Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
in the Smithsonian grounds from 18th to
18th street.
No Need Of Duplicate Roadway System


The new public entrance at the east end
of the White House and the Office entrance
at the west. combined with the north en-
trance Col. Cromwell says. render unneces-
sary the double roadways which reach the
mansion from the south. This duplicate
system of roadways" he says lis an in
heritance from old conditions which no
longer exist. Good taste and judgment re-
Quire that the unnecessary roadways should
be done away with. as they are not beau
tiful and are expensive to MAINTAIN, ana
grass. trees and shrubs substituted for
them"
An appropria ton of $4,000 is requested
for completing the improvement of the
grounds of Mt. Vernon Square around the
new Public Library building.
An appropriation of a3.UOo is requested
for utilizing as nursery and for other
wise improving the part of Potomac Park
between the cauSeway of the Pennsylvania
railroad bridge the tidal reservoir and the
Potomac river The present nursery at
the propa eating gardens, the officer says.
has not sufficient area for properly grow.
ing. caring for and preparing trees and
shrubs for in the public grounds. lie
says that building should be erected for
storing tools and appliances and for the
use of Waterman. and roads and walks
laid out for the use of the nursery and the
public. Any of the area mentioned not
needed for nursery purposes and roads and
walks, he says, may be put into grass and
reserved for games, &c.
An estimate of $6S 900 Is submitted for the
construction of a macadam roadway on the
north and west sides Of the tidal reservoir
in Potomac Park. Col Cromwell says that
that part of the park has never been acces-
sible in a pleasant way for the people of
Washington, and this roadway Is intended
to make 1t SO.
An item Is submitted for the preparation
of preliminary plans, with estimates OF cost,
for the erection of building for supplying
heat, steam and electric power to the prop
agating gardens. the Washington monu-
ment, the White House and the buildings In
It's vicinity. The officer says the necessity
for central heating plant for the propa-
eating gardens to take the place of the
twenty separate furnaces and boilers now
there is apparent. but 1t is thought It Will
be more desirable to erect building to also
supply the wants of the Washington monu-
ment, the White House and the buildings
in the vicinity of the latter.
Departmental Telegraph Line.
An estimate in the sum of $500 is sub
mitted for removing the cables of the de-
partmental telegraph line from the roof of
the Treasury Department and placing them
under ground The Secretary of the Treas
ury has requested that all wires on the roof
of that building be removed. and Col. Brom-
we'll says If the departmental telegraph
lines are to be maintained in use for the
service Of the Treasury Department and all
those departments located east Of 10Th
street, including the United States Capitol
and the government printing office, 1t Will
be necessary to place the cables now on
the treasury building under ground ana
connect them with the poles OF the hne
nearest that building, namely, at 10Th and
G streets northwest and 18th and d streets
northwest.
The sum Of 500 is requested and recon-
mended for the repair of the building NO.
SIC 10th street northwest where Abraham
Lincoln died. The report says that the ex-
terror of the building presents very SNAP
by appearance and needs repainting Some
interior painting and other misceiianeous
repairs are also needed and for the preser-
walton of the building and to maintain II IN
good order they should be made
An estimate of 81 600 for the repair OF the
United States wharf at Wakenelo, va . sne
birthplace of Washington. and one of 1900
for repairing the fences and cleaning up tne
grounds are submitted and recommended.
The wharf is an iron pile wharf win
timber deck and was badly damaged by
severe storm and ice jam in February, 1897
An estimate for it's repair was then sum-
mitted, but funds have not yet been pro-
yided In its present condition 1t Is useless
for the purpose for which 1t was built. VIZ,
as landing for steamers carrying Vlsltors
to the monument at the birthplace.
The grounds are very much overgrown
with underbrush, which should be cut and
the grounds cleared up. The wire renee on
either side of the road leading from the
wharf to the monument is also in need OF
repairs.
BY direction of the War Department an
estimate is submitted for rebuilding the
sea wall along that part of the Potomac
river front under the charge of this office,
viz. between the arsenal wall and the
southern curb line of N street south Re
garding this estimate Col. Bromwell says;
1.-THE entire length Of the front is $50 feet,
and it is estimated that to rebuild the wall
of roughly squared stone laid In Portland
cement mortar will cost approximately
$50 per linear foot Of wall twelve feet high,
or say $4,000. The naval reserve of the
District of Columbia and the lighthouse
board each occupy a part of this front. and
in case 1t should be desired to rebuild the
wall only in front Of the reservations occu-
pied bye those government departments
separate estimate is made for each reser-
walton, except that the estimate for the
length of wall along the lighthouse reser
walton (93 feeD includes also the front from
the south side of that reservation to the
arsenal wall GIGS feet, total length of
1853 feet