Evening star., 1914-08-20
Annual Report of Col. Harris
Gives Interesting Details
Also of Park Changes.
OLD WOODEN LODGES
ARE BEING REPLACED
"Three-Hole" Practice Golf Course
Laid Out in West Potomac
Reservation.

Many interesting details Of the opera
tons involved In the care and improve
ment of the public buildings and parks
Of the District are contained in the latest
annual report of Col. William W. Harts,
the engineer officer in charge. submitted
today to Gen. Kingman. chief Of engi-
neers of the army.
Miscellaneous alterations and Improve
ments were made in and about the Ex-
ecutive Mansion. A new hot-water heat
ing boiler was Installed and additional
heating arrangements provided for two
Of the bedrooms. With a special appro-
priation provided for the purpose fvs
additional rooms were constructed in the
attic and new furniture provided for
hem.
In the building for offices Of the Presi-
dent miscellaneous repairs were made
and a shower bath was installed in the
basement. An independent water supply
FOR fire protection was installed by lay
ing six-inch water pipes to connect the
two fire hydrants south of the mansion
with the city water supply.
According to Col. Harts, the area COW
cred by the park spaces of the District
of Columbia under the charge Of his Of
ice is about Ito acres. There are in all
04 reservations, varying in size from
80 square feet to $40 acres.
Parks Added to System.
OF these reservations. 100, containing
t47 acres. are fully improved; 14 con-
tanning 1913 acres. are partly improved,
and no. containing $50 acres. are unim-
proved. During the past year three park
spaces were added to the system by
transfer from the Commissioners Of the
District to the chief Of engineers The
area OF the park system was further in
creased by the transfer Of that portion
of Potomac Park east Of the Pennsylva-
mia railroad embankment containing 32S
acres.
The care required to maintain them in
good condition was extended to all the
improved parks and small reservations.
One Of the park spaces transferred by the
Commissioners of the District was the
ground in the interior Of square 534.
known as Willow Tree alley. which was
acquired by the Commissioners by author
large amount Of work for the improve
nent of that park was done with funds
supplied by the Commissioners.
Considerable work was accomplished
on the improvement Of the interior por-
ton Of West Potomac Park. Additional
a bituminous macadam road around the
river and harbor on both sides Of the
portion Of Potomac Park east of the rail.
road embankment. During the two years
ended June 90 1914. during which that
road has been under construction. $3.50
linear feet of. road thirty feet wide has
been completed. leaving 9240 linear feet
vet to be built Work was also COM
nenced for improving the interior portion
of east Potomac Park.
New cement pavements were laid on
the sidewalks Of East and West Execu-
tive avenues and south OF the Treasury
Department building. Additional Inn
provements were made In Montrose
Park. Extensive improvements were
made in United States Reservation No.
70, at Pennsylvania avenue, 18th and e
streets northwest in which the statue Of
Count Pulaski is located.
In number OF the smaller reserva-
tions improvements were made in the
way of grading. planting. construction
Of cement coping. etc. More than 5000
trees shrubs and herbaceous plants were
planted. Improvements were made In
the roadways south and west Of the
Sherman statue plaza south Of the
Treasury Department building. New
park lodges were constructed in Lafa-
yette. Franklin. Judiciary and Lincoln
Parks