The Evening critic., 1884-12-04

1t has always boon deemed fitting that the
inaugural ceremonies OF an incoming Presi'
dent should nnd n finale in ball OF grandeur
and brilliancy dlflcult 10 equal and Impos.
sible to excel Great care and attention is al.
weys given to the matter, expense being a
email Item OF consideration.
The attendants are usually those prominent
In station and society, representing all nations
and cllmes, and to mako the bali worthy OF Its
patrons and the occasion for which II is given
is the chief study OF those entrusted with Its
preparation and management
Probably the most yexatious problem to
solve In the Induction Into ofIlce OF the Chief
Magistrate In connection with these festivities
is tho securing OF suitable and commodious
place wherein the ball can be held. As tho at.
tendance is always great, running Into the
thousands, no ordinary space Will DO adequate
TO accommodate the patrons. on similar oc-
casions In past years tho Patent ONCE, Treas
ury Department and Capitol have boon
brought into requisltion, and for the ball four
years ago the National Museum was In sum.
being utilized.
This time it is thought that none OF tho
places heretofore used can be obtainable, and
some OF them, II accessible, would be deficient
In eizo TO meet the purpose for which they
would be desired, and as oconsequenco search
Is being mudo elsewhere for accommodations.
Timely suggestions have been thrown out
that, perhaps, portion OF tho now Pension
building might DO made aervlceable and the
ball BIO given there. Tho immense dimen-
sions Of the structure warrant the assertion
that Its capacity will come nearer meeting
the requirements as to space than any other
building, and It is claimed that II 10 tho only
one, II obtainable, that will prove suitable.
For the purpose Of seeing what the chances
might be OF the building being sufficiently
advanced toward completion as TO permit Of
| giving the ball within IFS halls, a representa-.
tive OF THE CRITIC yesterday paid q Welt to II,
| and through the kindness or Mr.. Hephnian
| Jones, the superintendent, was given all the
Il ~ N Vn1a In In INN
AS 10 we'll known, workmen have been engaged
| In lis construction for long time past, and
the weather has been 80 favorable during the
| past summer and fall that rapid progress has
| been made In tho work, although 1t Will be
| ished.
| At present tho exterior walls have boon
| completed 10 tho taking In OF tho third-story
| and the maeons arc now engaged In laying the
| cornice OF terra Gotta and pressed brick, and
as all OF the material ie on the ground this
| Will soon DO done. The centre ofthe building,
| which goes over the court, is still one story
| higher, and the inside walls for this have al
most risen TO the necessary height. Tho sides
OF this story Will be all windows for the pur-
pose OF giving light and ventilation TO the
court below. Tho height OF tho main building
from the ground floor to tho caves is seventy
Ave feet, while In tho centre from the ground
door TO the peak OF the building is lid feet.
The iron FOR the roof Of the main building
has been received and some OF 1t already been
put in place. Three hundred and fifty hands
are employed on the building, and the work is
and good workmanship allow. II the inaugu-
ration ball should be held here at all, It will
be on the nrst or ground moor. Some idea or
It's size can BIO formed from the fact that 1t is
316 feet in length, with width OF 116 feet.
Running parallel with It on the south side
are 16 rooms, twenty-six by thirty.slx feet,
each connecting with tho other by large
double doors. In these rooms tho floors are
all laid windows in place, heating apparatus
In condition for use, doors hung, and locks
and keys supplied, and everything ready for
occupancy. These rooms were lifted up for
the purpose OF q temporary annex to the pres
ent Pension once, but fear being entertained
that papers might become damaged through
rain, the building being unroofed, it,was do.
cided not TO mako the removal. They would
per rooms, and as the doors are 20 feet Wide,
q table, II II was deemed necessary, might be
spread, running their entire length.
Taking space and accommodation into con.
sldoration, and the Likelihood OF being unable
TO secure better, II as good, quarters elsewhere,
| In which the ball should be given. In order
| that there shall be no delay, II at q late day.
| the decision Is made to use 1t, the superin-
| tendent intends TO Immediately clear from the
| ground floor ell the rubbish and material not
| In use, which will have to be done anyhow, SO
| that time may be saved In this respect.
OF course floor would have 10 be laid, but
| this would be small Job In comparison with
| the erection OF q building In which to give the
| pall. The principal drawback Will be the
roof, but a suggestion has been made which
| tits believed VIII remove this objection. Those
competent to Judge say that canvass can be
spread over the top OF the walls In such a
manner as to perfectly protect those beneath
| from the severity OF storm or GOODNESS OF the
| weather, and II this can successfully be done
| II is very doubtful II any valid excuse can be
offered for not holding the ball In the new
| Pension building.