Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-05

Inc large grounds on Il street DctWcth
2sd and 18th streets. where the Naval OBJ
servatory was formerly located. are now
occupied by a group of attractive build
ings used by the Naval Medical School
Hospital Half a dozen new buildings
are now in course of erection and such
progress has been made in their construc-
ton that 1t is possible to get very good
idea of the scheme of improvement which
has been carried out.
The former appearance of the place
where the long and rather graceful out
lines of the old observatory building
crowned the summit of the hill. with the
grounds sloping down to the street. is
changed, although the old building still
stands and forms the central feature of
the group. The wall of red brick which
formerly extended about the grounds re-
mains, but the portion in front has been
covered with white stucco and Is softened
in color The main approach at the end
of oath street is marked by double
staircase of stone, that forms a break in
the wall and gives access to the top of
the terrace.
Statue of Benjamin Rush.
Standing at the head Of the fight of
steps is the statue of DIR. benjamin Rush,
signer of the Declaration of Independence
and first alienist in this country. and then
a broad walk leads to the entrance of
the old observatory building. which is
still surmounted by dome. 1t is now
used for the Naval Medical School.
Flanking this building are four dwell
ings, two on each side, which will be the
homes of the officers. while to the ex-
treme west stands a signify building, with
a recessed pillared porch, where the
Marine Public Hospital is located The
hospital building is pavilion style. the
several portions linked together by in
closed approaches, stands back Of the
school building and on the brow of the
hill. commanding a view to the south. At
the foot of the hill is the heating plant
while on both sides Of the hospital and
back of the school building several
structures in course of building Alto
gether there are six buildings which are
being put up at this time by the Thomp-
son-Starrett Company. The institution
is in charge of Medical Director G. E. ii.
Harmon, T.. ;. n.
The most interesting thing about this
development from the point of view Of
those interested in the material progress
of the city is the marked change which
has taken place in the surroundings.
This is not noticeable to the north,
east and west. for in those directions.
for the most part, but little has been
done The adjoining squares still pre-
sent banks of dirt with frowsy sides
and untidy tops. towering above the
level of the street
But to the south all is quite new, for
extending from the foot of the hill to
the broad surface of the river is Potomac
Park, with its lawns and shrubbery and
drives. The old brick wall has been
removed and the grounds have become
a part of the park, with the former
line of street indicated by a smooth
macadamized park driveway. The pros
pect is beautiful. and. in addition. such
surroundings are healthful. which is say
ing great deal more than possl-
when the entire area was an overgroWn
swamp. noisome and unsightly.
Extensive Work of Grading.
The work of bringing to grade the
ground on the south side of Massachu-
sets avenue between Rock creek bridge
and the grounds of the Naval Observa-
tory is going on, and the high
places are being cut down and the low
places being i.iled up just as rapidly
as large steam shovel can dig the
earth out and load il on wagons The
plot of ground Is not large one. as
such things go, but II is raised some
distance above the level of the surround
ing streets. and. therefore. there is a
good deal of grading to be done.
steam shovel is also at work on the
Richmond Park property on the east side
OF Wisconsin avenue, just north of
Cleveland Park, bringing the ground to
the grade OF the streets. and similar
OpCldtlOHS diSo SOlHS on III the new
subdivision OF Chevy Chase Heights on
the west side of Connecticut avenue
north OF Grant road. Another tract Of
land on the opposite side of Connecti-
cut avenue is to be laid off In streets by
Allan f. Walker. so that altogether there
will be quite an addition made to the
available building sites in and about the
city.
Transfer of Driving Park.
The deed of the transfer of the prop
erty of the Brightwood race track, on
I4th street extended, was recorded dur
ing the week The owners also have ad-
ditional land in the vicinity, so that there
is a tract of some twenty-five acres
which is to be divided into building lots
and made into a high-class subdivision.
Similar operations are noted in other
sections Of the outlying portions OF the
CITY, and IL is stated that those who
build are planning to do good deal
during the coming season. The pros