Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-26
PUBLIC PARK BUDGET
Col. Cosby Asks $399,570 for
improvements.
new AND BETTER ROADS
Desires to Open Part of Potomac
Park to the Public.
OIL WANTED FOR LAYING DUST
Appropriation Of $1,000 Recon-
mended for Children's Play
grounds.
OIL WANTED FOR LAYING DUST
Items In the Estimates.

For children's Fairgrounds 5000
Increased pay for park policemen.
Estimates aggregating S399, $50 are SUBJ
mitted by Col. Cosby. the engineer officer
in charge, for the preservation and i'm
provement Of the public parks and reser-
vations in the District for the next fiscal
year. He says 1t is desired to open to
the public a portion Of Potomac Park
east of the railroad embankment. and
$50, 600 is requested to commence the con-
of rOadways therein.
An increase Of $1,000 is asked for the
portion of Potomac Park extending from
the inlet to the foot Of 26th street. in or
der that that very popular drive may be
maintained in better condition than is
how possible. There are more than fifty
acres Of lawn surface and over a mile Of
macadam road and cinder bride paths in
this stretch, and Col. Cosby says the
5000 now granted is barely enough to
keep the grass cut and the road sprinkled.
The amount $4,000 appropriated for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1910. for
continuing the southern half Of North B
street from Virginia avenue eastward to
18th street west as park roadway Will
carry the road only to 18th street Col.
Cosby asks for $4,000 in order that the
roadway may be constructed to 14th
street. so that there shall be a macadam
driveway along the entire north side OF
the Monument grounds.
The sum of $4,000 was appropriated
for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1910,
for commencing the improvement OF the
interior portion of Potomac Park south OF
3 street north. That area has recently
been raised to grade with materials
dredged from the tidal reservoir and
river bed, and is now in condition to be
improved by laying out roads and walks.
planting and draining. 1t is estimated
that during 1911 the sum Of $4,000 can
be profitably expended, and that amount
has been requested. Col. Cosby says 1t Is
desired to construct additional roads.
widen the existing ones, erect band stands,
and improve generally the part Of Poto-
mac Park between the tidal reservoir and
Potomac drive. An estimate of $4,000 Is
submitted for the purpose
Lodges for Park Watchmen.
An estimate is submitted for 5000 for
the erection of two park lodges in West
Potomac Park: one In the east section
and one in the west section. They are to
be used as watchmen's lodges. tool houses
and convenience stations There are no
facilities in either of those sections for
the storage of tools. and much time is
lost by the workmen in going to and from
the stOrehouse at 18th and C streets south
west. where the tools have been kept
over night. They will also furnish shelter
for the park Watchmen in inclement
weather.
An estimate is submitted of $4,000 for
cement pavement OH the sidewalks on
the south and west sides of the Treasury
an old stone flag pavement there, which
is in bad condition. Col. Cosby says it
should be replaced with new pave
ment.
An item of $4,000 is submitted for
grading and improving the portions of
Henry Park and Seaton Park bordering
9Th street northeast. The area which
was occupied for many years by the sta
ton building and the trainshed. tracks
and concrete platforms of the PennSyl-
yania railroad, Col. Cosby says. is most
unsightly and should be improved in or
der to make it conform to other portions
Of the park. The earthen embankment
west of the site formerly occupied by the
railroad station, and the embankments Of
the park road which led up to the bridge
that formerly crossed 9Th street over the
railroad tracks contain about $4,000 cubic
yards of material. This needs to be
Ieyeled. and the area to be graded, soiled
and planted and walks constructed
through 1t.
Oil for Macadam Roads.
An appropriation of 5000 for oiling
macadam roads is recommended. Col.
Cosby says that the automobile traffic has
become so heavy and it's effect SO wearing
that it will be impossible to maintain the
roadways in good condition unless some
means are provided for effectually lay
ing the dust and preventing the road from
raveling.
The road surrounding the Washington
Monument is Of gravel The hill on which
the monument stands is very much eX-
posed, and during dry and windy weather
the air around the monument Is filled
with flying sand and gravel. which Is
painful and annoying. Col. Cosby says
that this annoyance can be remedied by
paving the roadway with asphalt. ana an
appropriation OF $500 for the purpose Is
recommended.
The sum of $3.50 is requested for i'm
proving the gravel roads in the inclosed
grounds south of the executive mansion.
There are several objectionable sharp
curves in them which Col Cosby says
should be eliminated. He adds that the
roads should also be resurfaced with
broken stone.
An estimate Of $1,000 is submitted for
the repair of the United States wharf at
Wakefield. Va, the birthplace of Wash
ington. The wharf is an iron-oile wharf,
with timber deck, and was badly dam
aged by severe storm and Ice jam in
February, 1897. and again in the winter
OF lHO. In us present cOHOltlOn COl.
Cosby says. it is useless for the purpose
for which 1t was built. viz. as landing
for steamers carrying visitors to the mon
ument at the birthplace.
The amount authorized by Congress for
the construction of the memorial to Gen.
Ulysses s. Grant was $.dO,OCo, of which
$157,N0O has been appropriated. 1t is eX-
pected that the memorial will be COM
pleted within the next two years. and the
balance of SS3,G0O Is there fore requested.
Maintenance of Improved Parks.
The improved parks and park spaces
were maintained In good condition dur
ing the year. The work consisted in
moving and rakins lawns. edginS their
lContinusd on Ninth Fa1s.1