APPENDIX B B B.

IMPROVEMENT AND CARE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1897. OFFICERS IN CHARGE, COL. (NOW BRIG. GEN.) JOHN M. WILSON, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AND COL. THEODORE A. BINGHAM, U. S. A.

OFFICE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS,

Washington, D. C., July 19, 1897.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations upon public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia, under the Chief of Engineers, during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897.

Col. John M. Wilson, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, was the officer in charge from the beginning of the fiscal year until February 8, 1897, when he was promoted brigadier-general and Chief of Engineers.

From February 8, 1897, First Lieut. John S. Sewell, Corps of Engineers, was temporarily in charge, under the direction of the Chief of Engineers, until March 9, 1897, from which date until the end of the fiscal year the office has been in charge of Col. Theodore A. Bingham, United States Army, captain, Corps of Engineers.

In addition to the public buildings and grounds, this office has also been charged with the care and repair of the Government telegraph lines connecting the Capitol with the various Departments and the Government Printing Office; of the repair and improvement of the Government Printing Office; of the repair of the building on Tenth street NW. where Abraham Lincoln died; of the construction of the statue of Gen. John A. Logan; of such matters connected with the erection of the statue of General Sherman as may properly devolve upon the War Department; of the monument at Wakefield, Va., the birthplace of Washington, and the iron-pile dock erected under the supervision of this office in 1894, under the direction of the Department of State, at the mouth of Bridge Creek, Virginia; and of the erection in the National Military Park at Gettysburg, Pa., of the memorial tablet to Abraham Lincoln.

As it would be difficult to improve on the arrangement or wording of the previous annual reports made by my predecessor, copious extracts therefrom have been made where needed, in discussing various subjects. THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC GROUNDS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

While all persons justly concede the utility and value to the capital of the nation of the system of parks and public spaces at the intersection of its streets and avenues and the important relation they bear to

by Congress for that purpose. How well the task has been accomplished, how carefully the funds have been used, the many compliments paid to Washington on her park system by her sister cities and by distinguished visitors from abroad abundantly testify.

It is also conceded that our parks, by the manner in which the improvements are maintained, evidence more care than is generally exercised in such work except where large expenditures are made. This is encouraging in view of the fact that it is believed that a less amount per acre is expended in their care and maintenance than in any other locality where similar park systems are maintained. This condition of affairs is, in some measure, due to the great care exercised by the Government in making expenditures for the purchase of materials and for payment for superintendence, labor, etc. It is a notable fact that the Government has been apparently fortunate in securing good materials and very good service in all work connected with the parks. Unfortunately, for the next fiscal year the appropriations for this very important work have been reduced, and while there is every evidence that what has been done is fully appreciated, it is feared that the great work yet to be accomplished is not fully realized. It is earnestly hoped that the Congress soon to convene will evince that interest in our beautiful parks that their importance demands, and that sufficient funds may be allotted to push to speedy completion projected and necessary improvements in a manner commensurate with their importance, not only for the purpose of adorning the capital city, in which all citizens have a just pride, but to furnish an example of simple landscape gardening and park ornamentation that will have a direct influence in aiding to elevate the taste of all visitors, and that may eventually lead to the transformation into beautiful parks of many pieces of waste ground adjacent to the cities of our country.

With these facts before me, I respectfully submit the following report of work done during the year, with suggestions for improvements which are deemed necessary:

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

EXECUTIVE MANSION, GREENHOUSES, AND STABLE.

In addition to the usual care extended to the Mansion and its furniture, the following has been accomplished during the year:

Painting, exterior.-All the roof balustrades, the crown molding of cornice, window heads, sash, and water table, all the white work on the roof, including the flagstaff, which was repaired after being broken in the storm of September 29, 1896; also all the dark stonework on the north, east, and west fronts, all window sills, window and door frames under north portico, 15 columns, the top of east portico, base of the building below the water table, the flagstaff stairs and platform, and 66 roof platforms laid to prevent wear on the tin roof.

Painting, interior.-The woodwork was painted as follows: Eight rooms on second floor, including bath and dressing rooms; the two dining rooms, including pantry, main corridor, blue and green parlors, and east room on the first floor; also sundry passages, doors, articles of furniture, window frames, and sash. Mantels were cleaned and fireplaces painted where necessary. All grained work throughout the entire house was sandpapered, done over, and varnished. All hard-wood doors were varnished; all gold work touched up where necessary. Fifty-four hatboxes were repainted and numbered in paint. Much miscellaneous painting and varnishing was also done, such as table legs, edging of