Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-29
ASKS LARGE SUM
TO MEET NEEDS OF
PUBLIC GROUNDS
Gen. Black, Chief of Army
Engineers, Estimates for
Various improvements.

Estimates ageregating SCISSORS for
the care and improvement or pupllc
buildings and grounds IN the DlStf1ct
of Columbia during the next hscal
year have been submitted to the W ar
Department by Maj. Gen. w. NJ. Black,
chief of engineers of the Army. OF the
total, Sill $50 is for salaries OF employees.
Principal Items in Estimates.
The principal items for park i'm
provements. etc. are: Two hundred
Thousand dollars for completing the
construction of the field house IN
East Potomac Park; 100000 for roads
around the Lincoln Memorial in West
Potomac Park; 100000 for the re-
hecting pool in same park; $12O.OoC
for the construction of a sea wall
along the water front between Eas-
by's point and the foot of New Hamp-
shire avenue; $1,000 for restoring
grounds around temporary buildings
in the Smithsonian grounds: $30,5OC
for new roads. etc. in judiciary Park
$4,000 for Rock Greek Park and
Piney Branch parkway: $4,000 for
West Potomac Park; 100000 for East
Potomac Park; 100000 for maintain
ing certain park spaces in condition
for outdoor sports; 100000 for Meri-
dian Hill Park; $4,000 for Montrose
Park, including fountain at the
entrance; $4,000 for purification OF
the tidal basin; $4,000 for an ex-
tension to the bathing beach in the
tidal basin; $4,000 tadditionaD for
a comfort station in the Smithsonian
grounds; $4,000 for improving Seaton
Park; $1,000 for comfort station in
Stanton Park; SIC. 900 for repairs, etc,
Executive Mansion. and $4,000 for
painting the underside of the road
way OF the Highway bridge.
Explains the Increase.
Gen. Black explains that the increase
IN the appropriation for Rock Creek
l'ark is for the purpose of construct
ing roadway in the upper end of the
park on the line of Rittenhouse street
from Beach driveway to the Daniels
road and also to transform old Pierce
Mill into an attractive teahouse for the
serving of refreshments.
1T is stated that the Lincoln Me-
mortal will be completed during the
coming year and that the public golf
course in East Potomac Park will be
ready for use next July.
Report on Tidal Basin.
According to Col. c. s. Ridley, the
officer in charge, experience at the
tidal basin bathing beach shows that
present facilities are entirely INSULT
Client and that the capacity of the
women's wing should be doubled.
He reports that a total of 273,12S
persons ascended. to the top of the
Washington Monument during the
year. of which number 165,S70 middle
the ascent in the elevator, while 1O7,-
26S walked up the stairways.
Additions to Parking.
During the past year Rock Creek
Park and one small park space was
added to the parking system under
the chief of engineers and one park
space was transferred to the District
for use as playground. These
changes made a net gain of 1,629.4S
acres and increased the number of
government parks to 440, with a total
acreage Of 2.747. Col Ridley says
there is a valuable piece of United
States ground, known as reservation
No. 94a, lying between Rock Creek
and 2Sth street west. between l and
K streets north. of which certain per-
sons are now in unlawful occupation.
His office has for several years been
making efforts to secure possession of
the property. which have so far proved
unsuccessful. The matter is now in
charge Of the Department Of Justice
and hope is expressed that it will soon
be decided in the courts.