Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21

drain traps, edging the grassed margins of
roads and walks. caring for flower beds.
trees and shrubbery, gathering up and re-
moving rubbish. pruning trees and shrub
berry and sweeping the paved walks through
the parks and the pavements around them.
Dead and unsightly trees and decayinG
shrubs have been removed. surfaces of
gravel roads and walks repaired. raked and
rolled, board walks repaired. bare places
on lawns seeded and sodded. and new sod
laid along the margins Of walks. caterpil-
lars removed from trees and elm trees
sprayed to destroy the elm beetle: branches
of trees overhanging roads and walks re-
moved, drain pipes repaired and freed from
stoppages, wire fencing placed around flow
er beds to protect them; stake and wire
fences to prevent trespassing erected. and
i old fences repaired.
A severe wind storm on the second day Of
August did considerable damage to the
trees in some of the parks. several being
entirely destroyed and large number hav-
ing branches broken from them.
All the summer bedding plants were
moved from the flower beds in the early
autumn, some OF the beds replanted with
chrysanthemums for fall bloom and others
with Towering bulbs and pansies for early
spring bloom. In the spring the beds. to
the number of 30, were planted with bed
ding plants for summer decoration.
ChiIdren's Playground.
By the act of Congress approved August
So 1890. the officer in charge of public
ton of the public grounds for children's
playground, under regulations to be pre-
scribed by him. The southern portion of
the Monument Park was at once set aside
for this purpose, but regulations were
prescribed. as there were no means Of car
rying them out. no watchmen OF police
men having been authorized. and the serv
ices Of the one watchman on duty at the
monument being needed there to protect.
the structure from acts of vandalism.
Just complaints were received that the
lawns were being destroyed. trees injured.
and that the children's playground was be-
ing overrun by vicious and improper per-
sons This office has been requested to take
action to relieve the grounds OF such char
acters, and has been obliged to call on the
District police for assistance.
To protect the improved grounds as far as
possible. and to prevent serious annoyance
to those enjoying the beauty of the park.
the playground was transferred in the au-
tumn of 1898 to the site between B street
and the main drive north of the monument.
This plot of ground covers an area of about
eight acres. and is occupied nearly all the
time by men and boys playing foot ball and
base ball
BY the act of Congress approved March 2.
1895, the officer in charge of public build
ings and grounds was directed to authorize
the use of portion of the grounds within
the ellipse south of the Executive Mansion
for children's playground, under regula-
tons to be prescribed by him.
Notice was given through the public press
that children applying would be authorized
to play lawn tennis croquet. cricket and
kindred games. The only requirements were
that the children should be recommended
by a reputable citizen. and would agree to
exercise the common rules of courtesy
which would govern them in a private
park.
But two requests We're received for this
privilege. Both were promptly granted. but
in neither instance was advantage taken Of
the permit
Several applications from young men TO
play foot ball and base ball in the reserva-
ton were received, but 1t was not believed
that II was intended under the law that the
lawns of the ellipse other parks should
be used for these purposes.
During the past year Reservation No. 126
at the intersection of Virginia and Georgia
avenues and L Street. and between 9th and
11th streets southeast. has been prepared as
a playground.