Evening star., 1903-07-27
yards OF back filling was also done by the
contractor for this wall.
Old Revetment Wall

contractor for this wall
Old Revetment Wall.
The height OF the stone wall existing on
the north and east sides Of the tidal basin
was three feet above mean high tide when
that part of the park was transferred to
this office. The approved project for the
Improvement of the park provided that the
wall should be at least six feet high above
mean high tide. Bids for raising the wall
three feet were invited and were opened on
September Is, 1902. All proposals received
were considered excessive and were re-
jected. 1t was thereupon decided to do the
work by hired labor, purchasing the ma
ter1als under proposals received under COM
petition, as being most advanta geous to the
government, the new part of the wall to be
constructed Of Portland cement concrete as
being the most economical and equally as
ing the height of the wall was commenced
Under the above conditions on November 1s
1892. and completed April ls. 1903. no work
being done in January and February. owing
to the unfavorabIe weather. The work ac-
complished was the building Of 2.749 linear
feet of concrete wall on the old stone ma
sonry wall 3 feet inches. 3 feet inches
and feet inches in height and . feet .
inches. feet inches and 2 feet IL inches
wide. according as the height and width of
the old wall varied. The total mass of the
yards and q cubic feet. Four-inch tile
drain pipe was set in the wall every five
feet and 2,552 linear feet of blind drain of
broken stone and brick was built along the
ground behind it. After the wall was COM
pieted the earth was graded up behind 1t to
the proper height.
Entrance to Potomac Park.
On the west side Of the entrance to the
park at 17th and streets northwest stands
an old two-story stone building which was
erected many years ago by the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal Company for use as a gate
house by the keeper of the canal lock which
was located at that point The house was In
very dilapidated condition when this office
assumed charge Of the park. and was occu-
pied by family of negro squatters Those
people were requested to vacate the premi-
ses and did so about the 1st of August 1902
Through the efforts of this Office the trus-
tees OF the canal company. by deed dated
August IA, 1902 Under authority granted
them by the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia. conveyed to the chief of engi-
reers for the use of the United States all
its right. title and interest In and to the
building. 1t is the intention to use this
house as watchman's lodge and tool
house. and accordingly in May, 1908, work
was commenced putting 1t in good repair.
The old roof was removed and replaced
with a new shingle roof. four new dormer
windows were put in. the old floors re-
moved. new floor joist laid on the second
floor. a new floor put in and new window
sashes fitted. On the first floor new floor
jOists were put in and new floor laid four
rev windows put in. the room wainscoted
and a partition eighteen feet long and eight
feet high erected.
Four photographs showing portions of Po-
tomac Park before and after Improvement
accompany this report
Completion Of Improvement.
To complete this portion of Potomac Park
from 14th to 18th street more work Is re-
quired than can be accomplished with the
money provided. The eastern portion be-
tween the new roadway and the propa gat-
ing gardens will have to be raised two to
three feet and much of the area embraced
covered with soil for the growth of grass,
and some will have to be sodded and the
rest seeded; some additional drainage will
have to be put in; about 2,000 feet of Gin
der path for sidewalk and 1000 feet Of Gin
der bride path will be required about 500
trees will also be needed to complete the
tree planting required.
1t is also very much desired that 10Th
street between the bureau of engraving and
printing and the propagating gardens from
street south to the new waterside drive
may be improved, as 1t is needed as the
eastern approach to this new drive. This
portion of 18th street is not a city street.
but park road, and therefore Its improve
ment must be provided for as a park i'm
provement This particular bit Of work on
18th street is needed that the greater water
side drive and improvement may be rem
dered pleasantly accessible and more use
full.
To do all the work required OF complet-
ing the Improvement of this portion Of Po-
tomac Park and making the approach by
18th street extended viii cost. 1t is esti-
mated $4,000, and 1t Is recommended
that this amount be appropriated.
Proposed Riverside Drive.
That portion of the Potomac Park up the
river from the tidal basin Is now In a con-
dition to be improved to a certain extent.
While its entire area has not been filed to
the desired extent 1t has been filled about
to the proper grade along the tidal basin
and the riverside. 1t Is therefore suggested
and recommended that along the tidal
basin and the river there be constructed a
macadam carriage road and a walk, and
that along the riverside from the inlet to
the tidal basin to the foot Of 28th street
there be constructed alongside the mac
adam carriage way a soft road where
horses can be properly exercised and speed
ed This carriage road, walk and speed
~ will furnish a greatly needed addition
to the public ways Of the city. The Poto-
mac river has never been accessible in a
pleasant way to the people of the city, and
this proposed drive Is intended to make 1t
so. 1t will be readily reached from the
foot Of 18th or 26th street, and will fur
nish a new, beautiful and unique feature
to the city drives. The soft roadway or
speedway will be a comparatively mex
pensive addition to the system which will
be greatly appreciated by all owners and
drivers OF fine horses. and the exercising,
driving and speeding of these horses will
be source OF pleasure. interest and bene-
At to many thousands who love to see such
sights Nearly every important city in the
country has built and maintains such a
driveway somewhere within its borders,
and whenever one has been built 1t has
contributed SO much to the pleasure and
nF0fit nAOnla In p1a<J
as an essential
The estimated cost Of this riverside drive
with the approach along the west side of
the tidal basin and at 10Th street west,
and the appropriation OF that amount ID
earnestly recommended.
An Afternoon Of Pleasure.
A delightful reception and lawn outing
Xaa rendered Saturday aftarnoon and axan.