Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-16
.EST|MATEFORPA PARKS
$348,670 Asked for Mainte-
nance and improvements.
REPAIRS TO WHITE HOUSE
$53, 900 Also to Cover Refurnishing
of Building.
FREE UNIFORMS FOR POLICE
More Pay for Assistant Engineer.
Potomac Park Needs-Play-
grounds Are Discussed.
What Money Is Wanted For.

bridge ................ 10000
According to Col. Cosby. it will take
$34S,610 to maintain and make necessary
improvements to the public parks in the
District during the fiscal year beginning
July / next.
OF that amount $500 is for salaries OF
employees. $500 for contingent expenses.
5000 for care and specific improve
ments, s14.4O0 for repairs and mainte-
nance, $53,00O for repairs and refurnish-
ing executive mansion, s1S0a0 for light
ing executive mansion $4,000 for lighting
public grounds and $500 for the Capitol
telegraph line.
Other estimates are submitted as fol-
lows: For care and maintenance OF
Washington Monument. sl1,S20; for re-
pairs to building where Abraham Lin
coin died. 500; for improvements at
Wakefield, Va. 500; for expenses OF
commission Of fine acts. $4,000. and fur
operation of Highway bridge, $4,000.
Increase in Estimates.
Some estimates are larger than the
amounts heretofore appropriated 1t
is recommended that the pay of the
assistant engineer be increased from
s2,40O to $4,000 per annum. and that an
additional clerk at $1,000 be provided.
An estimate of $340 is made for the
purchase of ten bicycles and one speed
ometer. 1t is considered absolutely
necessary that park watchmen who
have long beats to cover should have
bicycles. A watchman on a bicycle Is
considered twice as efficient as one on
foot.
The speedometer is required for the
lt<. I..t. par
He will be on duty at night when
automobile drivers are inclined TO
speed their machines The testimony
OF policeman with a speedometer ia
required by the courts in cases of ar.
rest for exceeding the speed limits.
Free Uniforms and Arms.
1t is suggested that provision be made
for furnishing the park watchmen with
revolvers and ammunition. An estimate
of $500 is submitted for purchasing and
supplying uniforms to park, monument
and bridge watchmen.
Furnishing the men with uniforms.'
says the report, will prove of benefit in
a number of ways. 1t will CT course mean
much to the men themselves who are
probably the most poorly paid men in
the United States dong police duty in a
large city, as they received only $50 a
uniforms.
when the force of park watchmen was
first organized the men received the same
rate of pay as at present, and were not
required to wear uniforms: their duties
were not as arduous or important, as they
had no police powers. but simply took
care Of the parks, watering the plants.
etc.
Later they were given police authority
1t was found necessary to have them
uniformed, but no additional compensa-
tion was given them for the extra ex-
pense involved To furnish them uni
forms means practically no increase in
pay. but simply puts them back in their
old pay status.
This sum of 81 500 is asked for instead
of the increased rate of pay that has been
recommended for several years past, and
which would have meant nearly $1,000
yearly TO the government.
The sum of $500 is asked with which TO
purchase steel fireprOof cases for old
records These consist of the land
records. letters, account books and other
records of the comm iSsioners who wers
appointed by President Washington To
lay out and create the federal city.
These records are exceedingly valuable.
as the titles to all land in the city OF
Washington start with them. They ara
now kept in ordinary wooden cases in a
building which Is only partially fireproot.
amined by lawyers. title insurance com-
panies and others. Their destruction
would cause endless embarrassment and
be .irreparable.
Means for their proper protection, 1t Is
stated, should be provided without further
delay. An appropriation for the purpose
is urgently recommended.
An increase from $4,000 to $4,000 IN
the item for improving various reserva-
tions is asked because of the constantly
increasing number of reservations to be
and improved. Since 1904 the
total number Of reservations has In
creased from 3O2 to 324. and tine number
of improved reservations has increased
from PIT to 800
Some new ones recently transferred to
the chief of engineers by the District
Commissioners are in the suburb Of Pet
worth, and II Is stated that they will cost
more TO improve and maintain tnan IL
they were nearer the central portion OF
the city Additional improvements to
some of the more prominently located
are also urgently needed.
Potomac Park Needs.
The estimats for 1911 for grading. soil.
ing, constructing roads. etc.. in West
only o5OoO was appropriated. Col. Cosby
saws that this sum will allow only Q
small amount OF work to be done on the
$50 acres Of this portion OF the park
which are still unimproved. The 100000
now asked for, he says. Is urgently need.
Cd to improve and make available Cor
the use Of the public one Of the most
popular and beautiful parks Of Washing.
ton.
An estimate is submitted for 5000 for
The erection OF 2 park lodge In West
Potomac Park. It 10 to be used a. q
lodge. Toulouse and oon-
station. The lodge will also
urnish shelter for the public In inclemen$
weather.
II 10 desired to open to the public q
,ortion of Potomac Park east Of the
ailroad embankment. and $4,000 10 re-
uested to commence It's Improvement.
An estimate Is submitted OF $4,000 fo1