National Republican., 1873-02-27
TIE BALL BUILDING.


Progress. or the work-Thc tias FiSturrs-
The Music-The DecorstIons-The Hat
and Cloak Rooms-President's Rootss-
Ladies' Retiring Rooms-Thc President.
PIaiform-Tho suppcr-IIot Water and
Hcat-The Press Rooms.
The workmen engaged upon the ball building
are making rapid progress, and there Is no doubt
that II will be completed In due season. The
| sounds Of hammers and saws and planes render
the place almost pandomonlum Of noises, and
II is hardly possible TO speak so as TO bo heard
unless very loud tones he employed. OF course
the interior Of the building presents a scene Of
' complete chaos. Several movable platforms,
n ,xcs Of sundry material TO be used by the car.
non, ers, decorators and gas-nttors, as well as
,,,o. =. lumber, arc scattered over the floor, and
rcndcy n 'Ifloult to pick ones way around with.
nn, s,umbih. =. The edince Is now wholly In.
Sn.n chs nnI ,sn tered somewhat dark and damp,
mi g,s anJ bss, will he let in In a few days,
when an oppoign VIII =, sn RG 20 IgdSS o.
the effect Of the bnil> ~ ~, unrown o, upon
the scene On the &c syctiss TuRES. "" VI 'i"''"
The gas.nt,ers are busiiyN work completing
their part OF the Jsb. Alreas ioyep tbe Toni
under the door and dong the Inner sides OF 1.-THE me
building. Descending from the f00f 'e sone ni
sixty gas.plpes, to which are being stta .,nI
Win VII In innamePssie sSa sa ncCs Hs% trSs % sss
Jets Of gas will spring forth. For some ten feet
the lower part Of these pipes ls covered with a
sSt, 81 & hollow woolen ,Soe, tainted 70 white
these tubes, and some ten feet above the gss
jets, is sort Of shade with eight corners These
shades s,uI are painted in pretty patterns q while
patterns Of leaves Of an autumn hue. Looking
at these from the loor the effect Ia very pretty,
and when the whole cumbersome slNty-are
placed IN position and Illuminated by the gas
lets Just beneath they will doubtless prove TO be
the most pretty ornaments Of the building.
Two galleries are being built for the accomnlo-
| datlon OF the two bands which viii supply PROM
enade and dance music. one OF these Il to be
located Immediately over the main entrance to
south end Of the building. II Is expected that the
| music will he the finest that has ever been sup
piled for any similar occasion In Washington.
THE DECORATIONS
are scarcely begun yet. The only part'of this
portion Of the arrangements yet completed Is
the decoration OF the suppcr-room. Tables run
side and ceiling Of the space allotted to them are
covered with red, white and blue muslin. The
latter two colors alternating give very pretty
tire length. Some Idea Of the extensive plan Of
ornamentation adopted may be derived from the
TACT that four miles OF laurel-eaf rope have been
already In the building, waiting to be put up
| TnH HAT ANDCLolK ROOMS.
Generally one OF the chief annoyances at large
|
manner In which the committee provide for the
proper care Of hats and cloaks. When several
| thousand people assemble together, nearly all Of
whom have wrapplnRs TO be deposited some
where during their soIourn, IL Il quite natural
| that there should he confusion, when at the con-
cuslon OF the entertainment hundreds make q
| simultaneous rush for their hats and cloaks.
The committee in charge Of this part OF the ar.
rangements fully appreciate the importance Of
attending TO the matter thoroughly, and It Is be-
iieved that they have made perfect provision for
| the nTODeI caring for n Fm
| are sixteen sections Of boxes proyided-eight
for the accommodation Of ladies' and eight for
gentlemen. The former are located north Of
the main entrance, and the latter south Of IL.
Each Of these sections contain hii'tit three hun.
| dred boxes, so that In the sections combined
there are nearly nye thousand boxes IN which %
| place the outer wrappings OF those who may At
tend. Each section will be numbered, as will
also the boxes and tickets issued for the redemp-
tion OF whatever may be deposited In these CLOAK
rooms.
| THE PRESIDENTS ROOMS
are located at the left OF the private entrance at
the southern end Of the building They are
three In number-One for the President and
friends, one for the lady members VI his party
and one TO DO used as private supper-room for
himself and guests, These rooms will be richly
ntted up and supplied with every requisite for
the making OF toilets. Adjoining the Presdents
apartments are rooms set apart for the foreign
ministers and their ladies', which will also Se
feature OF the fittings Of these rooms will be
several handsome mirrors, an act Of thoughtfuI.
ness on the part OF the committee which the
ladies' will undoubtedly appreciate.
LADIES RETIRING ROOMS.
Beyond the boxes provided for the wrappings
OF the ladies, and at the extreme southern end
81 the building, are the retiring rooms for the
be carpeted and provided with every necessary
convenience for the making Of toilets. They
NJ also 9e hesssS BY steam and
have been duly provided for. Adjoining these
rooms Is large committee room for ladies, aud
another ior gentlemen, and constitute all the
Of the President and friends being placed at the
left Of 1t as above described.
| the FLOOR
dancers, II has been carefully laid, the material
used being narrow pine boards. The joints have
been planed down, 50 that the entire nOor is as
room; The noor will probably be properly Waxcd
and placed In nne condition for dancing.
THE rREslDESTs PLATFORM
| Is already erected. IL Ia placed at the north end
Of the room, nearly occupying the entire width
Of the edlnce. II Ia raised some slx feet from
| the moor, and Will accommodate several hundred
people, IL Is reached from the main moor by 4
wide hight Of steps and two narrow flights at the
sides. From this elevation a lne view can be
9otained pliL Of ne scene In front, and here the
fres'ueht VIII hold leyee during the evening.
The arrangements for the supper have been
places In the hands OF Mr.. William Wilkinson.
The choice Is 4 wise one, for to no more compe-
tent hands could this important matter be en-.
trusted. MI. Wilkinson Is an experienced hotel
proprietor, having served several years In some
Of the largest hotels In the country, and there IL
abundant cause to feel that the supper will be
properly served. The cooking Of the game and
meats will all be done in New York, and sent on
by express. on Saturday next a force OF ten
cooks ls also expected from New York, who will
tlohs Of the table. Some Gfty cases Of cTocEery ~
arrived yesterday, and II Is expected that the
table Will be fully prepared by Monday evening
o. next week. Five large pantries arc attached
viii be stored t6e reserve supply Of dishes, 80 sS
that as soon as the table Is cleared OF eatables
they VIII be replenished by other dishes. In
these rooms also are provided the arrangements
for washing dishes. Hot and cold water will bt
supplied to those performing these duties.
HOT WATER AND HEAT.
Yesterday two large steam boilers aud steam
engine were placed In position on the grounds
boilers are large pipes. Which % viii convey @ St hes
70 the dressing-rooms and, II necessary, to the
entire building. Other pipes will supply tht
Kitchens with hot water fof washing dishes. ii
y, however, more than likely that the twenty
sands OF people, will render the dancing hall sum
ciently warm without the aid OF the stean
pipes.
| THE PRESS RooMs
At the northern end OF the building Is private
entrance for the members Of the press and thos,
| who may accompany them. Their rooms arr
directly behind the Presidents platform, so tha
ms aass may be reached without passing througl
hers OF the press will probably be given posi-
tions, for without some such aCcommoda Ions /
would be impossible for them TO do Justice to thI
occasion. II this Is not to be allowed we sugRes
for, as TO compel them TO sklrmish In the crow,
would be TO Tender II almost impossible for then
70 perform their duties In proper and satlsfac
tory manner.