The Washington herald., 1907-07-12

Col. Charles S. Bromwell. superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds.
has submitted 10 the Chief Of Engineers
his annual report Of expenditures and
service performed in connection with his
Office.
The report deals with the care of the
Executive Mansion for the last fiscal year,
that of the Washington Monument. of the
public parks and reservations, coming
under the supervision of Col Cromwell,
Of the Smithsonian Grounds, children's
Fairgrounds and other items.
Col. Bromwell points out that consider
able repairs and changes, including paint
ing, cleaning exterior walls. replacing of
floors, roofs on the terraces. and other
work was done upon the Executive Man
sion. Much Of the interior furnishings
of the house was either repaired OF made
new, including new window hangings for
the Red and Blue rooms. Additional fire
protection was provided by placing a
system Of perforated pipes between the
floor of the attic and the ceiling Of the
second floor of the house. A new gin roof
was placed upon the mansion. and many
other improvements made about the build
ing and grounds.
Two equalizing steel arms were placed
In the Washington Monument. 10 relieve
the unequal expansion and contraction of
the cables 10 the elevator, caused by wear
and the changes OF temperature. Por-
tons OF the iron stairway were painted,
and general repairs made.
Care of Reservations.
Much OF Col Bromwelrs report relates
to the care of the outdoor govern
ment reservations. There are in
all, 3l2 Of these reservations scattered
through the city. including the Mail, Gar
field and Lincoln parks, the circles IN the
northwestern section, and the trianges
In all parts of the city OF the whole
number los are highly improved, lis are
partially improved and 50 awaiting i'm
provement- During the last fiscal year
six were eliminated from the last named
class and raised to the second.
Col. Cromwell reports upon the cree
ton OF the George 3. Mcclellan statue.
and gives a resume Of the unwilling cere-
monies. He enumerates the other statues
Of the city, commenting upon their con-
dition and suggesting in some cases what
should be done for their care and preser-
walton. He calls attention TO the statues
OF John Paul Jones, Commodore Barry,
Longfellow, and Christopher Columbus,
/ for which Congress has made appropria-
tons, but which have not been erected
Considerable space is given 70 the cleo
trio lighting under Col. Bromwelps super
vision, and a detailed account is given Of
the improvement going on in retaining
/ Potomac Park from a jungle to a highly
/ improved park with walks. lawns. and
/ beautiful driveways.
/ Accompanying Col. BrOmwells report Is
/ his estimate for expenses for the fiscal
year beginning July /. 1908. For salaries
/ he asks $3.50; for contingent expenses
/ 1851 $50: for additional expenses, mostly in
/ the way OF improvements. 1851, 20, and
several smaller items. amounting 10 about
$4,000, for miscellaneous Improvements.
Plea for Park Policemen.
Among the suggestions offered for tho
/ betterment Of the service. none probably
will awaken more sympathetic public In
terest than his plea for better pay f0i
the park policemen. Col Cromwell sayi
the Washington park policeman is prob
ably the poorest paid man in the United
States who has police duty TO perform
He says he has practically the same du
ties TO perform as the regular policeman
must exercise the same intelligence. anC
shoulder as equal responsibility.
Col Bromwell says he has a uniform
to buy and to keep in good condition, and
the pay is SEQ a month. In comparison
with this Col Bromwell says the stree
railway crossing policeman is paid S75 {
month, and the officers who have served
three years in the Metropolitan forc'
draw $50 month For these reasons, Col
BrOmwell strongly urges upon the atten
ton OF Congress the need Of increasing
the pay Of these men TO an annual com
pensatiOn OF $500, 500. and $1,000 each. &C
cording 10 three classes. based up0I
length Of service and responsibility o