The matter of protection from fires during the season when the ground is covered with dead leaves is one that should receive attention by the provision of sufficient funds for preventing and fighting such fires. Several such fires, one of serious nature, destroying a large quantity of the native Kalmia, occurred in the park during the last winter season, and others occurred in the timbered lands adjoining the park. One such fire might easily destroy shrubbery which could not be naturally reproduced in decades. These fires are usually started by the careless use of matches by visitors, or spread from adjacent land into the park. It is impossible to employ sufficient patrols to detect the fires at once after they are started, in so large an area, but all precautions are being taken as far as funds permit to prevent their spread by simple appliances and organization of the force. As the facilities for reaching it have been better known, increasing use of this park is being made for picnic parties for churches, Sunday schools, societes and smaller groups. This considerably increases the necessary cost of the care of the grounds. The customary use of part of the park, during July and August, as a summer camp for poor children (Camp Good Will), was continued by the Associated Charities; and one of the buildings was used as a hospital for sick infants; both with undoubted good results. A very large use was made of the available swimming places in the creek during the year; and it is recommended that some provision be made for the erection of sheds where the bathers can change their clothing, and for improving the bathing pools and toilet conveniences. Permits are now issued to boys of the age of 12 and under only. It is proposed during the coming year to maintain the usual care of the park, to open some of the more unused sections by suita le clearing, and to construct such additions to the system of roads and paths as the funds on hand will permit. Respectfully submitted." L. R. GRABILL, Assistant Engineer, Rock Creek Park. ENGINEER COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Secretary, Board of Control, Rock Creek Park. Appropriation for the care and improvement of Rock Creek Park, 1915. $2,000.00 1,994.75 5.25 18,000.00 516.90 167.43 8.25 3.42 505.51 74.53 19.32 9.26 37.92 47.37 12.00 7.65 1,409.56 16, 590. 44 18,000.00 Work. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT BUILDING. WASHINGTON, D. C., August 30, 1915. SIR: I have the honor to report in addition to the routine work incident to the maintenance, repairs, and operation of the District Building and its power plant for the fiscal year 1915, the following completed or provided for: Fifth story west corridor subdivided by the erection of a wood and glass partition to provide 500 square feet floor space for the accounting branch of the physical valuation bureau of the Tublic Utilities Commission. Third story west corridor subdivided by the erection of a wood and glass partition to provide 125 square feet floor space for the street cleaning department. Second-story west corridor subdivided by the erection of a wood and glass partition to provide 175 square feet floor space as anteroom for the major and superintendent of police. Room 305 subdivided by the erection of a wood and glass partition. Room 202 (bacteriological laboratory) subdivided by the erection of a wood and glass partition to provide a separate room within the laboratory in which to operate apparatus that gives off heat. Improved signals to passengers were installed at the elevators, and improved signals to operators provided for. Forty-five per cent of the lighting fixtures of the office rooms were changed from the direct to the semiindirect type, resulting in marked improvement in the illumination of the rooms changed. The additional current required by the semiindirect method will be more than offset by a saving in fuel effected by improved power-plant operating methods inaugurated in May, 1915, which give promise of a saving in fuel of baout 20 per cent during the nonheating season. During the year 21,538 kilowatt hours of current was furnished the electrical department for the telephone, fire alarm, and police patrol-box system, and electrical power, steam, compressed air, and hot water for industrial purposes were supplied to two laboratories of the health department and the laboratory of the inspector of asphalt and cement. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report showing the operation of the stables under the care of the superintendent of stables, engineer department, District of Columbia, for the fiscal year 1915: LIST OF FIVE STATEMENTS ATTACHED. 1. Location of stables and departments using same. 2. Number of employees and departments to which assigned. 3. Number of horses, mules, vehicles, and harness, and departments to which assigned. 4. Amount of appropriations allotted and expenditure of same. 5. Average cost of upkeep of horses. The Congress of the United States, in making appropriations for the District of Columbia, does not provide funds for the operation and maintenance of the engineer stables except to the extent of designating and making provision for several annual employees. This, therefore, necessitates the superintendent requesting the several heads of the departments to annually make allotment to the superintendent on a pro rata basis from appropriations designated by said head for the maintenance of the stables. This method, however, was revised by Capt. J. L. Schley, assistant to the Engineer Commissioner, District of Columbia, and last year witnessed the inauguration of his simplified plan whereby funds were acquired with which to operate the stables, the same being as follows: (1) Overhead charges, or transportation for the assistants to the Engineer Commissioner, District of Columbia; (2) departmental charges; and (3) quarterly requisitions on departments for forage and other supplies. Since this system has been in force it has proven entirely satisfactory as well as greatly diminishing the number of papers handled. With respect to the establishment of a municipal barn, in connection with which I reported the merits thereof in my last annual report, and to which report I now, respectfully, again refer, I beg to say that the needs for same has not diminished one iota during the last year, and my recommendation for the establishment thereof is again renewed. The need of such a municipal asset is being daily brought more forcibly before us. The District now owns many horses and a number of motor vehicles; the number of the latter, on account of the rapid advance of the motor as a means of transportation, will be, I am quite sure, materially increased from time to time, being cognizant also of additions to the number of horses. Thus it is quite apparent the gain and economical administration, as well as the means of rendering the highest possible service, to be derived from the concentration at one point of all the transportation equipment owned by the District, together with the necessary shops for the upkeep of same, and it is my belief that a structure can be erected of such design as to take care of present and future conditions with slight alterations from time to time to meet the conditions as they arise. It is recommended, on account of its value as a pasturage, that the commissioner continue to retain control of the land in Rock Creek Park sometime ago courteously loaned to them by the board of control of that park for that purpose. This tract has now attained a high state of cultivation for grazing, and in view of the fact that animals in order to be kept in the best physical condition should have a certain period of rest each year it is aimed to so treat them, and, for this purpose we have available the above farm where they are free from work, shoes, and harness, and may roam as they see fit. Several other departments of the District owning horses, appreciating the value of such a place, take advantage thereof. At the Several years ago there was loaned to the superintendent of suburban roads for the purpose of planting in corn paddock No. 3 on the above tract, it being understood that that official, upon surrendering the use thereof, was to resow it in grass. present time this plot of ground is urgently needed for pasturing, for during the past year we have had an average of about eight horses in pasture at a time, and in order that they may have proper nourishment and the freedom that they require, it is respectfully recommended that the use of same by the above official be rescinded and that he be directed to resow same in grass for use by the superintendent of engineer stables. Respectfully, Capt. J. S. SCHLEY, J. W. BEALE, Superintendent of Stables. Corps of Engineers, United States Army, Assistant to Engineer Commissioner. STATEMENT No. 1.-Location of stables and departments using same. 1. First and Canal Streets SW.-Disbursing officer, plumbing inspector, sewer department, surface division (part), surveyor; weights, measures, and markets. 2. Second and Canal Streets SW-Electrical department. 3. U Street Stables, U Street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth Streets NW.-Municipal architect, repair shop, surface division (part), engineer commissioner and assistants. |