National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-18
OUR FRENCH FLAT.
The Near Completion OF the Portland
House-Description OF the RuiIdlnR.

The Near Completion OF the Portland
Reconsideration OF the Building.
The Portland House, at the corner of
Fourteenth street and Vermont avenue, is nearly
completed, and will be ready for occupancy about
the first of April. 1t is on the French fat plan
and is built in the most substantial manner of the
very best materials, and everything is finished in
first-class STYLE The woodwork is all of oak, with
hard oil finish. There is no paint about the
building. The main halls are iOored with marble,
and the walls are sand coated. There are two ell
frances one on Fourteenth street and the other on
Vermont avenue, and it is designed to have
escape upon each side. The stairs are of iron,
and each step is inaid with wood, the balustrade
Is silver coated, ornamented with bronze. On the
first floor there two restaurants-one for ladies
and one for conference.-the Office, and two suites
Of apartments. On the second, third and fourth
floors there are three suites of apartments upon
each. On the fifth and sixth floors there are six
suites of apartments on each. The two upper floors
have no conveniences for housekeeping, and the
occupants viii find it necessary to patronlze the
restaurant
THE APARTMENTS
upon the second third, and fourth floors are very
complete, and consist of parlor, dining room,
three chambers, servants room, and kitchen.
There is also pantry and bath-ro attached to
walls, with brass rods for hanging pictures; ebony
mantels, with oblong plate-glass mirrors over
them; low-down CRATES and handsome chande-
liers The dining rooms are similar with the eX-
ception of the mantel-in these rooms they are
made of carved walnut. The mantels in all OF
the chambers are made of OAK elaborately
carved and ornamented with panels OF birds-eye
maple. The windows have large, square panes OF
glass and inside shutters. The transoms over the
.af
any one standing on the floor, so TO secure per-
feet ventilation. The Kitchens are very snug and
convenient, have nice little ranges, sink, hot and
cold water, and large cupboar1s for dishes. There
is small elevator for each suite, worked by
steam, to send up provisions, fuel, &C. and an ash
tub, closed with an iron door, there will be no
trouble about carrying down refuse. The ashes
descend into the pit in the basement and it is the
duty Of the janitor to have them removed.
THE WHOLE BUILDING IS HEATED
by steam, and each room is provided with crate,
so that persons preferring open fire can have it
if they desire it. Thepassenger elevator is worked
by hydraulic pressure and is warranted to be per-
fecuy safe. Electric bells are in all the apart
ments, and Il speaking tube in each eommunl-
Gates with the porter's room in the basement. The
gas arrangements are very complete There is
house metre and one for each suite, thus enabling
the several families to control the amount of gas
used, the same as in private houses.
EVERY ROOM IS WELL LIGHTED,
and is bright and cheerful, and the view from the
upper stories is very fine The basement contains
the boiler-roOm, engineers room, wine-rOom,
laundry, drying room, kitchen for the restaurant,
porter's room, and coal hunks the latter are num-
bered and can be locked, giving each family con-
troll of their own fuel. The rent of the several
apartments Will vary according to location,
and probably the most desirable ones will
range from Sl25 to $50 per month The
ladies' restaurant is under the con-
troll of John Gray, and is beautifully fitted up with
round tables, crimson leather chairs with oak
frames, and handsome mirrors. The china is very
pretty, and everything looks inviting. The lamp
for the entrance which is not yet in place, will be
supported by bronze flying Mercury upon a
pedestal. The Portland House was erected by Ed
ward Weston, esq, Of YOnkers y. Y, AdOlph Cluss,
of this city, being the architect. The woodwork
was done by Bright & Humphreys, of Washington !;
the brick work by David Cissel the plumbing by
Alexander Brookfield, and the gas fixtures were
furnished by E. F. Brooks