Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-05
439PARKSPACES
COVER. 1,227 ACRES
Col. Ridley Tells Of Improve
ments to Public Grounds
In Annual Report.

With the recent addition Of three
small park spaces and the enlarge
ment of three Of the existing parks
the system of public parks and reser-
vations in the District under the di-
rection of Col. Clarence 8. Ridley
Corps of Engineers, United States
Army, now comprises 43s parks and
park spaces. with an aggregate area
of a little over 1927 acres There are
thirty-hve statues in the public
grounds, not including the memorial
of Gen, U. 8. Grant nearing compile
ton in the Botanic Garden.
Detailed statements of park i'm
provements during the fiscal year
ended June 80 last are given in the
annual report of Col. Ridley just
made public by the War Department.
1t appears from the report that $121,-
778 were expended during the year
for the maintenance of the Executive
Mansion, including heating and light
acres of ground around the mansion.
Improve Meridian Hill.
During the year $1O4.S56 were ex-
pended in the Improvement of Merid-
ian Hill Park. That resulted, in the
construction of the upper and lower
retaining walls, the completion of the
upper entrance on 10Th street, plant
ing the space between the two walls
and rough grading for the lower or
main entrance on 18th street. Con-
the upper levels. Col. Ridley says that
the 18th street side of the park. where
the retaining walls have been con-
structed. presents an attractive ar
chitectural appearance and the fur
ther washing down of the high clay
banks on that side has been prevented.
Progress was made in the acquis1-
tion of land for the proposed Rock
Creek parkway connecting Potomac
Park with the Geological and Rock
Creek parks. During the year
twenty-four pieces of land were pur-
chased at a cost of sloos42; These g.
added to eleven pieces purchased in
1917 make a total of thirty-five
pieces acquired at a total cost of
$12S5ss.
Regarding the development of the
Peoples Playground in East Potomac
Pork. Col; Ridley says that good
progress has been made in the con-
struction of the wings of the Field
house near the lower end of the
peninsula, the cost of which is esti-
mated at 100000. and that the con-
struction of nine golf greens was
completed with the exception OF the
seeding. About sixty-seven acres of
land were cleared of willow trees and
spontaneous growth. and about
thirty acres plowed and narrowed for
the golf links. In June the work was
discontinued by an order from the
fxnv fnr ty1cr q
entire area to the Boy Scouts organi-
cation for use as war garden,
Cost of Labor Retards.
Owing to the large Increase in the
price of labor and material. Col. Rid
ley said it was found impossible to
complete the public bathhouse on the
tidal basin under the original plans
with the $4,000 appropriated for that
purpose by the former Congress. The
central portion of the bathhouse and
about one-half of the two wings con-
tanning the lockers and dressing
rooms, were completed and were
opened to the use of the public early
in August. A purifying system and
a sloping beach 400 feet long and
100 feet wide were provided. The
bathhouse and it's appurtenances will
be completed in a short time with
additional funds recently provided by
Congress.
Speaking generally< Col. Ridley
says that all the improved parks
were maintained in good condition
throughout the year. and that several
fine trees were preserved by special
surgical treatment. The usual plant
ing was done to secue floral decora-
tion in the parks during the spring,
summer and autumn. The total eN-
penditures for the maintenance of
the parks during the past year
o = I,o
pay of gardeners. laborers. etc.
The Washington Monument was
opened to the public October 9. 1883.
Since that date 4.535.762 have ascend
ed to the top of the shaft. During
the fiscal year just closed 2oS.666
visited the top and viewed the land
scape in this vicinity. OF that mum
her 1896 made the ascent in the
elevator and 61,2S0 persons walked
up the winding stairways. Memorial
tablets presented by the states of
Texas and Oklahoma recently were
shaft. Practically all the other
states of the Union are similarly
represented in the Monument.
Changes in Lincoln Memorial.
Col Ridley reports that the super
structure of the Lincoln Memorial in
West Potomac Park was completed
during the past year. and that work
now is in progress On the terrace wall
masonry approaches. the statue and
interior decorations. 1t was found
that the statue of Lincoln as origi-
naliy designed by Daniel c. French
would be too small for the dominat-
ing position which it will occupy In
the main hall. Col. Ridley said. and
orders have been given to increa Sc
its size and also to alter the design
of the panel In the interior wall back
of the location of the statue.
The total expenditures on account
of the memorial to June so last were
S2262.122.
Regarding the memorial amphithea-
ter and chapel in the Arlington ma
tional cemetery. Col. Ridley says that
the exterior of the entire structure
and the interior of the reception hall
and the chapel were completed dur
ing the past year. but that the work
on the masonry approaches had been
DELAYED by slow deliveries of ma
terial and unfavorable weather con-
ditions. In order to enhance. the
beauty of the amphitheater, he said
the original plans had been changed
so as to provide for a concrete deck
on the roof of the collonnade as a
substitute for permanent seats. The
total expenditures on the memorial
to date are stated at S554. 10.