Tenth. For painting watchmen's lodges, iron fences, vases, lamps, and lamp-posts $1,500 is requested. There are 8 watchmen's lodges, a number of post-and-chain fences, 18 vases, over 400 lamp-posts, and the iron fence around the Executive Mansion, all of which should be painted in 1895–296.

Eleventh. For trees, tree and plant stakes, etc., and stock for nursery $3,000 is asked, in place of the $2,000 last granted. The larger sum is the amount appropriated annually for more than twelve years, ending June 30, 1892.

Twelfth. For removing snow and ice the sum of $1,500 is asked. The sum usually granted, viz, $1,200, is generally sufficient, but sometimes is not.

Thirteenth. Twenty thousand dollars is asked for improvement, care, and maintenance of various reservations, in place of the $10,000 granted this year. It is proposed to improve as many as possible of the unimproved reservations. Each year from one to five are added to the list of improved reservations, and if the funds now requested become available eight or ten can be added during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896. As reservations are thus improved the expense of the care of the whole is slightly increased, for the improvements must be maintained.

Fourteenth. For the Smithsonian grounds $8,000 is asked, and for Judiciary Square $7,000, in place of $2,500 and $3,000 granted last year. The increased amounts can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896, in the improvement of those parks.

Fifteenth. For placing granite curbing about Franklin Square $5,000 is asked. The beauty of this handsome park will be greatly enhanced by placing around it a granite curbing similar to those used around parks of the same style in the larger cities elsewhere.

Sixteenth. For laying asphalt walks in various reservations, $5,000. It is proposed to replace with first-class asphalt walks the gravel paths in Washington Circle, Mount Vernon Square, Executive Mansion grounds (south side), Lincoln Square, Stanton Square, Folger Square, Marion Square, Henry and Seaton parks, and to renew those in Farragut Square. In the late fall, winter, and early spring those walks are muddy, and pedestrians seek the lawns, which are thus destroyed by trespassers. The amount of these paths which it is proposed to lay is about 3,500 square yards. Each autumn it becomes necessary to put down plank walks, which must again be removed in the spring. If asphalt walks are laid, the annual expense incident to plank walks will be avoided.

Seventeenth. For improvement, care, and maintenance of Henry (Armory) and Seaton parks, $5,000. These reservations, extending from Seventh street to the Botanic Gardens, cover an area of 34 acres, with road and walk surfaces of over 10,000 square yards. They are in an advanced state of improvement. Their beauty has been marred by the depot and tracks of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. A mound has been constructed around the depot, upon which it is intended to plant trees and shrubs, so that in time the depot will be hidden partially from view. The materials for this mound have thus far been obtained free of expense to the United States, and it is now proposed to complete the grading of the mound and to seed and plant it. The funds requested are needed for this purpose and for the care of roads, lawns, gutters, etc., and laying out additional paths.

Eighteenth. An estimate amounting to $6,000 is also submitted for constructing a large greenhouse at the propagating gardens for palms

and subtropical plants. The greenhouse structures now existing at the gardens are of small size and not of sufficient capacity to accommodate that class of plants.

Nineteenth. An estimate amounting to $25,000 is submitted for improving the reservation known as Howard University Park. The park contains an area of about 12 acres, and the reasons for recommending its improvement are mentioned in this report.

Twentieth. For lodges for park watchmen in Stanton, Mount Vernon, Iowa, Dupont, Thomas, McPherson, and Folger reservations, at $500 each, $3,500. The watchmen in these reservations are exposed to the inclemency of the weather at all seasons of the year. Rain or shine, hot or cold, night or day, year in and out, they must be at their sta tions and take shelter, when necessary, either under a tree or in such a dwelling or store as will offer its hospitality. The dictates of humanity call for this appropriation.

Twenty first. The sum of $200 is asked for repairing pedestals and cleaning statues. Several of the pedestals need repointing, and the statues are from time to time disfigured by bird lime, which must be removed.

Twenty-second. Estimates are submitted for the improvement of the reservations at the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and Fourteenth street, $5,000, and Hancock Place, corner Pennsylvania avenue and Seventh street, $3,000; these are prominent places, upon the principal avenue in the city, and it is urgently hoped that funds may be appropriated for their improvement and ornamentation.

Twenty-third. An estimate is submitted for the improvement of Reservation No. 19, near the navy-yard, as requested by certain citizens of Southeast Washington; plans for beautifying this park at an estimated cost of $12,000 have been prepared, and it is hoped that the necessary funds for the work will be appropriated.

Twenty-fourth. An estimate of $10,500 is submitted for the construction of an asphalt walk, 15 feet wide, on the outer border of the ellipse in the grounds south of the Executive Mansion.

This ellipse is now used for drills, parades, etc., while the wide road around it has become a resort for those who can afford the use of carriages and horses. In order that pedestrians may be able to enjoy the privilege of watching these reviews and parades, as well as the pleas ure of evening promenades during the heated period over a walk which will be used as a public thoroughfare, it is urged that this appropriation may be made.

Twenty-fifth. For expenses, including advertising, of sale of old, condemned, and useless property, $100.

Section 3618 of the Revised Statutes requires that condemned property shall be sold at public auction. Disbursing officers must comply with the rulings of the accounting officers of the Treasury. The First Comptroller of the Treasury has decided that the gross proceeds of sale of condemned property of this kind must be turned into the Treasury, the expenses of the sale to be paid from the general appropriation for the particular Department that may have used this old material, condemned stores, etc. The Second Comptroller of the Treasury has decided that only the net proceeds of the sale must be turned into the Treasury, the expenses of the sales to be paid from the proceeds derived therefrom. We have here diametrically opposite decisions on the same subject from the two Comptrollers, from whose decisions there appears to be no appeal.

With the exception of one other officer besides myself, I believe every

officer of the Corps of Engineers disbursing under the Chief of Engineers has final action upon his accounts through the Second Comptroller, and pays the expenses of sales of this kind out of the proceeds of the sale. I must, however, pay such expenses under the decision of the First Comptroller from the appropriations under my charge. As these appropriations are absolutely necessary for the purposes for which they were made, I ask that a specific sum be appropriated for the expenses of this sale.

It would be equally advantageous if, in the law making appropriations for this department, a proviso similar to that appertaining to some other departments could be inserted, as follows: Provided, That hereafter the expenses of the sale at public auction of all condemned and useless property appertaining to the public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia, under charge of the Chief of Engineers, shall be paid from the funds derived from the sale.

Twenty-sixth. New superstructure of iron and glass for the conservatory of the Executive Mansion, $13,000.

The present wooden superstructure constructed some years ago is badly decayed and in a dangerous condition. It has been patched and otherwise repaired from time to time, but should be replaced by an entire new modern structure.

Twenty-seventh. The appropriation requested for lighting Executive Mansion and public grounds, and which is in excess of that made last. year, is deemed very necessary in order to extend the electric-light system through the Monument grounds, now entirely without illumination, and to change the system in Lafayette and Franklin parks from gas to electric lights. In the interest of morality, as well as for the protection of persons visiting or passing through the parks after dark, it is desirable to make them as light as possible at night.

Twenty-eighth. An estimate of $10,000 is submitted for changing the route of the pipe line which supplies the Capitol with pure spring water, incasing a portion of it in concrete and examining the entire line; the necessity for this important work is fully set forth in this report.

Twenty-ninth. An estimate is again submitted for replacing the overhead wires between the Capitol and the Departments with a duplicate underground 6-wire cable. The growth of the trees on the sidewalks renders it absolutely necessary, in order to maintain telegraphic communication over these wires, either to erect at once taller poles at a cost of about $1,600, or to lay an underground cable at a cost of $25,000. It appears to be the will of Congress that no more overhead wires shall be placed in this city (see District of Columbia appropriation act of July 18, 1888); otherwise I should recommend the appropriation of the smaller amount.

Thirtieth. I recommend that the salaries of the two steam engineers at the Washington Monument be increased from $80 and $60 to $90 and $70 per month, respectively. The duties of these two men are of great importance. Upon their efficiency and intelligence depend, to a great extent, the lives of those who use the elevator. The increase asked is small and the men deserve it. I also recommend that the pay of the two firemen be placed at $60 per month each. That is the rate allowed firemen in the Executive Departments, and there appears to be no reason why the firemen at the Monument should receive less.

In submitting these estimates I earnestly recommend that the various items under the heading of "Improvement and care of public grounds" be aggregated under one head, and while each item of work

shall be named, the whole shall be covered by a general sum, not a specific sum for each item. This is done in other Departments of the Government, particularly the Quartermaster's Department of the Army. It saves quite an amount of clerical labor by permitting the preparation of accounts under one heading, rather than under about thirty; moreover, it permits small balances which might be saved from one item to be used in some other equally necessary and important work.

This recommendation is based strictly upon business principles, and is for the purpose of reducing clerical labor and expediting the progress of the work.

* Appropriated by act approved September 7, 1893, $6,000; by act approved March 12, 1894, $11,958.

In conclusion, I desire to express my sincere appreciation of the faithful and efficient manner in which Mr. George H. Brown, the skillful and accomplished public gardener, and Mr. E. F. Concklin, overseer and chief clerk, have performed the various and important duties committed to their charge.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. WILSON,

Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers,
Colonel, U. S. Army.

Brig. Gen. THOMAS L. CASEY,
Chief of Engineers, U. S. A.

SYNOPSIS OF UNITED STATES PUBLIC RESERVATIONS IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO ACCOMPANY ANNUAL REPORT UPON PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1894.

Number, area, location, and description of the Government parks and reservations comprising the public grounds of Washington, D. C., under the control of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army.

In this report and upon the map herewith the reservations are numbered in the following order:

No. 1. President's Park (formerly White lot; area, 82 acres 9,683 square feet; highly improved):

Between Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets west and B street and Pennsylvania avenue north. The Executive Mansion, United States Treasury, State, War, and Navy Department buildings are located on the northern portion of this reservation, in separate inclosures, surrounded by iron railings and flag-stone pavements. These inclosed spaces are laid out in asphalt walks and lawn surfaces, are well lighted and interspersed with ornamental evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, and parterres for summer planting of exotic flowering and foliaged plants. The southern portion of the park, except a limited area still occupied by the stables of the Executive Mansion, has been improved. Gravel roads and walks have been laid out for public travel, the lawn surfaces have been arranged, and the planting of the ground with natural groups of ornamental green and deciduous trees and shrubs has been nearly completed. The roadway around the ellipse is lighted from 7 electric lamps. There are 3 fountains, 1 on the north front, 1 on the east front, and 1 on the south front of the Executive Mansion. The east and west carriageways leading to the north front of the Executive Mansion are now laid in asphalt.

.

No. 2. Washington Park (formerly the Monument Grounds; area, 78 acres 22,678 square feet; highly improved):

Between Fourteenth and Seventeenth streets west and B street north and
B street south and the old bank of the Potomac River.
This area
includes the nursery grounds under control of this office and the lakes
on the northwestern portion of the grounds under the control of the
U. S. Fish Commission.

The Washington Monument is located near the river front in the western
portion of the park. The white marble lodge is located near Fourteenth
street, and the monument-elevator boiler-house near the old bank of the
Potomac River.

A portion of the main roads of the park has been laid out for public travel and the lawn surface graded and planted in part with evergreen and deciduous trees. The nursery and propagating garden of the public gardens is in an advanced stage of improvement and comprises an area of about 7 acres. The carp ponds, lakes, and grounds, under control of the Fish Commission, comprise an area of about 20 acres.

A cireular sidewalk is formed around the base of the monument at a radius of 70 feet from its center, and laid in granolithic pavement; a foot-walk from the northwest corner of the monument leading to Meridian avenue is laid in asphalt, and 5 feet in width of asphalt has been laid on the center of the gravel walk leading from the northeast corner of the monument in the direction of Fifteenth street west and B street north. Several flower beds are laid out in the triangles formed by the intersections of roads and walks; water has been introduced in part.

No 3. Smithsonian Park (area, 58 acres 1,260 square feet; highly improved): Between Seventh and Twelfth streets west and from B street north to B street south. The Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum, and the Army Medical Museum and library are located in this park. These grounds are in an advanced stage of improvement; inclosed in part with a substantial iron railing; gas lamps around and on main lines of travel through the park; gravel and asphalt roads and walks in good condition; broad lawn surfaces planted with a choice selection of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. The statue of the late Prof. Henry, by W. W. Story, is located at the intersection of the main roadways northwest of the Institute building and the monument to the late Prof. A. J. Downing is located near the north end of east ellipse in these grounds. Two drinking fountains and a watchman's lodge are located in this park, and irragation water is introduced throughout the park.