Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-21
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Luz A Ia N i Il L. IL W Il IN v Cs
IMPROVEMENTS ~ The FIRST wARp.-Amonz
the many beautiful residences now in progress OF
erection in this city, stands out consPcuously the
new and beautiful house of George W. Riggs,
Esq To attempt a general detail of the thousand
and one beautiful and costly conven ences, en-
bellishments and elegancies with which the e1-
terror and interior Of this magnificent building
abounds would occupy much more space IN our
columns than we can spare. The pleasantly To-
Gated lot upon which the building stands IL stu
atpd on street between Sixteenth street and Con-
necticut avenue, immediaieiy IN the rear OF me
some two hundred and fourteen feet in width and
three hundred and fifteen feet deep, and contains
some six thousand four hundred and ten feet
of ground; running entirely through the square.
The grounds surrounding the hOuse-which oc-
cupes position in the centre part Of the lot, are
tastefully laid OF in alternate walks and squares
which IL is designed to have planted with every
description of beautiful and rare flower known TO
this or any other county.
The space occupied BY the building is 1c6 feet
In depth, with main front of 81 feet. L he walls
from the foundation to the cornice are three 1eet
in thickness, and built OF the very best materlal
of pressed brick. The elevation throughout is W
feet, comprising basement story three Pflnclpsl
stories and attic weenter the main hall, which
IL fourteen feet in width, with height OF 10 feet
inches This hall is finished with highly
ornamental wainscoting Of Georgia panels and
black walnut base and cap trimmings. On the
right Of the main hall we have the magnificent
parIors Of the house lu,re are three OF them,
Of ~ by a., ~ by ~, a.d - by % feet in size.
They are so arranged as /, Je turned into one by
means Of arched folding doors, OF the most taste
full and elegant design and finish. The ceilings
are Is feet inches in height, and in the simpli-
city and appropriateness with which the various
convenience are disposed throug hOut unsuT-
passed by anything which we have ever seen.
On the left Of the main hall. and convenient to
the entrance. is the library. This room Is thirty
feet long by twenty feet In width, and has a beau
tifuIly-arched alc0ve overlooking the western
portion Of the flower gardens and walks. In de-
Sign aEd elaborateness of finish, this room is, per-
hsps, the mot complete Of any in the whole
ediace
The wainscoting Is CT choice 0sargja pine and
black walnut, and is most richly wrought; while
the walls are orBaIDented with costly walnut and
birds-eye maple cases and shelves for books. The
library is to be further ornamented with new
style of mantel, Of carved walnut Connected
with the library, by folding doors similar to
those connecting the three drawing rooms on the
right is the dining room; and in the rear of that
the buffers pantry; while still further on we
come to the kitchen, which is provided, IN the
most complete manner, with every convenience
pertaining to so necessary concomtant Of the
dinner table. Here nothing is wanting-water
and steam cooking ranges, cold water, hot water,
fSsl or wood fires, with everything in the most
peTfec: detail. Sever before were we in so
tensive and appetite prompting place Of the
sort.
Entering the main hail we ascend the grand
stairway TO the second floor; we pause to admire
the great feature Of the whole, the geometrical
staircase, OF remarkable symmetry and excellence,
being the workmanship of VIM. III. Johnson, a
Washington boy, who, though young, has alrea-
dy made himself reputation in this difficult
branch OF his business, and who executed the
admired stairwavs of the Patent Office, and of
Architect Walters and Major Lindsley's new
houses The material is, like the bdnnisters, of
North Carolina pine, and the rail of black walnut
and double size.
The second story front rooms are to be appro-
priaed Ia toilette uses while in the on either
de n he hal l1rt.p
and airy. and with convenient closets and bath
rooms The nursery Is elegantly finished, and
contains every requisite for the comfort and safety
OF the inmates. The third story is similar in ar
rangement 10 the second, with the exception that
the ceilings are about one foot lower than in the
second and first stories. In the third story is the
great water-taDk, which will contain at one time
thirty-fOur hundred gallons Of water, which is
supplied from the roof and from the cistern back
OF the house, so that in case the supply becomes
exhausted from a bove, the deficiency may be sup
piled from the yard cisteTn. The water is con-
veniently dispersed over the entire house by
means Of pipes, and the waste water Is conveyed
away by means OF large pipe which passes
of to the city sewers.
We now descend to the basement. when our
attention is called to the selfregulating furnace
which supplies heat to tie whole establishment
this heat is graduated by means OF valves, which
regulate the temperature to the point desired and
which is determined by the thermometer which
Is attached to the furnace. This furnace Is great
economist and warns a large house with less fuel
than would be required by any other process Of
keeping out the cold. The house il built from a
plan drawn by Architect X. Snowden Andrews
OF Baltimore, and the entire work Of the building
is under the superintendent Of Mr. X. J. Fal-
cOner carpenter.
The bricklay.ng is executed by Geo H. Plant;
stonemaSOnry by - Mooney; plastering by
Brown i SiOusSa painting by Thomas Stanley
and the plumbing and gas fitting by ]. w
Thompson.
The general design OF the building is Italian
MORE ABOUT THAT ENGINE HOUSE Mr. Ed
ii0r The communication which appeared in the
local columns OF yesterdays Star, over the name
Of - Franklin Company" sarcastcally rejecting
upon those persons who have the superintendent
of the erection Of the engine house for the Frank
lin Company, did not emenate from that company
as the community might suppose. What motive
could have prompted the writer, person who
has no connection whatever with the company,
we are at 4 loss TO comprehend.
The company has every reason to be satisfied
with the manner in which the building has pro-
crossed under the direction Of the Commissioner
of Public Buildings, and feel confident that ii
will be advanced as rapidly circumstances will
admit, and when completed will he all that the
company could desire.
RoBT- T.. DOYLE, President
GEO. r. CRossFRLD, Secretary