Evening star., 1903-07-28
GENERAL PARKSYSTEM
The Recommendations Made
by Colonel Symons.
FEATURE OF REPORT
ESTIMATED NEEDS FOR COMING
FISCAL YEAR
Total of $315,45O for the Care and
Improvements of Grounds
Other Items.

An interesting feature of the first annual
| report of Col. Symons, the engineer officer
| in charge of public build ngs and grounds.
is the new work recommended 10y him tor
the development and Improvement of the
general park system. The general estI-
mates for the next fiscal year aggregate
$500 800, of which amount $A2 .u2U is for
salaries, 500 for contingent expenses, $"1o,-
40 for care and Improvement of public
grounds, $4,000 for care, fuel, &c, of Ex-
ecutive Mansion, 80 Ooo for lighting pub
lie grounds, and $500 for repairs TO water
pipes. There is an additional estimate of
SLIGO for operating the electric elevator,
electric lights, &c, at the Washing ton mon
ument.
In support OF estimate of $1,000 for
| a stone coping for Franklin Park. Col. Sy-
mons says:
public parks should be as open as possible,
all the former high iron fences have been
removed, except where absolutely needed.
This has left the edges of the parks with
an unfinished appearance. which, in many
cases is very unsishtly.
1T has been found by experience that
simple stone curbing gives pleasing fin
ish, and is sufficient to preserve neat
border line between park and sidewalk.
Lafayette square is an illustration.
"Frankiin Park, one of the Irettiest and
most frequented in Washington, suffers for
lack of this. simple but tasteful stone
curb can be laid around it for 5000, and
the appropriation of that amount is
spectfully urged.
Garfield Park.
'"rhe sum of 81, 900 is asked to begin the
work of relaying out the grounds of Car
field Park The change in the grades of
streets in the vicinity, due to the railroad
construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, and the change in the shape and
dimensions of Garfield Park, due to the
same cause. Col Symons says, will re-
qure an entirely new laying out Of the
park. He says by using the park
spoil bank all the filling may be accom-
plshed without cost, and by taking advan-
tage of circumstances, great economy will
result. 1t is therefore recommended that
appropriation of 81 OOJ be made for be-
ginning work required in Garfield Park in
cident to the operations of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad.
Mount Vernon Square.
An appropriation of s13,Do Is requested
for completing the Improvement of the
grounds of Mount Vernon Square, around
the New Public Library building. The
estimate submitted by this office in Octo-
| Der, 1901" says Col Symons, 'for the
work amounted to S25,pD, while the appro-
priation made by Congress for the fiscal
year 1903 was but $1,000, which suft-
cient to provide only portion of the work.
A careful estimate of the cost of the work
which should be done to complete the i'm
provement gives the sum of $4,000, which,
if appropriated, will make the total cost
of the improvement s2,"S less than the
original estimate. 1t is earnestly recon-
mended that the sum requested be
granted.
The sum of $4,000 IS asked for construct
ing central heating plant for the propa-
eating gardens. THE necessity for this,
Sd Us Col Symons must be apparent when
il is considered that there at the gar
dens thirty greenhouses, which are heated
by twenty separate and distinct heating
plants, consisting each Of furnaces and
boilers and each requiring to be attended
to- fed and cared for separately. The
care of these separate plants requires much
more labor than a single central plant
doing the same work would and the con-
sumption of fuel is very considerably
greater. In all private nurseries and col
lections Of greenhouses similar to these
p!opagating gardens central heating
plant is used because of It's greater econ
omy and efficiency. For the reasons given
| the appropriation of the sum requested Is
earnestly recommended.
1T IS also necessary that these gardens
should be severed and drained. and an es-
tinatc of $3.50 for the purpose is sub
mitted and recommended.
White House Conservatory.
Il have asked for S9,uU for the care and
maintenance of the conservatory and
greenhouses Of the Executive Mansion,
which Is the amount asked for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1894, but for which
Congress granted but 5000 The last
named amount is not sufficient to provide
the force of gardeners fremen and labor
ers necessary for the proper care of the
W hite House greenhouses, which have been
| re-erected at the propagating gardens and
for the purchase Of supplies tools, plants
and seeds and it is recommended that the
increase of 5000 be granted
The few greenhouses of those formerly
connected with the White House which IT
WAS possible to re-erect at the propagating
gardens are not Of sufficient capacity to do
the work required Of them. but in their re-
erection the best done with the funds
| available. They should be increased by the
erection of at least two additional houses,
and an estimate of $1,000 for the purpose is
submitted and recommended.
"'One Of these houses IS required to give
| winter shelter to the expensive bay trees,
which during the summer adOrn the ter
races and porticoes of the White House.
New Stable Required.
| AN estimate of 10000 is submitted and
| recommended for building stable for the
| use Of the President. the executive office
| and tho office of public buildings and
| grounds The stables at present in use
| inadequate and in wise corresponding to
| or commensurate with the splendid resi-
| dence of the President or his stable needs,
| or the variety and Importance of the bust
| ness of the executive office and the office OF
! public buildings and grounds, which are
| all accommodated together. The present
| stable is low brick structure built many
/ years ago and near the ground as to be
| damp and unhealthy for horses. In conneC-
| ton with it is an old wooden stable which
| is needed @ increase the capacity to The
! CURED amount. They are situated on the
| Presidents $ Park directly south of the State
| Department. on plot OF ground which viii
| undoubtedly in the near future be selected
| as the site Of monument 10 one OF the
| nations great men. A proper and adequate
| stable should be built on a new site turf h-r
| to the south on 18th street, to bc selected
| by tie President.