Evening Star Newspaper, July 16, 1896, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1896-TWELVE PAGES. 11 Time enough to worry about washday when you can’t get FELS-NAPTHA soap (At all grocers.) FELS & CO., Philada. ‘antidote for wash day troubles, FELS-NAPTHA SOAP. Sold everywhere. FELS & CO., Phila. SUFFERED INTENSE PAIN The Tortures and Disfigure- ment of Eczema. MR. EWING'S REMARKABLE CURE) c Net Bear the Touch of Clot ing—In Agony From Burning Sensa- tions—Completely Cured by the | Wonderful Treatment of Doctors and Cowden. DOCTOR Mecoy’ University of New York.......1876 in his class. -1879 ons TL ize February, 1879 nination, open to all the world, resident physician of + Hospital. 2 March, 1879 ected visiting physi- eve ning school for nurses....April, 1880 | Se 1s of London and Dublin......1881 F u of regular treatment for chronic les. as a result of hospital expertence. 1882 Formulation of regular treatment for the cure of . bronchial and Inng diseases.....1983 3 cures first. intro- I-known Journalists, rviews of patient « April, 1884 Ex < by employment of cece ISSS-1S86. The for further hospital s ef Prof. Koch at B. Stud Chariti d Cin wer ¥ The w 1. W. Ewing, Anditor’s Office of | Treasury. testifies to Dr. Me- Cop's skill in curing diseases of the | skin. | F W. Ewing, clerk in the Au e for the Post (fice Department, says: first warning I had of my skin being poisoned «ppearance on various parts of my body dry, sealy sores, running together. increased in size, forming frightful as large as silver dollars, which would and discharge. i suered all the agontes, tt seemed to me, that any one could Strange, Burning Sensations began in my feet and formed a cireutt, as It were, of Sof tire eucasing my body. My hands, feet and ankles were swollen and palned me in- tensely. IT had to wear gloves en my bands all the time and vould not hear the touch of clothing. Physictans pronocneed it Am Angry Case of Eczema, bat fe relieve my patn. I. tried every “ly witheat success. When Dr. Me- ed 4 National Practice in Washington essed with bls remarkable ‘The dizgnosts of Eczema, the . Was right, but my case was one that ed in a reasonable time. ictnes and instructions at ¥ tot After a week's application I fet ent. I was relieved from the and gradually the blotches grew less Now I Am Entirely Cured. Dr. MeCoy’s treatment acted lke a charm. My tural 2 ty 1 I have no trace of McCoySystemofMedicine Dr. J. Cresap McCoy, Dr. J. M. Cowden, Consulting Physicians. 715 13th Street Northwest. Office H purs, # to 12 a.m., 1 to 5 p.m., 6 to 8 p.m., datly; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. DeToK M OF THE SKIN CAN BE OBTAINED BY S AN APPLICATION THROUGH THE MAL INTENDED ONLY o FLICTED WIT?L SOME FORM OF SKIN DISEASE. The Czarina’s Spoiled Gown. is 1 For many months past the most skilled workers of embrofdery in the Russian con- vents were hard at work embroldering, in delicate gold and silver, on white satin, the tter: coronation train of the czarina. As it was So enormously long it had to be worked in Pi separate to be pi es and sent to St. Petersburg ed together. Judge of the con- Siernat.on of the court modistes when the Precious parcel was unwrapped. All the beautiful ver threads had turned black! How curre ich a catastrophe could have oc- robed in mystery. The only pos- cenjecture that can be arrived at {s that the paper {t was wrapped in must have had some corrosive acid in it. Busy fingers Worked nght and day to finish another in time. Of course, it was impossible to pro- duce in a few’ days what the work of nths of patient labor did, and the beau- tful czarina was obliged to wear a les = guiticent gown than was at first intend- ed. = Always That Way. Frou the Indianapolis Journal. She—“How nervous you were when you Proposed!” He—“Yes, 'm always that way when I'm Betting engaged.” cord, and | LIVING BODIES SOLD. Surgeons Pay Cash to Secure Inter- esting Cases After Death. From the New York Recorder. For reasons which can readily b2 appre- ciated, doctors and the heads of medical institutions do not care to go into particu- lars regarding the purchase of living bodies, and yet, as a matter of fact, it is custom- ary to pay cash in return for a bil! of sale cn the human body, to be delivered to the doctor or to the medical institution after the death of the seller. Any persons who are compelled by fate to go through life with a malformation of body or limb may, if they choose, realize or their misfortune, and there are on rec- ord wills of persons deceased who have left their bodies to various institutions for dis- section. There are many cases of such ante- mortem sales, one of the most notable be- ing that of a man known as “John,” who has sold his head and trunk to the surgeons connected with a well-known New York hospital. John, so far as records go, has no other name; he has a pecullar growth on | the side of his head, which, while not a particularly pleasing sight, from a medi:al standpoint is most interesting. The man came to the hospital as a char- ity patient a number of years ago, and it is said that an arrangement was made be- | tween John and the doctors whereby he was to have a home in the hospital as long as he lived, provided that he was willing | that after death his body should go to the surgeon's table. Another case was that of Allen Martin and his young wife. For some reason known only to themselves, they wished to sell their bodies to the Central Medical Coliege of St. Joseph, Mo., but the offer was refused for the reason that both man and wif? were in good health and perfectly formed, and there was every prospect of their outliving the doctors to whom they wished to make the sale. A medical college in this city has among its records and papers a bill of sale for a woman's head. The woman ts alive today, and should her name be mentioned !t wonid be recognized by hundreds of persons. She is gifted with a marvelously tenactous | memory, and the doctors are curious to | know just what pecullarity her brain will show. This cannot be learned during her but she, being willing to advance the of science, has sold her head to the institution for the nominal sum of $20. In | her will she has left instructions that her | body shall be decapitated, and, while her | trunk and limbs shall be buried in the cr- | dinary way, the head and brain shall go to the surgeons for dissection. In all the German hospitals every patient who enters does so with the knowledge | that if he or she dies in the institution the | body is by law destined for the dissecting | | tabie. Custom, which familiarizes all | things, has overcome all sense of repug- nance in the matter and the charity patient gives no second thought to the final dispo- sition of his body. In French hospitals the same custom pre- vails, and any pecullar malformation of the body in a deceased patient is at once sub- Jected to the surgeon's knife. Attempts have been made to pass a similar law in England and in this country, but the pub- He sentiment has thus far overruled the demands of the anatomists, and with few exceptions medical colleges are obliged to look elsewhere than charity hospitals for subjects for the dissecting table. ———_— +e-—____ Unfortunate Spain. From the London Times. Enough has been sald to show that the rebels roam at will throughout the length and breadth of Cuba, the only exception to this being the towns and fortified posts guarded by Spanish garrisons. I will go further than this and say that Spain has lost control and jurisdiction in this island except in those spots where her soldiers are actually encamped. A mile distant from any of these garrison towns and for- tified posts armed rebels will be found at every turn. And this condition of affairs has only one meaning—Spain has lost the power to protect life and property in Cuba. I do not say that it is at all impossible for the mother country to reconquer this lost ground, but it must first be clearly understood In Madrid what the true posi- tion Is here today, and that the merely de- fensive attitude now adopted ts worse than useless, if not, indeed, the precursor of dire | disaster. The fine and dry winter season is | now ended, and that opportunity for an active campaign is lost; we are on the threshold of the notoriously unhealthy Cuban summer, with its invariable and ter- | in during the month of May, and all roads Will now become practically impassable for military maneuvering. For the next six months, therefore, the Spaniards can hope to do little by force of arms; they must wait and suffer the ter- rible effects of the climate and support the strain of being constantly harassed by the rebel skirmishers. For the Cubans the gummer months have no terrors. They are not subject to yellow fever, nor do they suffer from exposure to wet weather to anything approaching the extent that Span- iards and other foreigners do. Day after day telegrams from Madrid are published in Havana to the effect that ministers and other public personages express themselves as thoroughly satistied with the way affairs are progressing in Cuba. It is time to be done with such child’s play and throw aside these clumsy and puerile attempts to throw dust in the eyes of the Spanish people. It is better they should know the truth, how- ever unpleasant and unpalatable the facts may be. —— Chinese Girls Win Degrees. From the New Haven Register. The names of two bright young Chinese girls appear on the honor roll of graduates of the Michigan University this year, and they are said to be the first Chinese giris to graduate in America. They rank high as students and have won the friendship of the faculty and their fellow Students at the university. The girls come from Kinkiang, China, ard are sald to be in- teresting in many ways. They are notable for their active minds, pleasant smiles and agreeable manners, and their bright eyes and quaiat faces are ever attractive. The names of the little graduates are Ida Kahr and Meiyie Shie, end no doubt they resemble the ‘little maids from school,” with which the world is so famil. far. Given English educations the women of China, Japan and India May yet attain to the free estate which characterizes the women of this great country and makes them among the most envied and admired of the world. : ——___+e-— Wants His Money’s Worth. From the Indianapolis Journal. “Do you spell it ‘program’ or ‘pro- gramme’ ?”" : “I spell it ‘a-m’ in a letter and a double ‘m-e’ in a telegram,” answered the man who believes in getting all you can from the corporations. FOR HEAVY, SLUGGISH FEELING Use Horsford’s Acid Phosphate. It produces healthy activity of weak or dis- ordered stomachs that need stimulati: asa tonfe on nerves and brain "S md sets rible scourge of yellow fever; the rains set’ WORK OF A YEAR What Has Been Done on Public Buildings and Grounds. es COL. JOHN M. WILSON'S REPORT A Separate Office for the President Recommended. PARKS AND RESERVATIONS Col. J. M. Wilson, Corps of Engineers, in charge of public buildings and grounds, has submitted his annual report to Gen. Craig- hill, chief of engineers. It 1s a compre- sive document, and contains many things of great interest to the citizens of the Dis- trict. An Executive Office Needed. Attention ts again invited to the import- ance of providing suitable offices outside of the Executive Mansion for the President of the United States. This matter was dis- cussed in Col. Wilson’s annual reports for 1898, 1804 and 1895. “I earnestly recommend,” he says, “that an appropriation of $250,000 be made for the .erection, within the Executive Mansion grounds, and directly opposite the Treas- ury building, of a granite structure for the office for the chief executive of the nation. “This structure could be connected by a wide corridor with a large conservatory, fitted up as a winter garden, with tropical plants, fountains and statues of eminent Americans; the conservatory could open in- to a picture gallery connected by two wide corridors with the east room, and these improvements could serve a double purpose by relieving the mansion of the terrible crush incident to the evening official recep- tions. “I earnestly hope that this important matter may no longer be delayed, and that action may be taken at the approaching session of Congress toward erecting a suit- able office bullding for the President of the United States.” In this connection he says that a settle- ment was discovered in the floor of the cor- ridor between the stafe dining room and private dining room, where the largest crowd congregates at evening receptions. The floor was torn up and the old girders and beams were found to be badly cracked: these were strengthened and repaired and the floor relaid. The Col. Wilson tells in detail the operations of the year in maintaining the Executive Mansion, green houses and stables In good condition. The conservatory and the other green houses received such necessary re- pairs as the funds available would admit: while extensive repairs were made in the conservatory. the work was confined to the very worst nortion: several steel eirders were placed in nosition. and a small brick wall buftt upon them at the south and sonth- west ends of the structure, and the whole of the woodwork of the south face was re- newed. Attention Is again invited ta the conserva- tory. the frame of which ts of wood, rapidly decaying, and almost in a dangerous condl- tion. A new fron sunerstructure, at an estimated cost of $13,000, 1s recommended. Annual repairs are made to the old super- structure, but, according to Col. Wilson, It seems almost a waste of funds to patch up portions of an old decaved wooden frame with wood, which will also decay, when a violent storm might possibly wreck the structure at any time. Col. Wilson tells in detail the operations of the year In maintaining ‘he Executive Mansion, green houses and stables !n good condition. The conservatory ani the other greenhouses received such necessary repairs as the funds available would admit, while extensive repairs were made in the con- servatory, the work was confined to the very worst portion: several steel girders were placed {n position, and a smal! brick wall built upon them at the south and south- west ends of the structure, and the whole of the woodwork of the south face was re- newed. Attention is again invited t> the conserva- tory, the frame of which is of wood, rapidly decaying, and in a dangerous condition. A new fron superstructure, at an estimated cost of $13,000 is recommenled. Annual repairs are made to the old super- structure, but, according to Col. Wilson, it seems almost a waste of funds to patch up portions of an old decayed wooden frame with wood, which will also decay, when a violent storm might possibly wreck the structure at any time. The Washington Monument. In regard to the Washington monument he says: “Every effort has been made during the year to maintain the monument and its machinery in good condition. Vandals con- tinue to give annoyance by occasionally chipping pieces from the outside or from memorial stones in the inner walls; when- ever detected these thoughtless persons are arrested, but, as a rule, when brought to trial, escape with a small fine. “The elevator and all the machinery con- nected therewith have been critically in- spected monthly, and pronounced in excel- lent condition. It 1s believed that the ele- vator is as safe as it is possible for man to make it, and every effort is made to pre- vent accidents. Should an accident ever occur, it will result from something which it was impossible to foresee. “On September 18, 1895, during a violent thunder storm there was a magnificent display of Hghtning at the apex of the pyramidion. Owing to the excellent system of protection, which was arranged when the monument was built, no damage what- ever was done to the shaft. “The monument was open daily during the year, except Sundays and holidays, and, with the exception of a few days in the autumn and again in the spring, while the machinery was being overhauled, the ele- vator was in operation whenever the monu- ment was open. There were 146,101 visit- ors to the top of the monument during the Executive Mansion. year, of which number 104,928 made the asceni In the elevator and 41,173 by the stairway, making 1,244,227 persons who have visited the top, without a single ac- cident of any kind, since the shaft was opened to the public, October 9, 1888. The Public Grounds. Most of the report is devoted to the works ir progress and proposed for the improve- ment of the public parks and reservations. The following extracts are made from an exhaustive chapter on this general sub- ject: “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 as- phalt roads, covering an area of 33.03 acres. “There are in all 301 reservations, vary- ing in size from a few hundred square feet to 82 acres. These reservations are classi- fled as follows: Number. Acres. Highly improved. O44 351.12 Partlaliy improved. 30 27 Unimproved .... 168 48.69 Total . 801 405.08 “Each year an effort is made to add to the list of improved reservations, but ow- ing to lack of necessary funds, the pro- gress is very slow. It is not generally real- ized how much beauty the smaller spaces are capable of exhibiting should they be brought to their highest condition of im- provement. It is, in a measura, true that the outlay in this development is consider- able, but the subsequent maintenance of tkese spots of beauty in their highly im- proved condition is comparatively light, and not much more than the expense now incurred in mowing their grass surface. “With this report I submit partial esti- mates for the partial improvement of the following: Reservation No. 19. “1. Reservation No. 19 (immediately rorth of navy yard).—At the request of a com- mittee cf citizens of the District of Colum- bia, a plan of improvement for this reser- vation at an estimated cost of $12,000 has been prepared. The reservation covers an area of about 3 1-3 acres. It is located in a section of the city which has not yet been highly improved, and is bounded on the nerth by the tracks of the Baltimore and ‘improvised opening in 3 Potomac Railroad Comply. A side track extends through it to thwmavy yard. The adjoining streets are unpaved, no side- walks have been laid,*4nd the streets bounding the reservatio#¥are not curbed on the reservation side.¢ In the western section a narrow stream snpanders through @ small ravine and finds {ts outlet in an ‘etreet newer. It ubic yards of will require about 3,00 earth to fill this ravine aqff/bring the reser- vation to proper grade. iif “It is proposed to lay sidewalks on the east, west and sduth boundaries; to con- struct gravel walks, lay o¥t lawn plots and sow with grass seed; to'jntroduce water, construct necessary draihs, drain Icdges and gutters; to plant with suitable trees, shrubs and flowers, and tbeplace eight park lamps in position. Five 'Bhousand dollars is requested to commerce; the work. Howard University Park. “2 Reservation No. 2U, Howard University Park.—This reservation covers an area of nearly twelve acres. It is located south of the Howard University betwen 4th and 6th streets. Its improvement. has been urged from time to time by prominent citizens, and a plan for its ornam=ntation 1s sub- mitted 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 be- low grade of the surrouding streets, but 1g not wet except at the south=ast corner of the park, where apparantly there are springs. The ground generally slopes to- ward 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 assemblags of our people, being within a few squares of the terminal sections 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 re- Neve 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 sum- mer 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, ter- racing 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 sucn drains to street sewers as are necessary to properly drain the lower portions of the grounds, and to request the District governmen:, which claims control of all streets from building line to building line, to construct sidewalks around the reservation. The park will be lighted by electric Jamps. Five thousand dollars ts suggested with which to commence the work. New Hampshire Avenue and M Street. “Reservation No. 140—This reservation is located at the intersection of New Hamp- shire avenue and M street northwest, and frequent requests have been made for its improvement by residents of the vicinity. It is in a section of the city which has been greatly Improved in recent years, and Is generally occupied by private residences. The reservation covers 9 area of about Ww) Square feet. It Propose] to grade lay out lawns and flower beds, plant nstruct asphalt walks, at a total cost of $2 “There are still 168 of “hese little spaces unimproved throughout the city, and if the general appropriation for, various reserva- tions could be increased to 315,000 annually they could be gradually transformed into exquisite little parklets and add greatly to the beauty of our capital city. Children’s Playgrounds. “By the act of Congress approved Au- gust 30, 1890, the officer in charge of pub- lic grounds was authorized to set aside a portion of the public grounds for a chil- dren's playground, under regulations to be prescribed by him. The southern portion of the Monument Park was at once set aside for this purpose, but’ no regulations were prescribed, a8 there were no means of carrying them out, no watchmen or police- men having been authorized; end the serv- ice of the one watchman on duty at the monument being needed there to ‘protect the structure from acts gf vandalism. “Just complaints were received that the lawns were being destroyed, trees injured, and that the children’s playground was overrun by vicious and improper persons. This office has been requested %o take action to relieve the grounds of such char- acters, and has been obliged to call on the District police for assistance. “To protect the improved grounds as far as possible and to prevent serious annoy- ance to those enjoying the beauty of the park, the playground was transferred in the autumn of 1893 to the site between B street and the main drive north of the monument. This plot of ground covers an area of about eight acrcs, and is occupied nearly all the time by men and boys play- ing foot ball or base ball. “By the act of Congress approved March 2, 1895, the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds was directed to au- thorize the use of a portion of the grounds within the ellipse south of the Executive Mansion for a children’s playground, under regulations to be prescribed by hi “Notice was given throvgh the public press that children applying would be au- thorized to play lawn tennis, croquet, cricket and kindred games. The only re- quirements were that the children should be recommended by any reputable citizen and would agree to exercise the common rules of courtesy, which would govern them in a private park. “But two requests were received for this privilege; both were promptly granted, but in neither instance was adventage taken of the permit. “Several applications from young men to play foot ball and base ball in the reser- vations were received, but it was not be- Heved that 1t was intended under the law that the lawns of the ellipse or other parks should be used for these purposes. “It was anticipated that during the com- ing fiscal year the reservation at the in- tersection of Georgia and Virginia avenues, which covers an area of about two acres, and which was turned over last summer for use as a playground for children, would be fenced in, water introduced and trees planted. Unfortunately no funds have been provided for this purpose. These play- grounds should be set aside in various parts of the city for the use of children, not to be monopolized by grown persons or half-grown youths, nor to be used for games prohibited under the police regula- tions of the District. “Howard University Park, either highly improved or in its present condition, could well be selected for this purpose, and many of the smaller reservations through- out the city which have not been highly improved could be set aside for playing lawn tennis, croquet and kindred games. “If Congress approves my, suggestion and deems it best to continue,the privilege ex- tended by,the acts of August 30, 184), and March 2, (895, there should te some punish- Tent prescrtbed for breathes of the rules and regulations governing, the parks, and there should be regular watchmen on duty at all hours—not simply far eight hours of the day. The duty of these watchmen should be to prevent imjfrpper characters from interfering with the-children and to see that all proper regulations are thor- oughly enforced. White House @rbunds. “The grounds within the iron fence north and south of the White”House, together with the entire reservatigy, known as the President's Park,south of the White House, Treasury Department and,State, War and Navy building, north of B+street and be- tween 15th and lth stréets, have been maintained in excellent condition. “The northern portion -of the grounds outside the iron fence fronting the State, War and Navy building and the Treas Department should be highly improved. “As the section of the park immediately south of the Treasury pbuilding has been selected as the site for the statue of Gen. Sherman, the Treasury Department photo- graph gallery and green houses should be removed, the old iron fence taken down, a suitable low boundary wall of rock-face granite with ornamental coping and low- capped plers at entrances constructed, walks lald out and arrangements made for the construction of a park to be known as Sherman Park, which will correspond in style with the statue which it 1s proposed to erect. An appropriation of $6,000 is ask- ed for this purpose. “The White House stable should be re- moved from the grounds fronting the State Department. where {t is manif2stly out of Place, and that portion of the park should Tecelve such further improvement as is it, shrubbery and ¢ needed by the construction of asphalt walks to replace the present gravel walks; addi- tional walks for public travel through these grounds, increased water supply for irrigation and increased drainage facilities are required. “The portion of the grounds south of the Executive Mansion fence, covering an area of about eighty-two acres, heretofore known as the President's Park, has been maintained in as good condition as was Possible. This park has been frequently used for drills and parades by our citizen soldiers and by visiting military companies from other cities. Some years since a vom- petitive drill lasting several days took place in the park and recently the ground was occupied by the Grand Army of the Re- public in their memorable reunion. “Under the terms of the joint resolution of Congress approved February 13, 1896, this park and the Washington monument reservation were used by the International cprieHaw Endeavor Association in July, “Heretofore on all occasions where the lawn of this beautiful ellipse has been used for ceremonies of this character it has been apparent that a wide walk around the parade would be a desirable feature and afford safe standing room, out of the way of passing vehicles, for specta- tors, as well as a path for pedestrians vis- iting the locality. “With this object in view, it is suggested that an asphalt walk fifteen feet wide be constructed around the outer portion of the ellipse, separating it from the carriage road by a parking thirty feet wide. “The American elm trees now bordering the parade would afford partial shade to this walk, as well as to the roadway; at all the principal outlets of the park to sur- rounding streets wide walk openings would be made to connect with these roads for the convenience of the public. “It is estimated that the approximate cost of this walk, with its approaches, necessary drains, drain lodges, etc., will be $10,500. Washington Monument Grounds. “This park, covering an area of about seventy-eight acres, is the site of the Washington monument. During the year every effort has been made to maintain the improved portion of the grounds in as good order as possible and to continue improve- ments so far as the limited funds available would permit. The section of the reserva- tion between the main drive north of the monument and B street, which is now used for playing foot ball and base ball, under the terms of the act of Congress approved August 30, 1895, was improved by removing about 1,000 cart loads of broken brick, stone, earth, &c., and grading about an acre and a half of ground. This work of grading will be completed during the season of 1806, and the area of the playground thus increased in all about two acres. “It 1s again earnestly recommended that the electric light system inaugurated in 1889 in the grounds south of the White House be extended throughout the park. There is now no method of artificial fllu- mination between B street and the propa- gating gardens south of the monument be- tween 14th and 17th streets, and in the in- terest of morality and for the protection of persons necessarily crossing these grounds at night, lights are necessary. Propagating Gardens. “Extensive repairs were made to the va- rious green houses and potting houses dur- ing the year, and the large and valuable collection of plants was maintained in good condition. “Extensive improvements can well be made at these gardens. About 500,000 plants are annually propagated at ‘the green houses for use in the summer and au- tumn decorations of the public parks: the beautiful water lilies and other aquatic plants used In many of the fountain basins are also propagated her: “The various structures are serviceable for the purposes for which they are used, and have been mainly erected by our own workmen at comparatively cheap cos: they are without ornamentation of any kind, and are maintained in repair by a small annual appropriation of . buildings should be increased in’ number; a large palm house and a subtropical plant house are especially needed; green house pits and cold frames are also required for the purpose of growing hardy herbaceous perennials, no plantings of which of any Magnitude have as yet been made in any of the parks or other public gardens in Washington. “The nursery grounds of the gardens, ex- clusive of the ground occupied by the &reen houses, storehouses, sheds, roads and walks, cover an area of about four acres, one-third of which is occupied by the green house plantings for stock and hardy rose grounds; the remaining por- tion ts thickly planted with young trees and hardy flowering shrubs, set out in rows ready for transplanting when re- quired. This area is not sufficiently large to supply the tree and shrub plantings of the park extensions of the public grounds, and purchases are made of the varieties and character needed from commercial nurseries and wherever they can be found, to supply deficiencies. It is hoped that in the near future, when the work of filling the Potomac flats near the propagating gardens {s completed, the nursery grounds may be extended so as to furnish abundant room for the purposes for which they are intended. “I am frequently in receipt of requests for the loan of plants from the gardens for the use of churches, fairs, festivals, etc., and demands are constantly made for fiowering and decorative plants for private purposes. “I am obliged to decline all such requests, as either the loan or gift of any plants would be in violation of the following ex- tract from the act of Congress approved June 2, 187! ‘Provided, That hereafter only such trees, shrubs and plants shall be propagated at the green houses and nursery as are suitable for planting in the public reservations, to which purpose only the productions of the green houses and nursery shall be applied.’ “After the annual spring planting in the parks is completed it sometimes happens that there is a small surplus of bedding plants on hand. These are divided among such public reservations or institutions as the State, War and Navy building, marine barracks, Washington Aqueduct grounds, Fort Myer military reservation, various hospitals and orphan asylums. After these are supplied, should there still be a few such surplus plants remaining, they are given to whoever may ask for them. Smithsonian Park Grounds. “This large reservation is one of the most popular park resorts of the city. It con- tains within its boundaries the Smithson- ian Institution, the National Museum and the Army Medical Museum, all of which at- tract many visitors. The area of tie park is about fifty-eight acres, the greater por- tion of which ts laid out in lawn surfaces, about nine acres being devoted to roads and walks. “During the year the improvements have been continued and the park maintained in gcod order, e “The lawn surfaces of this park need reno- vation. They are planted with a great variety of deciduous and evergreen trees, many of them being the most perfect of their kind in the parks in this country. “It is earnestly hoped that the entire ap- propriation requested for this park may be granted. Henry and Seaton Parks. “These two parks have an aggregate area of about thirty-four acres, mainly laid out in lawn surfaces, the planting of which has not as yet been completed; about three acres only are covered by gravel road and walk surfaces. They extend from the Smithsonian grounds to the Botanic Gar- dens, which, in their turn, join the United States Capitol grounds, and compleze the chain of parks extending from the Execu- tiv® Mansion to the Capitol. 5 “During the year the improvements have been continued and the park maintained in good order. “In Henry Park the large mound com- menced some years since to screen :he Baltimore and Potomac depot from the park was completed, the length graded be- ing 400 feet. This was covered with soil and sown with grass seed. A board walk, 336 feet long and three feet wide, was laid near the base of the mound, running from the stone steps on 6th street to the gravel rcadway leading to 7th street. “In all of these parks every effort was made to save the beautiful trees from the destructive action of the caterpillar and elm beetle. A large number of cocoons were destroyed, and the trees which suffer- ed heretofore from the elm beetle were sprayed, so far as was possible, with a de- coction of London purple. Reservations North of Pennsylvania Avenue and West of the Capitol. ‘This division of the city embraces all the Public reservations located between 1st and 28th streets west and B street and Florida avenue north, the majority of which are in an advanced condition of improvement and require the constant attention of a BUFFALO - Lirma WATER NATURE’S SPECIFIC FOR MALARIA, A FAIR BONA FID E PROPOSITION. Any. sufferer from Chills and Fever, of however long standing, using these waters at the Springs e r the advice of the Resident Ph weeks, without obtaining ician for six relief, will have no bill to pay and the physician will be paid by the proprietor. THOS. F. GOODE, Proprietor, Buffalo Lithia $ 4Sy16- thé&tu,Im W.S. Thompson, Agent, 703 15th St. N. W. prings, Virginia, force of skilled laborers employed for their proper maintenance. “Much work is still required in this beau- tiful section of the city. The parks should all be surrounded by granite curbings; all walks and roads should be of asphalt; the roads should have curbings and be proper- ly drained. This is particularly true of Ju- dictary Park, which covers an area of about twenty acres, and the gravel roads of which are almost as much traveled as are the adjacent streets, and equally subject to wear from heavily loaded teams, rendering it very difficult to maintain them in good condition for travel during the winter. The first cost of asphalt roads and granite curb- ings would, of course, be approximately large, but ‘the. subsequent saving in the cost of their maintenance would in the course of 1 few years more than compen- sate for the original outlay. “In all the parks the lawn, tree and shrub plantings should be well cared for and | maintained in the highest degree of excel- lence. This will necessitate from time to time not only considerable trimming, but the removal of occasional trees and shrubs where too thickly planted, to secure future benefits not apparent to the casual ob- server. : Reservations East and South of the Capt “This division of the city includes within its limits the highly improved reservations known as Lincoln, Garfield, Folger, Stan- ten and Marion Parks. “The final improvements projected for Garfield Park, covering an arga of about | twenty-four acres, are nearing completion. The main gravel road through this park, leading to Virginia avenue, is used as a thoroughfare for heavy teams, which ren- ders it difficult to maintain it in good con- dition during the winter season. “It is regretted that the reduced appro- priations will prevent the continuance of any extensive improvemehts, the amount available being not more than sufficient to maintain in good order the roads, walks gutters, drains, lawn surfaces, trees, shrui and other improvements. ‘Stanton, Folger and Marion parks are highly improved, planted with choice speci and laid out with | There are fountains in Stan- | and Stanton Park | contains the bronze equ statue of General Greene. The gravel walks in these reservations should be covered with as- | phalt. In addition to these parks there are twenty-eight small public spaces, which have been partly improved and planted, 2nd about 1 similar spaces at the intersection of streets and avenues yet unimproved. “The increased prosperity of this section of our city and the large number of private improvements in progress demand that still more attention be given to beautifying the public spaces, and increased appropriaiions are earnestly recommended for this pur- pose. Lighting the Public Grounds, “The gtounds immediately south of the Executive Mansion are illuminated by elec- tric lights, and during the coming year it is anticipated that similar lights will be in- troduced into Lafayette, Franklin, Judi- ciary and Lincoln parks. “It is earnestly -hoped that this system will be extended to the Executive Mansion grounds, the monument and Smithsonian grounds, and to the various improved parks throughout th city. | “As soon as the electre lights, for which | provision has been made, are ready for set- vice, the gas lamps in Franklin, Lafayette, | Judiciary and Lincoln parks will ve dis- continued. “Seventy new boulevard lanterns and eighteen new lamp posts have been placed in position during the year in the more im- | portant parks, and the old-fashioned lan- terns removed.” In regard to the telegraph line connecting the Capitol with the executive departments, Colonel Wilson says: i “The attention of Congress having been invited to the great difficulty in operating the overhead telegraph system, owing to the growth of trees along the line, which interrupts the electric currents, especially during wet and windy weather, an ippro- priation of $1,600 has been made for improving the system, and during the fiscal years 1896-07 new tall poles will be erected and new wires run; it is believed that thi will temporarily overcome the existing dif- ficulties, but it will not protect the lines from damage during gales. gravel paths. ton and Folger parks, with a system of underground es is So apparent that argument in {ts favor is un- necessary. timates have been carefully pr end submitted in previous years. The of the underground system will be $25,000, and the matter ts presented for such act.op as Cong-ess may deem best.” ———_~+ e-— SPEED OF INSECTS. A Common House Fly Tri a Mile in Thirty-Three Seconds. From Science. It is the popular belief that the flight of birds is much swifter than that of insects, but a number of naturalists who have been making a study of the matter think that such is not the case. -ommon house fly, for example, is not rapid in its flight, but its wings make «eht hundred beats a second, and send it rough the air twenty-five feet or- dinary circumstance: of time, When the ins: been found that it can in speed to over one hundres ver ber second. If it could continue suct flight for a mile in a straight line it would cover that distance in exactly thirty-three seconds. It is not an uncommon thing when travel- ing by rafl in the summer time or wasp keeping up with the tr ing to get in at one of the windows. low is idered one of the swiftest c ing } and it was thought until r that no in: scape it. A naturalist tells of an exciting chase he saw berw swallow and a dra 9 which is among the swiftest of ir t flew with incredible nd eled and « d with such ease that the swallow, despite its utmost efforts, com- pletely failed to overtake and capture it }-8 on wouldn't think much of a man who re- mained tied when he bad a knife in his hands, would you? He would be foolish to re- main helpless when the slightest effort would free him. A man is made helpless and use- less by other things be- sides ropes. Constipa- tion will make a man 7s helpless. His muscles > and brain are so weigh- ed down with impure, Poisonous matter, use- lessly retained in the system, that effort of all kind is distasteful ; and what little work he is able to perform is not of good quality. Constipation makes a man sluggish and heavy. Itgives him a headache, most likely. His “brain doesn't work.” He has a bad taste in his mouth, a foul breath, and he “feels bad” all over. Constipation causes nine-tenths of all human Sickwess. It is the cause of sick and bilious headaches, of bil- iousness, sour stomach, heart-burn, palpita- tion of the heart, pimples, blotches, indi- gestion and dyspepsia. It can be cured just as easily as a rope may be cut. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets will doit. They will do it without producing =i harmful effect on the rest of the system. They are not violent in their action. They merely assist Nature. They will restore the healthy, natural action of the digestive organs. You don't become a slave to their use. You stay cured when you are cured. One little “ Pellet” is a gentle laxative ; two a mild cathartic. Get them at druggists. Nothing else is “just as good.” HEALTH FOR NOTHING.—If you knew more about your body and its needs you would be sick less often and less seriously. You may have this knowledge free. If you will send 21 one-cent stamps, to pay the cost of mailing only, we will send you post-paid, 2 paper-bound copy of Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser. This 1,008-page, illustrated, medical work contains more in: formation about the human body in health and disease than any other medical book printed in the English language. If you would like to have a copy bound in fine, French cloth, send ten cents additional (thirty-one cents in all). World’s Dispen- sary Medical Association, 663 Main Street, Buffalo, N. Y. “The necessity for replacing the poles Gladness Comes wie a better understanding of the transient nature of the many phys- ical ills, which vanish before proper ef- forts—gentle efforts—pleasantefforts— rightly directed. There is comfort in the knowledge, that so many forms of sickness are not due to any actual dis- ease, but simply to a constipated condi- tion of the system, which the pleasant family laxative, Syrup of Figs, prompt- ly removes. That is why it is the onl remedy with millfons of families, and is everywhere esteemed s0 highly by all who value dhealth. Its beneficial effects are duc to the fact, that itis the one remedy which promotes internal cleanliness without debilitating the organs‘on which it acts. It is therefore all important, in order to get its bene- ficial effects, to note when you pur- chase, that you have the genuine arti- ele, which is manufactured by the Cali- | fornia Fig Syrup €o: only and .sold by | all reputable druggists. If in the enjoyment of good health, and the system is regular, laxatives or other remedies are then not needed. If afflicted with any actual disease, one may be commended to the most skillful physicians, but if in need of a laxative, one should have the best, and with the well-informed everywhere, Syrup of Figs stands highest and is most largely used and gives most general satisfaction. PRESCRIPTION 4387, FOR Rheumatism. The prescription of one of Was! and most : "8 oldest G T and pains due to URIC ACID poison. I blood, purifies the timulates and restores the kidneys, improves the Beslth ind gives tone and vigor to the system. Price, $1 per bottle; trial size, Sic. S 7th at. nw., cor. E jet Pure Rye Whisky Is distilled especially for medicinal purposes, ant is bighly recome e1 by the leading physicians for its medicinal virtues. Sold only in full quart Lottles, $1.25 each. REEVES, POOLE & CO., 1200 xy1s-3m,14 F st. ow,