Evening star., 1901-07-20
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Annual Report of Colonel Bingham
Submitted.
EXTENSION OF Exc UTIVE MANSION
Recommendation Against Erecting
Stands in the Future.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR

Col. Theodore F. Bingham, Corps of En-
| gineers, has submitted his annual report of
operations on public buildings and grounds
| in the District TO Col. Mackenzie. acting
| chief of engineers, today. 1t is unusu-
! ally complete and interesting report
After itemizing the repairs to the Execu-
tive Mansion, referring to the new eleva-
tor in the Washington monument and spec
flying the improvements made in the vari-
Gus public reservations the report speaks
of the plan presented accompanied
with estimate of cost for improving that
section of the District of Columbia south of
Pennsylvania avenue and north of B street
southwest, and for a suitable connection
between the Potomac and Geological Parks,
and mentions the completion of the statues
of General Logan and Albert Pike. The
report continues.
Extension of Executive Mansion.
BY sundry civil act, approved June g.
1900, an appropriation of $4,000 or so much
thereof as might pe necessary, was made
for continuing plans for extending the
Executive Mansion, prepared in the Of
flee of the engineer officer in charge of
public buildings and grounds. for compile
tion of drawings, model and specifications
and for each and every purpose connected
herewith
Work was at once begun on the drawings
necessary for construction bids. During
the previous three years considerable time
and thought had been given to the solution
OF the problems involved.
On December l., 1900. in connection with
ceremonies arranged for celebrating the
centennial of the occupation of Washington
as the capital city, model of the pro-
posed extension was exhibited in the east
room of the Executive Mansion before the
President cabinet, members of Con-
greSs, governors and other distinguished
citizens. The model was accompanied by a
number of exhibition drawings, ana all
were explained in an address by the oflcer
in charge of public buildings and grounds
The drawings numbering fOrty-seven,
were completed in March, 1901, traced and
blue printed, were ready for use In April,
1901 and await further action by Congress.
The total estimate for the proposed extern
sion is 81, ,136.96O.
ChiIdren's Fairgrounds.
The laws on this subject are as follows:
Act of Congress approved August 80.
1890 (Stat. 81, p. 1865:
THE officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds may authorize the temporary
use of a portion of the monument grounds
or grounds south of the Executive Mansion
or other reservations in the District of Co
lumbia for a childrens playground under
regulations to be prescribed by him.
Act approved March 2, 1885 (Stat. 2S, p.
943):
..The officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds shall authorize the use of a
portion of the ground within the circle
south of the Executive Mansion for chill
dren's playground under regulations to be
prescribed by him"
A playground was set aside between b
street north and the main drive north OF
the Washington monument This plat of
ground covers an area of about eight acres
a t- tod rly oil ir0n hyV an
and boys playing foot ball and base ball.
This is not in accordance with the law,
which specifics "chdrens Fairgrounds
but this office has been willing to stretch
point because the ground would not always
be occupied by children, and also in con-
sideration of the large numbers of clerks
and other men who have odd times only for
exercise and can afford neither time nor
money for distant grounds
In 1899 reservation No. 1876, in Southeast
Washington. was leveled off for a play
ground for children" in accordance with
the law. But adults have gradually en-
croached upon this also Owing, in this
latter case to the close proximity of houses
around the playground and complaints
which have already been received it will
probably be necessary to limit the use of
this latter playground to children only
not over, say, fifteen years of age.
United States Reservations Given to
Railroads.
BY act of Congress- approved February
H. 1901 public No 49) which provides a
method of entering the city by the
Baltimore and Potomac railroad, involving
the abolition of grade crossings, the fol-
lowing United States reservations are
given TO the said railroad company: Part
of reservation No. +, Henry Park II acres,
lS.I4n square feet; part of reservation No.
III, Garfield Park, l. acres, $50 square
feet; all of reservation No. 113, . acres,
1l,316 square feet: all of reservation No.
re fIf all of ion,
No. 115. 500 square feet; all Of reserva-
ton No. 116, 4,625 square feet: all of reser-
walton No. III, 1910 square feet; all of
reservation No. lis, 14414 square feet; all
of reservation No. 119, 4o5 square feet;
all of reservation No. 12O 4,032 square feet;
all of reservation No. III, 2,5SO square
feet; all of reservation No. 127, 25,972
square feet; all of reservation No 1877,
4,4o2 square feet; all of reservation No.
19S, 1923 square feet; all of reservation
No. 100, 4,132 square feet; all of reserva-
ton No. 200 1O,09s square feet; all of
reservation No 2S7 1929 square feet; all
of reservation No 2SS, II, ,462 square feet:
all of reservation No. $50, 1870 square
feet; 25 acres, 15S,624 square feet or 1884
acres.
BY act of Congress, approved February
II, 1901 (public No JO), which provides
new method of entering the city by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, involving the
abolition of grade crossings, the follow
ing United States reservations are given
to the said railroad company: All Of reser-
walton No. 10. 1905 square feet; all OF
reservation No. 224. 25,240 square feet: all
of reservation No. 225, 4.50S square feet;
all of reservation No. 226 23. 4s2 square
feet: all of reservation No 227, A. 62S square
feet: all of reservation No. 226, 1903 square
feet; 66156 square feet or 1.52 acres.
Occupied without Legal Authority.
The following reservations, claimed as
the property OF the United States are now
occupied, it is believed, without authority
of law:
Reservation No. 125-By the Central
Union Mission, as a place of worship.
Reservation No. 1S6-By the Bethany
Chapel of the New York Avenue Presby-
terian congregation.
Reservation No. 249 is occupied as a lum-
Der yard by man who claims to rent 1t
from man in Port Deposit, Md.
Reservations Nos. 1877, 1873, 141, 152, 164
and 1863 have been inclosed with iron
wire fences and partially improved by the
owners of adjacent property.
The following also are improved and util-
i've nv Nos