ment was furnished me from which I can make a report of the acts and doings of my predecessor during the first eleven months of the fiscal year.

I made repeated application to Major Michler, as required by paragraph 1009 of the Army Regulations, for a certified list of the outstand ing indebtedness of the office. Such a certified statement was not furnished, but numerous accounts against the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, approved by Major N. Michler, were transmitted to me by him, amounting to the sum of $49,273 73, with a letter stating the same included the entire indebtedness against the office, to the best of his knowledge.

Since the transmission by Major Michler of the above amount of claims, additional claims, amounting to the sum of $2,550 82, approved by him, have been filed in the office by the creditors themselves, making an amount of outstanding indebtedness, expended in excess of the amounts appropriated by Congress, of $51,824 55, and I would respectfully recommend an appropriation to meet this deficiency. A greater part of this amount is for work and material furnished for Executive avenue during the year 1869.

At the time the appropriations for the present fiscal year were made, the improvement of Pennsylvania avenue and Fifteenth street, east side of the Treasury, had just been completed. The portion of the expense to be borne by the Government for the paving in front and along its property was provided for in the appropriation for the present fiscal year, and has been settled.

The important improvement known as the Executive avenue, around the south and west sides of the Executive Mansion, has been continued through the President's grounds to Pennsylvania avenue. The plan adopted for this improvement proposes to complete the avenue on the west side in a corresponding manner with the east side, and will materially enhance the beauty of the grounds, as well as form a very beautiful drive. The amount asked for is believed to be sufficient to complete the avenue.

The grounds south of the Executive avenue, and known as the "White Lot," and the grounds surrounding the unfinished Washington monument, should be graded and connected by a bridge across the canal.

The grounds west of the Botanical Gardens to the Smithsonian grounds should also be improved. These reservations, together with the Smithsonian and Agricultural grounds, would make a continuous line of improved reservations from the Executive Mansion to the Capi tol of over a mile in length, through which beautiful drives could be laid out, and add a very prominent feature to the beauty of the city, as well as prove of immense importance in a sanitary point of view.

The improvement of the monumental grounds, now in a neglected condition, contemplates the building of a sea-wall along the face of the river, and filling in the low lands on the north side to the canal. This improvement will be of great benefit to those living in its immediate vicinity, and the inmates of the President's House, Treasury, War, and Navy Departments, who, when the wind is in the sonth, reap the full benefit of the miasma produced by the decaying vegetation at that point. Attention is respectfully called to the appropriation asked for Lincoln Park. This park having been selected by Congress as a memorial to the late President, and been improved to a limited extent, the amount asked for is needed to protect and care for what has already been done and

to continue its embellishments. The portion of the city in the vicinity of this park is being rapidly improved.

The experience of the Agricultural Department, as well as the loss of the grass in several of the parks during the last summer, have demonstrated that it is necessary to have a free and unlimited supply of water, in order to keep the grass alive and retain a fresh appearance. No provision has been made for water in many of the squares and parks. It has already been introduced in Lafayette Square, and it is proposed to introduce it in Franklin Square and the other grounds, where it can be used to advantage. In the larger parks it is intended to introduce gas, as well as water, and part of the appropriation asked for is to be used for that purpose.

An appropriation is also asked for the introduction of an additional number of German sparrows in the parks, and the erection of suitable boxes and nests for their care and protection. Their introduction in other cities has proved of great value in destroying many of the worms and insects peculiarly destructive to the trees and shrubs.

The organic act creating the territorial government of the District placed the streets, avenues, and alleys of the city under the charge of the Board of Public Works; no appropriation is, therefore, asked for their care or improvement. The custody of the various bridges heretofore in charge of the Superintendent of Public Buildings and Grounds is also assigned to the Board of Public Works, with the exception of Long Bridge, which has been transferred to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company, and is now being rebuilt.

Benning's Bridge is in good condition and repair. The Navy-yard Bridge has been kept in as good repair as possible, considering the nature of the material of which it is constructed, much of the timber being old and partially decayed.

The sum of $2,000 was placed in my hands by the territorial government of the District, to be expended upon the Chain Bridge. Two spans of the bridge, on the Virginia side, were left standing at the time of the destruction of the bridge by the freshet. These spans were thrown from their proper place on the piers and the arches bent considerably from their vertical position. With the assistance of hydraulic screws and other instruments, furnished by the Navy Department, these two spans were raised again and rendered safe for crossing. The inclined approach to the bridge may be swept away at any time by high water. Should this occur, there is sufficient amount of funds unexpended, together with the old timber remaining, to reconstruct the approach.

The improvement of various avenues provided for in the appropriations for the present fiscal year has been delayed, in many instances, in order that the permanent grade of those avenues may be established by the Board of Public Works. Maine avenue, along the line of the Government reservation, has been improved by curbing, construction of gutter, and new brick sidewalk. I would respectfully call attention to the estimates for reservations on the various avenues. The citizens of the Territory, through the Board of Public Works, are making such valuable improvements in every direction, and taking such liberal and energetic action in beautifying the city, that their efforts should be seconded as much as possible by inclosing such small triangular and circular reservations as come within the line of the city improvements, thus making green and beautiful what are now, in most cases, open places of sand and mud.

The sum of $2,000 asked for starting a nursery is intended to be used for that purpose on some one of the Government reservations in the city.

This is something that is needed, and the want of which has been felt heretofore, as but very few varieties, and of the commonest kind, can be purchased in this vicinity, and, for the better varieties, it has been necessary to send to some other point. The trees so purchased, in a great many instances, have died, owing to size of trees, change of climate, soil, &c., &c. If they could have been brought here when young and transplanted, no doubt the greater part would have lived. A few thousand dollars appropriated annually for the purchase of young trees and shrubs would, after a few years, give the Government a large and useful nursery of its own. A great many trees and shrubs could be raised from the seed, which would be a great saving to the Government in time and money, as most of the newer varieties have to be imported at great expense.

An appropriation is respectfally recommended for the purpose of procuring oil paintings of nine ex-Presidents, to complete the collection now in the Executive Mansion.

Attention is also called to the memorial from citizens herewith attached, asking the purchase of two triangular pieces of ground on New Jersey avenue and I street, and for the improvement of the same. The amount estimated to be necessary for the purpose is $20,000, and I earnestly recommend that that sum be appropriated.

Accompanying this report is a detailed estimate for funds required for the next fiscal year.

Very truly, yours,

O. E. BABCOCK,

Major of Engineers, U. S. A., in Charge.

Brigadier General A. A. HUMPHREYS,

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., Washington, D. C.

General O. E. BABCOCK,

Superintendent Public Buildings, &c.

SIR: Some years ago (during the latter part of Mr. Johnson's administration) a memorial headed by General Grant, then residing in I street, and numerously signed by property owners in that vicinity, was addressed to Congress through Hon. B. B. French, then Commissioner of Public Buildings and Grounds, representing the earnest desire of the petitioners to have the United States Government repossess itself of the two triangular spaces, one formed by the intersection of First street west, H street north, and New Jersey avenue, and the other by the intersection of New Jersey avenue, H street north, and Second street west

The reasons set forth in the memorial referred to were the nuisance likely to be created by the erection of shanties and cheap buildings thereon by the owners, to the detriment of the respectable property interest in the neighborhood; and the great want of some breathing place or open space in the locality referred to for a large surrounding population, which is daily augmenting in density.

The reservations referred to were formerly the property of the United States, and were sold by a former Commissioner of Public Buildings, by order of Congress, for the purpose of raising funds to beautify and improve similar spaces along Pennsylvania

avenue.

The memorial referred to is probably on file in your office. Mr. French in his last report to Congress warmly recommended the repurchase of these reservations by the Government for the purposes set forth in the memorial, and General Michler, his successor, twice recommended their repurchase in his report to Congress.

The object of this communication is to call your attention to the facts, and respectfully to entreat you to urge upon Congress at its next session the importance of repurchasing and improving the reservations referred to, whereby the section of the city in which they are situated may be rendered more beautiful and attractive, the miserable unhealthy shanties removed, which now disfigure one of them, and the public health materially conserved.

Inclosed herewith please find sketch of the reservations above referred to, with outline of the surrounding streets and squares, according to the certified plat of the city, and as in duty bound the undersigned will ever pray.

Estimate of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1873, by Major O. E. Babcock, United States Engineers.

March

3, 1871

Pam.

504

1

March 3, 1871

Pam.

504

1

$2,000
1,500

$2,000 1,500

Submitted