BOTANICAL GARDEN.
At the request of the Joint Committee on the Library, various imProvements have been made, under my supervision, at the Botanical garden.
The fence on Third street, from Pennsylvania to Maryland avenues, has, been raised to suit the new grade of the street, and a brick fence constructed on First street, between the same avenues. Gateways have been erected at the principal entrance on both these streets. The conservatory has been extended and finished, by the erection of the octagon at the eastern end. Forcing-houses, work and packing shops, have been erected on the square bounded by Maryland avenue, B, Second, and Third streets, in order to extend the working capacity of the garden.
CITY-HALL.
At the request of the Attorney-General I have superintended the improvements recently made at the City Hall. The western court-room has been improved by the introduction of another furnace for heating, and the ceiling of the same room has been pierced to obtain ventilation. The exterior has been repainted and the roof thoroughly repaired; several ceilings in the upper story, which were damaged by the leaks in the roof, have been plastered. Both court-rooms, the judges' and the jury rooms have been put in good condition.
As this building is now wholly the property of the Government, and as additional room is required for the courts and record-offices, I recommend that this building be extended to suit the wants of the public business.
COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN.
The improvements authorized by Congress have been made, and the entire building is now ready for occupancy, Steam-heating apparatus has been put in. and boiler and fuel-vaults constructed this season. To give this buildings respectable appearance the grounds should be graded in some places, and the street-fronts terraced and fenced.
CAPITOL EXTENSION.
| Amount expended from June 30, 1572, to June 30, 1973. | |
| Amount paid on rolls of mechanics, laborers, salaries, &c. | $43, 447 86 |
| Amount paid for paint and painting | 4, 611 21 |
| Amount paid for miscellaneous bills, such as lime, sand, cement, lumber, &c. | 9,716 45 |
| Amount paid for flagging and setting | 2,200 00 |
| Amount paid for iron an brass work | 521 71 |
| Amount paid for marble | 135 19 |
| Amount paid for hardware | 1,891 95 |
| Amount paid for gas-fitting and fixtures. | 109 65 |
| Amount paid for tiling | 422 70 |
| Amount paid for stone-work | 149 00 |
| Amount paid for forage for horses | 450 26 |
| Amount paid for material for heating and ventilsting | 7, 526 05 |
| Amount paid for boiler and water-tank | 8, 330 00 |
| Amount paid for fire-proof felting | 742 50 |
| Total | 80,260 53 |
| Cash account. | |
| Amount available July 1, 1872 | $7,000 00 |
| Amount appropriated June 10, 1872 | 50,000 00 |
| Amount appropriated March 3, 1573 | 91,000 00 |
| Total | 148. 000 00 |
| Amount expended from July 1, 1872, to July 1, 1673 | 80,260 63 |
| Leaving on the lst of July, 1873, an unexpended balance of | 67,739 47 |
