Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-24
Cen. ssseoek's Report Or the White



ed ia obtaining quarters tor their Command at
the kiTkvOOd House.
Gen. B&seoek's Report on the White
HOUSE.
PRESSING EEED or NV FLACE or RESI-
pENCE FOR TIE PRESIDENT.
Gent BabcOek, superintendent of public
buildings and grounds. has transmitted 10 the
House OF Representatives, in compliance with
TIE resolution oi that body. a report as to the
condition Of the Executive Mansion its eapaci-
az ard adaptability for use "a an executive
ofise and residence tor .hc family OF the Presi-
dent, and whether any and what objections
exist ~ combining the business Office of the
frtsdelii with the family residence. He first
gives history of the White House, its erection
having been COmmeESed in 1872. from plans
furnished hv James Hoban. ami accented ty
the commissioners Of Washington. the FIRST stone
being lard Ou The 18th Of October, Ta;. He
then gives IT. dimensions and other details OF
construction. and saws: Most Of tie convent
snCe> and what are termed
HODEFS IMPROVEMENTS
M the construction Of dwelling houses have
GENE into Use or been invented SINCE the EYe.-
rHt Executive Mansion was built. and such OF
these improvements and cOnTcniences a. the
construction of the building would admit OF
have neen introduced. from time 10 time. though
in'urmouutab,e objections nave interpOsed
against the Introduction OF MANY improve
nents which wOuld he considered aii-important
and essential il the erection of a firstclaS- resi-
dence at this time. The building, on account
Oft age,
REQUIRES CONSTANT REPATEs
many OF the floor ami root timbeTs beiu. rotten
y here - hardly ceiling which has not crach ed
and IN the majority of cases the full extent of
width or length. Many Of them must OF neces-
rrty be taken down during the coming season.
To prevent their falling from their gradually
approaching weakness One large ceiling fciI
last year, bat fortunately when the room was
HnoccuFled. over the larger rooms of the first
story the ceilings have settled several inches
IRON the weight Ct tie partitions in the story
over az, ro,ssas below, withcGt corresponding
partitions on the iirs, ...,5r
THE BASEMENT
- wholly below the level of the ground on the
north side, and Is necessarily very damp and
unhealthy; vet il i the only portion OF the
building originally intended for the kitchen.
laundry. Offices and sleeping apartments OF the
servants, OF available for that purpose. Since
the spring OF 1>si, three persons employed in the
Executive mansion have died from pulmonary
disease, no doubt accelerated. if not induced.
by their continued residence in the building.
JHE FIRST FLOOR
has ty crstom and use come 20 be regarded as
public rooms, TO be used upon occasion o. recep-
fions, and az other times open to the Inspection
% 'ke general visitor and sight-seer and from
tier position AM utter lack or pEiVa6y are UNI
sTitatle for any other purpose so long "a the
brlding : maintained az aTesidence. Bat one
room ON the first floor j. use,l. or can well be
used, by the President and his family for TO-
ne>;c pun and that i the one in the north
west corner, which is used a. family dining
room
~ rHE SFCONp FLOOR
Eve rooms are devoted TO business purposes,
!Eou-h they are badly arranged and incOnve-
nient. Tie remainder OF chat floor consists OF
eight ROOMS. occupied as the private residence
of the President and family. Some OF the rooms
are quite small. the largest being the library,
with no closets on clothes presses, which are now
considered Indispensable. By ecOnom zins
room much a. possible and using the
library a a Sittins-rOOm, the present Chief
Executive Of the nation NAV. after aS-i SuinI
suitable sleeping apartments for himself
and the immediate members of Lis fami-
". have one >i-eping-ro0m lett Tor guests.
~ one of the rooms. other than the library.
should be diverted "a the PURPOSE OF sitting
rccm, ami the Presidents children should ali be
"a home AZ enc time, he would have 10 sleeping
apartment fcT a guest. There are probably sew
e.al hundred private residences in the city oi
Washington whose occupants possess. BY far b.
greater facilities IN these respect not ~ mc:l-
ficE the modern COnyeniencSs which are - e.
Ssntial 20 comfort. than the President of the
nifed States. The rooms available for the do
m site occupation OF the Presidents family are
entirely INADEQUATE. ami could hardly be less
convenient and comfortable III MANY respects.
and are almost destitute OF the ordinary seclII-
sion which gentleman would desire for him
sell and Tor hi- family. He saws II hardly seem
possible 20 state ANYTHING "a favor OF the house
a. a residence IOT the chief executive, but
A. An EXECUTIVE OFFICE ALONE
IL j. vel adapted. and would, If reftte,l and
fhOTOug hly repaired, admirably serve the pur-
pose, situated a. il n, conveniently near five O
the executive departments.
In concluding his report. General BshcOck
calls attention To the recent report OF the board
al health. and quotes from that document a. q
the unhealthy influences about the building
arising from the malaria south of il, and saws
s.With the growth OF the country the Executive
Mansion bas become with each succeeding year
moe and more of a public office. and liz now
affords scarcely any greater privacy than a resi-
slcnse IN one OF the departments The larg,
number of persons having business with thu
President renders the Executive Mansion UNI