Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-01
CARING FOR PARKS
ADDING TO BEAUTY
Work Done the Past Year in
the National Capital
Reservations.
new BREATHING SPACES;
BARREN AREA RECLAIMED
Improvements Noted in Report of
Col. Spencer Cosby, Engineer
Officer in Charge.

ed during the year In the work upon the
public parks and reservations and in
making Washington still more the city
beautiful Of the nation. A number of new
breathing places for the people have
been added to those already provided
and many barren wastes have been
converted into garden spots of great
beauty, as shown by the last annual re-
port OF Col. Spencer Cosby, U. S. A..
the engineer officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds, which has just
been submitted to Gen. Rossell. chief of
engineers.
There are in all ISL such reserva-
tons, varying in size from ESQ square
feet to 293 acres, classified as follows
Fully improved, 122. containing All
acres; partially improved, 121. con-
tanning Ill acres; uninproved, 10S
containing $50 acres. a total acreage OF
73S. During the year four new park
spaces were added to the system, by
transfers of reservation to the chief OF
engineers by the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia These transfers
consisted of 9,918 square feet at Fessen-
den street and 42d street and Wiscon-
sin avenue; 24,969 square feet at Massa-
chusetts avenue and 35th and Fulton
streets; 1858 square feet at Massachu-
Setts avenue and Fulton street between
feet at Massachusetts, avenue and 36th
and Garfield streets.
Progress In improvements.
General improvements were made in
all the parks where funds were availa-
BILE. Considerable work was done for
the improvement of the interior por-
ton of West Potomac Park and the new
lrAo
is reported in the construction Of the
new roadway around the river sides OF
the portion Of Potomac Park east OF
the Pennsylvania railroad embankment.
1t II expected to complete that road
next spring. The portion Of SeatOn
Park bordering 9th street was graded
and improved. and. the main roadway
through the park was macadamized.
All the old buildings in the newly ac-
quired Meridian Hill Park, between w
and Euclid streets. were taken down.
the materials removed and the ground
cleaned.
Extensive improvements were made
In Montrose Park. Georgetown, in ac-
cordance with the accepted landscape
design for it's development. which in
The plans call for several years work
in the Improvement of that park, which,
Col. Cosby says, is to be kept in the
character OF large country place.
Mount Vernon Park also was improved
in accordance with a new landscape de-
sign, which adds several walks to the
old system, which never was consid-
cred adequate in serving the lines or
traffic. The small reservation at Rhode
Island avenue and M street was devel-
oped into a rock garden.
The playground in Garfield Park was
moved from the northeast to the south
west corner Of the park, which was
previously unused, due to the proximity
- - OBJ fNVr nj
the park vacated by the playground was
improved with a new landscape design
of walks and planting. Logan Park In
Anacostia-~ was highly improved in &C
which incorporated a brick exedra In de-
sign, with a broad wall thanked with
hedges and seats In a number of the
small reservations various improvements
were made in the way of grading.
Lights were introduced into Mount Yer
non Park, Garfield Park and Logan
Park. and the installation Of new and
improved system for lighting all the
parks was completed.
Renewal Of Lawn Borders.
Special efforts were made during the
year to renew the bare places and worn
borders Of lawns. with good results. In
place OF the 'keep-off-the-grass' sign
formerly used, the following sign has
been placed where worn paths appear
in the lawn areas: The public are re-
quested to cooperate in keeping the
turf free from paths. Please do not walk
where the grass is WORN"
Substantial and gratifying progress is
reported in constructing cement copings
around reservations. Permission was
granted to the training teacher of the
normal school to use a, small area in the
extreme northwest corner Of Potomac
Park west Of Potomac drive for gardens
for school children.
According to the report, the parks and
reservations we're satisfactorily policed
during the year and disorder was kept
at minimum.
opened to the public. October 9, 1888
visitors to the number of 3,923, 1OS have
assembled to the top .of the shaft. The
number of such visitors during the past
year was 1Ss,6s9, Of whom 3,2JS made
the ascent by the stairway. the others
At the government propagatins
gardens. 66S.6J0 plants were propagated
during the year. OF that number 629, 1O(
were used for the parks and reserva'
tions. $500 for the Capitol and about IL,
$50 for other departments Of the govern
ment. The surplus plants were distribut
ed to hospitals. public institutions, etc.
Repairs at Executive Mansion.
Miscellaneous repairs were made In and
about the Executive Mansion and 1t was
cared for in thorough manner through
| out the year. The floor of the passage
| way under the west end Of the west ter
race leading to the executive office was
| changed from an inclined to a leve
grade, and q flight Of Ave concrete steps
| was built in the colonnade connecting the
passageway with the floor of the colon.
| made. Additional steam radiators were
placed in some Of the apartments on the
| second floor.
| Considerable painting was done in the
interior of the mansion and the exterior
washed down The furniture was regu
i larry cared for and necessary repair,
were made to 1t. In the building of tn.