Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-28
EVENING STAR.
A House for the pres;dsnt ~ tbs limited

congress to consider the expediency and ne
cessity OF providing another house for the Pres
idens Of the United States. The present resi-
dence Is admitted to be unsuitable. 1t is noto.
riousiy unhealthy by reason of its situation.
Intermittent fever prevails there during the
months of August, September and October,
like an epidemic.
The proposed extension of the Treasury
Department building, and the construction of
the one in contemplation for the War and
| Navy Departments, will reduce the size Of the
| grounds about the Mansion so much that con-
venient and proper situations cannot be found
On the remaining limited space for the erec-
ton OF stables, greenhouses, and carriage
houses, which must be prepared this season
IN place of those to be taken away to make
room for the Treasury extension.
We think it grave error that any building
for public offices was ever placed on the square
| occupied by the Executive Mansion. 1t was
evidently not the intention of those who laid
out the city that any structures like tho build
| ing for the Treasury or the Navy or the War
| Departments should be erected thereon, TO 90
| struct a view Of tue Presidents House from
| Pennsylvania avenue, from L or g streets, or
| from New York avenue. Their intention
however, has been frustrated the square has
| been encroached upon, AID, we understand
it is designed not only to extend the Treasury
| building so as to occupy by it more than four
| times the space now covered, and TO erect 4
| tltIl 1f ha SiY "a cg fIo
| general architectural finish On the sile Of the
present War and Navy Department. but to
| continue tho streets now bounding the east
and west sides of Lafayette Square through
| ths grounds Of the Executive Mansion to the
| street om the south side or it. When that il
done, it Is easy to see that no proper spot can
| be found, near at hand, for buildings such az
| we have indicated, which are essential TO the
Mansion
In the year 1888, when the walls of tho
present Treasury were bat one story in height
it was proposed to take them down and use
the material therein for a new post Office struc
turc.
The Committee in the House Of Represents.
tiVes on Public Buildings and Grounds, called
on I. U. Walter, ESQ now the excellent
architec. ef the Capitol extension, but then
architect and superintendent of the edifice for
the Girard College. in Philadelphia, for his
views in relation to the proposition which he
gave in written report. blouse Doc. 25th
Congress, ID Session
In that report Mr.. Walter states that one Of
oh tn ba praoant ar;sa. f-o,,
the insuficiency of the space it affords for
building, without encroaching too much on
the Presidents grounds" and suggests (page
~ that "not only the Treasury building, but
all the buildings now occupied by the Navy,
War, and State Departments, be taken down,
and that the entire plot of ground from Fif-
teenth to Seventeenth streets, be disencum-
bered of every building, except those in con
nexion with the Presidents Mansion; and
that tho whole area be then enclosed with an
ornamental iron railing, with entrance lodges
of appropriate design On Fifteenth and Seven
teenth streets, opposite to street "
These views were unanimously approved by
the Committees On Public Buildings and
Grounds OF both Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives, and bill was reported on the 29th
of March, 1888, for the removal of the build
ing, (Which was then but partly constructed, }
and for the application &C the materials in the
construction of the new post cffice. (See House
Doc, 25th Cong, ID Sess,, No. 137.) A direct
vote upon the bill not being taken during tina,
session, the subject died out with that Con.
..ose or moo cor daraS ;mD-octico hio hv ra ae,
son of the progress of the building for the
Treasury.
Experience and observation satisfy US that
the Executive office should be disconnected
from the Executive residence. Every one
who has had occasion to call often within the
past dozen years and mora at the present
mansion, cannot have failed to observe how
inconvenient is one entrance both for persons
who call on official business and those who
desire to visit some member of the family Of
the President. The porter must necessarily
inquire whether the call be one Of civility OF
business.
There does not seem to be a spot which, by
reason of easy access for Senators, members OF
Congress, and other public functionaries, is
eligible for the erection Of an Executive Of
fee. Neither is it proper that the Offices of
the President of the United States should be
in the same building with officers of one De.
partment of the Government to the exclusion
Of others. The present mansion. however,
would be suitable in its upper rooms for Ex.
ecutive Offices and would afford ample accom-
modations for an Executive bureau llould one
be established.
In our opinion Congress should mako an
arrangement somewhat like this, II should
make appropriation for tho employment by
the United States Of compete at pers,'n to be
appointed by the President, whose duty il
should be to take charge of the Executive man
sion, and be responsible, Under bonds, for all
tho furniture, silver plate, &c. II sh ould