The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-15
PAINTINGS Tn Bad SHAPE
Historic Portraits in Danger of IT.
retrieFable Dalsage.
Report to the Commissioners ON Por-
traits OF washington, Jackson.
Clay. ANA OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
dation 20 Entrust Their Restora-
item to Meme But Competent Hands

ANA observation-disclosures H
dation 20 Entrust Their Restora-
tion to None hut Competent Hands
At the request of the District Commits
sioRers. committee composed of S. H.
Kaufman Victor G. Fischer. and F. B.
Mcclure. have examined the portraits
hanging In the Supreme Court room. in
tie City Hall Building. with view to
making some recommendations toward
placing them IN proper, condition. and also
those in the Board room in the District
Building The committee has submitted
its report as follows:
We beg TO report in regard to the pic
lures in the courtroom that we found the
portrait of Washington injured to such an
extent that its restoration should be en-
trusted TO the most comp etent person to be
found-one combining both technical skill
and long experience in Il at line OF work.
The portraits Of Jackson. Clay, and Corco-
ran are in less damaged state, and the
work Of putting them in good condition
viii be less difficult. but they. too. should
be treated with sound judgment md great
care, in order to prevent further deteriora-
ton.
While there may be many persons in
the country, and some in this city. TO
whom. the duty Of putting these paintings
in proper condition could be safely en-
trusted. We know no one better qualified
for it than Charles F. P Dillon. $50 Sixth
Avenue, New York city We may add that
we do not think the work hereto
fore done on the paintings in your Beard
room is of such character as would
justify the employment of any of these
who did II TO perform the difficult and
delicate task of undertaking to restore
the eanvases herein referred to, parti1a-
lariy the Washington portrait
In this connection we take the liberty
Of recommending that the portraits of
jackson and Clay be removed from their
present place, where there is no ade-
quate light. and where they are IN danger
OF being still further damaged by the ar
tihcial heat rising in their vicinity, and
placed en- either side az Washington. on
the west wall OF the room, where they
can be seen under proper conditions ard
where they would also be less likely to
be Injured By heat and dust"
Commissioner Mcfarland has received
a letter from the manage CT the Fire Ex-
tinguisher Manufacturing Company, OF
Chicago, relative TO the delivery Of the
Water Tower. a contract for the con-
StTuCtion Of which was entered INTO be-
tween the Commissioners and the rom
pany on September Is, 1900. The letter
states that while the contract was signed
in Washington on September Is. it did not
reach the Office OF the company in Chicago
until October p
The writer informs Mr. MaefarIand that
=
the Water Tower viii be delivered by
February - 1891 The latter states that
this explanation Is made to prevent aEy
misunderstanding regarding the receipt
OF the machine in Washington.
Andrew Z. DuvalI. the Attorney for the
District. has submitted 10 the Commission
ers al opinion upon the communication o.
Lieutenant HolliBberger. Of the 2etropoIi-
tan Police Force, relative 70 the d.nger-
ous condition Of the Eleventh. Street wharf
now occupied by " W Riley. 1t viii be
recalled in this connection that the letter
of Lieutenant HclIiHberger settfng forth
the dangerous condition g the timber and
hoors OF the wharf was published Ia The
Tines With reference 10 the matter the
Attorney says:
This wharf is tn fish wharf where
eil the 6sn are required under the old cor
potation ordinance 10 &c landed from the
yer boats Mr. Riley has secured this
right for his wharf from the Commission
ers for one year BY virtue or being the
highest bidder for that privilege. TIE
wharf is reported to be out Of repair te
such an extent az to be dangerous ever
liable to collapse etc
I had occasion on tue 18th Instant, il
returning to you the application of Thomas
R. Riley for permit 10 rspair his wharf,
10 cal your attention. &c the status Of
wharf property on the Potomac River
front The case now under consideration
IS evidently one thai requires immediate
action I have consulted with the United
States Attorney for the District upon the
subject, and white he has no remedy 10
suggest. he seemed to aeQuiesce in my suS-
gestion that at least the United States
could lie a bill n equity to enjoin the
further use of the wharf which is in a
dangerous condition.
IN my opinion We Should make an ef-
fort 10 deal with the situation and I have
the honor. to advise that the Inspector of
Buildings be directed to examine the
wharf and II il is found to be In danger
Gus condition. TO proceed In accordance
with section II. Of the building Tegula-
tons
1T may be true that this section was
not designed to cover the case OF a wharf
but wharf is certainly structure and
il is within the description Of a building
N SecUOn OF Inc hu9lefnE regulations
Section Il of the building regulations
relates TO the removal of dangerous
buildings and provides. IF. after ex-
animation. the Inspector of Buildings
shall deem any structure or building or
part thereof or appurtenance thereto dan
geroUs. ne shall serve upon the occupants
thereof a notice requiring the vacation of
said structure or building iramedia Sly.
and also serve CT cause to be served g
notice in writing upon the owner, agent
or any party having interest in said
structure requiring the same to be made
safe and secure or removed. as the In
spector may deem necessary. within such
time as he may direct under penalties
fos failure provided by section 1s5 of
these regulations unless appeal be taken
as hereinafter provided
The Postal Telegraph Company recently
fled an application with the Commission
ers. requesting 2 permit to transfer their
wires on District poles on D Street from
Twelfth to Fourteenth Streets. to their
line On Ohio Avenue between Twelfth and
Thirteenth Streets. over house-top tx |
lures. to the City Postofice.
In reporting upon the application of
Walter C Allen. the Electrical Engineer
recommends the granting of the permit |
He states that the wire is necessary on
account Of the removal By this depart !