In addition to the foregoing, the following work was accomplished:

NORTHWEST DIVISION.

Dupont Circle.-Worn places in the asphalt walks were repaired, the area resurfaced amounting to about 108 square yards. The interior and exterior of the lodge, 2 drinking fountains, 15 lamp-posts, 6 lamps, and the iron post-and-chain fence, consisting of 131 posts and 1,032 feet of chain, were painted.

Farragut Park.-Worn places in the asphalt walks were repaired, the area resurfaced amounting to 236 square yards; 162 square yards of sod were used for resodding bare places on lawns, 1 drinking foun tain, 2 lamps, 8 lamp-posts, and the post-and-chain fence around the park, consisting of 130 posts and 995 feet of chain, were painted.

Franklin Park.-Repairs were made to the asphalt walks, the area resurfaced amounting to 95 square yards; 313 feet of 6-inch wroughtiron drainpipe were laid to drain catch-basins, and 2 new catch-basins were built, all for surface drainage. Draintraps and portions of the brick gutters were repaired, old iron frames and grates on the latter having been replaced with new ones; 1,890 square yards of sod were used in resodding bare places on lawns, the interior of the watchman's lodge, 2 drinking fountains, 2 lamp-posts, and 2 lamps were painted; 6 decayed trees were removed.

Iowa Circle.-The watchman's lodge, 6 lamp-posts, 6 lamps, and 2 drinking fountains were painted. Repairs were made to the asphalt walks, the area resurfaced amounting to 400 square yards. An ornamental cement coping 7 inches high and 8 inches wide, with corner posts at the entrances to walks, was constructed around the circle, the total length of the coping being approximately 1,064 feet and the number of corner posts 40. A cement coping of smaller dimensions, 4 inches wide and 2 inches high above the walk surfaces, was constructed on either side of all the asphalt walks running through the circle, the approximate length of the entire coping being 2,390 feet. A contract was also entered into on June 18, 1903, for the construction of a coping of red granite around the mound at the base of the pedestal of the statue of General Logan in this circle, the work to be completed by the middle of August, 1903.

Judiciary Park. Two paved spaces (aprons), one with asphalt blocks and the other with Belgian blocks, in front of the coal vaults on north side of the court-house were enlarged to afford more room for the turning of coal carts and wagons without injuring the lawns. The ground on the south front and the east and west fronts of the Pension Office building, which had been disturbed by the construction of an area way around the building, was graded and sodded, and the adjacent walks and roadways graveled, the cost of the labor employed in doing the work having been paid by the Department of the Interior with funds retained from amounts due the contractor for the area way. An asphalt pavement, 216 feet long and 5 feet wide and covering an area of 120 square yards, was constructed on the gravel walk leading from Third and E streets NW. up to the court-house. Broken and worn places in the old asphalt walks were repaired, the area resurfaced amounting to 360 square yards; 51 feet of 6-inch wrought-iron drainpipe were laid to drain catch-basins.

Lafayette Park.-An asphalt pavement 137 feet long by 4 feet wide.

and covering an area of 51 square yards was laid on the two walks leading to the closets in the lodge house, brick on edge set along the sides of the walks, and two small spaces east and west of the closets paved with brick. There was also constructed an asphalt pavement about 453 feet long and 5 feet wide and covering an area of 352 square yards on the walk from the Sixteenth and H street entrance to the north side by the watchman's lodge to Fifteen-and-a-half street (Madison place) on the east side. Repairs were made to all worn places in the old asphalt walks, the area resurfaced amounting to 900 square yards. Two old street washers were replaced with standpipes and hose valves, and the water service was extended by laying 281 feet of 14-inch gal vanized-iron pipe. Four new brick drain traps were constructed, and 32 feet of 4-inch cast-iron drain pipe and 324 feet of 6-inch cast-iron drain pipe laid for carrying off surface water, and 136 feet of 6-inch terra-cotta pipe run to drain the east drinking fountain. Two hundred and sixteen square yards of sod were laid on bare places on lawns, and the iron railing around the Jackson statue, 4 lamp-posts, 4 lamps, and two drinking fountains were painted.

The appropriation of $1,000 for Lafayette Park is not enough to keep it in the condition in which it should be kept. This is the most highly improved and the most centrally situated small park in the city, and is seen and used by more people than any other. It is respectfully urged that the appropriation for this park be the same as for Lincoln Park, namely, $2,000 per year.

McPherson Park.-Repairs were made to the asphalt walks, the area resurfaced amounting to 400 square yards. Ninety square yards of sod were used in resodding bare places on lawns; 2 drinking fountains, 2 lamp-posts, and 2 lamps and two plant vases were painted.

Mount Vernon Square.-In October, 1901, this Office recommended to the Chief of Engineers that an estimate be submitted to Congress. for an appropriation of $25,000 "for grading, resetting street curb, providing park curb, park walks, planting, and for each and every object necessary for highly improving the grounds of Mount Vernon Square around the Public Library building." In sundry civil appropriation act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903, approved June 28, 1902, Congress appropriated only $10,000 for the work. With that amount it has been possible only to grade the grounds, seed the level portions, sod the slopes, and provide for and mostly construct immediate approaches of the south and north entrances, leaving the granite borders, granolithic pavement, etc., still to be provided for. A careful estimate of the cost of the work which should be done to complete the improvement gives a sum total of $13,000, and it is earnestly recommended that that amount be appropriated. If that sum be granted, it will make the total cost of the improvement $23,000, which is $2,000 less than the original estimate.

Presidents Park.-Lines of asphalt blocks were laid across the end of the gravel roadway where it joins the asphalt pavement of West Executive avenue, in the northwest corner of the grounds, and 48 loads of gravel were used in repairing worn places in the gravel roads. The 50-foot gravel roadway running around the southeast, south, and southwest sides of the inclosed grounds of the Executive Mansion was covered with broken trap rock and trap-rock screenings to a depth of about 6 inches and rolled with a heavy steam roller, the area resur

faced amounting to 7,960 square yards. A new cement floor was laid in the tool house at the corner of Seventeenth and B streets NW.

Rawlins Square.-Two old iron boxes around shut-off valves and two old standpipes in the fountain were replaced with new ones, and 280 feet of 4-inch cast-iron drain pipe were run to carry off waste water from the fountain.

Sheridan Circle.-Water was introduced into this circle, 206 feet of 2-inch pipe and 8 feet 8 inches of 14-inch galvanized-iron pipe having been laid for the purpose.

Truxton Circle. The large fountain was scraped, cleaned, and painted.

Washington Circle.-Ten lamps and lamp-posts, 2 drinking fountains, and 4 flower vases were painted. On January 3, 1903, during the temporary absence of the watchman, some defect in the gas heater or its tubing in the lodge house started a fire which did some damage to the woodwork, broke some glass in the windows, and blistered the paint in the interior. Necessary repairs were made immediately to the woodwork, the broken glass replaced with new glass, and the lodge repainted.

Reservations 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, and 30, Pennsylvania ave nue, between Nineteenth and Twenty-eighth streets NW.-The post-andchain fences inclosing these reservations, a total of 407 posts and 3,242 feet of chain, were painted.

Reservation 31, Pennsylvania avenue, Eighteenth and H streets NW.— The post-and-chain fence inclosing this reservation, consisting of 86 posts and 650 feet of chain, was painted, and 54 square yards of sod was used in sodding bare places on lawns.

Reservation 32, Pennsylvania avenue, Fourteenth and E streets NW.-Depressions in the asphalt walks were repaired, an area of 5 square yards having been resurfaced. The vitality of the soil on this reservation having been destroyed by the fire which consumed the power house opposite the reservation on September 29, 1897, the old soil was removed, replaced with new soil, and the entire surface of the reservation resodded, 1,232 square yards of sod having been used for the purpose.

Reservation 33, Pennsylvania avenue, Thirteenth and Estreets NW.— The entire asphalt walk surface in this reservation, an area of 530 square yards, was resurfaced.

Reservations 34 and 35, Pennsylvania avenue, between Eighth and Tenth streets NW.-The post-and-bar fences inclosing these two reservations, consisting of 94 posts and 752 feet of bars, were painted and the surface of reservation 35 was resodded.

Reservations 58, 59, 62, and 64, Massachusetts avenue, between Fif teenth and Twenty-first streets NW.-The post-and-chain fences inclosing these four reservations, consisting of 203 posts and 1,560 feet of chain, were painted.

Reservation 68, Massachusetts avenue and L street, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets N W.-A new cement sidewalk was constructed by the District government around this reservation and made 4 feet narrower than the old pavement. The reservation was extended out 4 feet on the Massachusetts avenue side for its full length of 276 feet, and the post-and-chain fence and 2 lamp-posts moved out to the new pavement line. As the grade of the new pavement had been raised, the grade of the reservation along the Massachusetts avenue front for

a width of 14 feet was raised and the ground resodded. The asphalt walk was extended out to the pavement line and about 10 square yards of new walk laid. Two small places around the drinking fountain were paved with brick. An ornamental iron fountain was erected and 142 feet of 14 inch galvanized-iron water pipe and 220 feet of 4-inch cast-iron drain pipe laid for its service. The post-and-chain fence, consisting of 49 posts and 394 feet of chain, 5 lamp-posts and lamps, 2 drinking fountains, and the new iron fountain, were painted. Reservations 69, 70, 71, 72, and 74, Massachusetts avenue, between Fourth and Eleventh streets NW.-The post-and-chain fences inclosing these five reservations, consisting of 274 posts and 2,266 feet of chain, were painted, and 1 drinking fountain, 1 vase, 5 lamp-posts and lamps were also painted. Water was introduced into reservation 70 by laying 23 feet of 1-inch lead pipe and 36 feet of 14-inch galvanizediron pipe.

Reservation 73, Massachusetts avenue, Fifth and L streets NW.A post-and-chain fence, consisting of 13 posts and 216 feet of chain, was erected and painted.

Reservations 75 and 76, Massachusetts avenue, between Third and Fourth streets NW.-The post-and-bar fences inclosing these two reservations, consisting of 114 posts and 912 feet of bars, were painted.

Reservation 78, Massachusetts avenue and F street, between North Capitol and First streets NW.-The post-and-chain fence inclosing this reservation, consisting of 34 posts and 316 feet of chain, was painted. Reservations 98, 99, 100, 102, and 134, Virginia avenue, from Twentysecond and E streets NW., to New Hampshire avenue, Twenty-fifth, and G streets NW.-The District government having narrowed the sidewalks around these five reservations, the post-and-chain fence inclosing them was moved out by this office 4 feet to the inner lines of the new sidewalks. As this increased the length of the boundary lines, it was necessary to increase the length of the fences and 28 posts and 259 feet of chain were added. The new borders of the reservations were also sodded, 1,017 square yards of sod having been used for the purpose.

Reservations 149 and 150, Connecticut avenue, between Eighteenth and Twentieth and M and R streets NW.-The post-and-chain fences inclosing these two reservations, consisting of 85 posts and 700 feet of chain, were painted. An ornamental iron fountain was erected in reservation 150, and 25 feet of 11-inch galvanized water pipe and 70 feet of 4-inch cast-iron drainpipe run for its service.

Reservation 150a, Connecticut avenue, Eighteenth and N streets NW.-Water was introduced for irrigating purpose, 28 feet of 1-inch lead pipe and 7 feet of 14-inch galvanized pipe having been laid.

Reservations 151, 154, 156, 157, 158, and 159, Rhode Island avenue, between Seventh and Eighteenth streets N W.-The post-and-chain fences inclosing these seven reservations, consisting of 189 posts and 1,364 feet of chain, were painted. A border of sod 2 feet wide was laid around reservation 158.

Reservation 155, Rhode Island avenue, Tenth and Q streets NW.A post-and-chain fence, consisting of 21 iron posts and 173 feet of chain, was erected around the reservation and painted, the ground was graded, surface soiled, and a border of sod laid. Water was introduced by laying 95 feet of 1-inch lead pipe and 17 feet of 14-inch galvanized iron pipe.

Arrests made by United States park watchmen in the public grounds from July 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903—Continued.

This is a subject to which I desire to invite special attention. Persons interested in the well-being and development of the inhabitants of cities. are seeing more and more clearly the necessity of providing places where children and young people can take exercise and find innocent recreation, and the great value thereof in developing health of body and mind in the citizens of the future. Wherever playgrounds have been provided the beneficial results have been immediately manifest. A suitable playground draws children by the hundreds from streets and alleys where their occupations and amusements are of more or less questionable character, and brings them together, where, under the care and control of suitable persons, they can indulge in pleasant, innocent, and interesting exercises, competitions, and games. Many cities are quite advanced in this particular matter, and some have expended vast sums of money in providing these playgrounds and breathing spots where their crowded inhabitants can get a little relief. The desirability of public playgrounds in Washington has been recognized by Congress to a limited extent, as shown by the two laws on the subject.

Act of Congress, approved August 30, 1890 (Stat. L., 26, p. 396): The officer in charge of public buildings and grounds may authorize the temporary use of a portion of the Monument grounds or grounds south of the Executive Mansion or other reservations in the District of Columbia for a children's playground, under regulations to be prescribed by him.

Act approved March 2, 1895 (Stat. L., 28, p. 943):

The officer in charge of public buildings and grounds shall authorize the use of a portion of the ground within the circle south of the Executive Mansion for a children's playground, under regulations to be prescribed by him.