Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-12

IT'S PLAN, SIZE, FURNISHING, oKNAxkNrArroS AN
COST.

WIN the beginning OF the new year the pioneer
apartment building In Washington, The Portland,
Is completed and occupied Some six years ago the
owner, MI. Edward Weston, OF Yonkers n. Y, es-
tabished his winter residence here by the erection
vi spacious home on street Deisurely observa-
ton convinced him that well planned and conducted
apartment houses would be welcome attractions to
the washington season He bought the site south
OF Ihomas Circle, with 21S feet frontage on I4th
street and PIT feet on Vermont avenue and caused
plans to be prepared by experienced architects In
New York and Washington. After due considera-
ton he decided unQualiffedly in favor OF the de-
signs got up In this city. and carried out part OF
the project In the building season OF 1880. About
the new year of 1881 the building ready for oc
cupancy, and before long all the suites were taken
The popularity OF the building grew 50 much as TO
Justify the owner to prepare for the completion OF
.ne building before two years had elapsed. The
WORK was begun last winter and finished last
month.
THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
OF the building are sweet fresh air and plenty OF
light throughout, convenient communications and
hreproof constructions In all essential parts from
basement up to the roof 1t has six lofty stories
above the basement The basement contains all
The desirable accommodations for caterer and su-
perlntendent OF the building, such as kitchen with
SIX french cooking ranges, steam tables oven
pastry and store rooms, scuery china-rooms. wine
cellar, laundry, steam drying and ironing
rooms, trunk rooms, a meter-room. with
seP rtSar gas meter and piping for each nat
pressure steam-heating apparatus, steam boilers
ana steam pumps for raising the water supply for
to huge iron tanks on the roof This basement COM
munlcateS with the story above by but two care
FULLY guarded doors In proof wells and s other
wise completely cut OF.
The first story is reached by three main entrances
from both adjoining streets These lead spacious
yestibueS and reception-room. Further there
O.nru
pants as do not prefer TO take meals at their own
rooms then two suites of rooms, each consisting OF
parlor, dining-roOm, three chambers kitchen,
pantry, servants room and bathroom, which are
grouped around private hall Also a smaller suite
or rooms and taStefuly arranged and Shetically-
decorated drugstore, with the proper appendaCtis
Inc second third and fourth stories contain each
three large suites OF rooms described before and
three smaller suites, embracing parlOr, or two
chambers, library, bathroom, etc, around the
private passage. The fifth and sixth stories con-
tain each nine OF the smaller suites Just described
This aggregates
THIRTY-NINE SUITES OF ROOMS
or various Sizes All the larger suites communi-
cate with the basement by dumb-waiters and by
dust-shafts located in solid brick shafts All the
inmates Of the building may intercommunicate by
means OF the improved oral annunclator or speak
through the telephone Of the superintendent
There are pneumatic bells at the entrances too
ana VIII hin the several suites
Two sets OF main stairs lead from first to sixth
stories, with ventilating Sky lights overhead
These stairs are CONSTRUCTED win Iyronght i'm
carriages, have steps and landings of slate or cast
IRON, ana ornamental metallic ratings. The ser
basement to the roof, are enclosed by heavy brick
walls. and are accessible from each story. Their
ceiling on the level OF the roof is formed by the
potIomS or the wrought iron water tanks for
house service and supply for the elevators
THE ELEVATORS
are or the most approved make, and combine the
most valuable Improvements In safety appliances
The one in the southern part OF the building is OF
a q nf tic prnc q ~ W.
one lately put In In the north part is by the Whit
tier Manufacturing company of Boston Under the
latter machine there is so-called alrcushion con-
slStng OF slightly tapered square shaft OF heavy
Drck work. by which, II all the products OF human
ingenuity should fail the speed OF falling cage is
gradually arrested by air pressure, so as TO land
any passengers softly below the level OF the base
ment. The first story floor, which cuts off the
basement, is constructed OF concreted brick arches
Spanned between rolled iron beams The platforms
and corridors around staircaSes and elevators con-
slSt OF marble thing upon reproof arches through
all stories. The floor OiSts OF the rooms and halls
from second story all the way up, protected
derneath by ceilings formed OF slabs OF porous terra
Gotta, and above by double floors with an interme-
dlate heavy stratum OF plaster OF paris
THE BAY WINDOWS
nVe and six stories In height, are all secured In
themselves, and to the main walls by cradle work
OF fiat iron, repeated twice for each story There
are no studded or lathed partitions in the building
these propagatorS Of an incpient fire are sup
planted by light walls composed OF fre-proof
blocks The tower is constructed OF solid brick
WORK up to the states OF the cupola In a court
along the @a q T dP Is Tie r for the
giving the f1remen command OF a fire from the
fiat roof and converting all stairs inside the build
ing In case OF panic, into exits for the egress Of
the occupants.
The exposed wood work OF the interior IS framed
OF combinations OF cherry, oak. ash, and White
pine, with occasional frieZe ornamentatio In
color, all oiled and rubbed to dull faces. Most OF
hGy-n plD fYl fNylnra
with iron facingS, andironS and movable half
low-down CRATES. Those In the parlOrs have rich
ebony nantes, ornamental tile borders and hearthS
and are surnounted by beveled mirrors. Where
suitable, modern Turkish portiereS are hung In the
place OF doors. The architecture is fifty supple
mented by the art OF the decorator in the elegant
furnishing OF the building, done mostly by and at
the expense OF the owner.
TIE EXTERNAL ARCHITECTURE
OF the Portland Is kept In modern renaissance
based upon the traditions OF Italian art during the
cinque cento The walls are about 50 feet high
and are pleasantly relieved by rich atttca above
the fifth story. The extreme height OF the tower
above the green sward surrounding the building Is
100 feet. This tower Is octagonal; it Starts'w
a story in cutStone work In modern DOric, which is
gradually transformed until a graceful cupola I'm
kindred forms with an Oriental feeling is reached
and this Is Surmounted by huge final The
silhouette OF the tower is enlivened by
shapes, Jutting out towards all points OF
the compass on the different stories, and the
dead surfaces OF the walls are broken by Ornament
tai panels OF terra Gotta blocks and of encausttc
tile In chaSte contrast OF color with the red ground
tone OF pressed bricks.
THE COST OF THE STRUCTURE.
This enterprise represents an Investment exceed
ing $4,000. MeSSrS. CluSs & SchultZe are the ar
chitects who planned and superlntended the work
from beginning down to completion, the various
branches having been executed under contracts
directly made by them with skilled and responsible
mechanics, artists and manufacturers after COM
petition.
MeSSrs. ThoS. J. Fisher & Co have the manage
ment Of the building, and their business tact viii
tend towards the continued prosperity OF an
enterprise SO auspic1ouSly begun.
The Charge Against Nyr. Hewitt.
WHAT Is SAID AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.