jubilee. Colonel Bingham
says that the damage done by the crowds
assembled TO witness the play may be
summarized as follows: Six well-grown
trees were SO badly damaged by having
limbs broken that they will have to be cut
down and replaced with young trees. the
price of which is about 20 cents each. or
$3.50 for the lot and the labor to plant
them will cost about Sc. These young
trees will require from ten to fifteen years
growth to attain the size and character of
the largest trees destroyed. Forty-two
trees were slightly damaged which can be
remedied by judicious pruning. The labor
TO do this will cost about IS.
Flowering shrubs to the number of 139
were SO badly damaged by being trampled
down and broken that they will have to be
replaced with young shrubs, which will
cost about 10 cents each or s90.S5 for the
lot to which must be added the cost OF re-
planting. which will amount to about
SG9.50. Six park settees were broken: to
repair them will cost 81 each. The exca-
yarions made for the artificial lake have
been roughly filed by the exhibitors Of
the fireworks and will have to be further
cared for. IL will cost to restore the
grounds TO their former condition approx
mately Sl20.
Twelve OF the buildings under Colonel
Bingham's supervision have been inspected
during the month and found 10 be in ex
cellert condition.