The result of this work will be to strengthen the building so that in addition to their dead weights the second and third floors will sustain a live load 1224 pounds and 71 pounds respectively. 2. To tear down and rebuild the east wall, containing about 140,000 brick, the new wall to be 24 inches thick up to level of third floor and 18 inches thick from thence to the top of wall. 3. To improve the lighting facilities by enlarging the windows of the building, except those in the west front, first story, and to add two new windows in the south wall of third story. 4. To improve the system of ventilation by arrangements for admitting fresh air and carrying off vitiated air. 5. To construct two fire escapes on the rear of the building. Operations were rapidly pushed forward and by the close of the fiscal year the work of strengthening the second and third floors had been completed, the east wall had been torn down to the ground, the old worthless foundation torn out and replaced with a bed of concrete 43 feet wide by 2 feet thick, and the entire wall rebuilt, the lighting facilities improved by enlarging the eight front windows on second and third floors and adding two new windows to the third floor, the method of improved heating and ventilating nearly finished, and the fire escapes constructed in position. The entire work laid out was nearly completed and the building in such condition as to be available for use by the War Department, if required. IMPROVEMENT OF THE PUBLIC GROUNDS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. VARIOUS RESERVATIONS. The area covered by the parks and park spaces in the District of Columbia, under charge of this office, is about 405 acres, within which there are 13.4 miles of gravel and asphalt walks, covering an area of 16.9 acres, and 7.6 miles of gravel and asphalt roads, covering an area of 33.03 acres. There are in all 301 reservations, varying in size from a few hundred square feet to 82 acres. These reservations are classified as follows: Of these, 66 are inclosed with post-and-chain or other low iron fences. In my annual report for the last fiscal year I gave a sketch of the general plan proposed for the completion of the park improvements. Each year an effort is made to add to the list of improved reservations, but owing to lack of necessary funds the progress is very slow. It is not generally realized how much beauty the smaller spaces are capable of exhibiting, should they be brought to their highest condition of improvement. It is, in a measure, true that the outlay in this development is considerable, but the subsequent maintenance of these spots of beauty in their highly improved condition is comparatively light and not much more than the expense now incurred in mowing their grass surface. With this report I submit a map and description of the various reservations, and plans and estimates for the improvement of the following: 1. Reservation No. 19 (immediately north of navy-yard).-At the request of a committee of citizens of the District of Columbia, a plan of improvement for this reservation at an estimated cost of $12,000 has been prepared. The reservation covers an area of about 3 acres. It is located in a section of the city which has not yet been highly improved, and is bounded on the north by the tracks of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company; a side track extends through it to the navy-yard; the adjoining streets are unpaved; no sidewalks have been laid, and the streets bounding the reservation are not curbed on the reservation side. In the western section a narrow stream meanders through a small ravine and finds its outlet in an improvised opening in a street sewer. It will require about 3,000 cubic yards of earth to fill this ravine and bring the reservation to proper grade. It is proposed to lay sidewalks on the east, west, and south bounda ries; to construct gravel walks, lay out lawn plots, and sow with grass seed; to introduce water, construct necessary drains, drain lodges and gutters; to plant with suitable trees, shrubs, and flowers, and to place eight park lamps in position. 2. Reservation No. 20, Howard University Park.-This reservation covers an area of nearly 12 acres; it is located south of the Howard University, between Fourth and Sixth streets. Its improvement has been urged from time to time by prominent citizens, and a plan for its ornamentation is submitted, at an estimated cost of $25,000. The reservation is covered with a native forest growth of large oak trees. The major portion of the ground is a little below the grade of the surrounding streets, but is not wet except at the southeast corner of the park, where apparently there are springs. The ground generally slopes toward the south and east, and admits of easy surface drainage. The reservation is admirably located for a public park, for pleasure grounds, games, picnics, etc., and for other assemblages of our people, being within a few squares of the terminal stations of four of our city and suburban street railroad lines, by which any part of Washington and its chief outlying suburban villages can be reached from the park in a comparatively short period of time. It is believed that if the improvements projected were made, this park would soon become a popular place of resort and relieve the city parks proper, which should receive a higher grade of improvement. With this object in view, it is designed to preserve as fully as may be practicable the present native forest growth of oaks, which furnish an abundant shade, and to form additional plantings of other varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs, bounding the park on all sides, so that there may be many shaded walks and drives in the summer and autumn, opening out into sunny glades in the more central portions of the grounds. It is proposed to construct gravel walks and roads only; to make but few changes in the present surface grades, terracing the northwest section where the greatest difference of level exists between the street and park grades; to introduce water for drinking fountains, closets, and irrigation, and to construct such drains to street sewers as are necessary to properly drain the lower portions of the grounds, and to request the District government, which claims control of all streets from building line to building line, to construct sidewalks around the reservation. To accompany the annual report upon the Improvement and care of Public Buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia for the fiscal fear ending June 30th 1894. Eng 53 3 ALLEY 60H WIDE. L.ST SOUTH. |