Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-01-17

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photographic Office of the Navy De-
partment.
! In 1915, Congress authorized the
reconstruction of the presidents
house. 1t was done by Hoban, the
original architect. 1t was not ready
for occupancy until 1918. In 1898
! the south portico was finished. In
1896 the east room was built, and in
1929 the north portico was complet.
ed.
The building stands on what is
known as the east plateau of the
city. 1t is about one aud one-halt
miles from the Capitol 1t is two
stories high, 10 feet long, and Sc
feet deep, of ireestone, and painted
white. The ground surrounding it
contains SOC acres. Tie main en-.
trance is reached from Pennsylvania
avenue, a semi circular drive, enter
ed through massive gateways. On
the Pennsylvania avenue, on north
front, is grand portico, with cores
pondng pilasters in the rear, afford
ing shelter for carriages and pc
destrians. The sonth front is adorn-
ed with lofty semi-circular c0lonade
OF six Iaonic columns, resting on a
rustic basement and reached by two
| fights of steps. On the west are
the conservatories. The grounds
are tastefully laid out in walks, trees,
shrubbery and fountains. The
grounds OH the south are private.
The general style of the building
is a modification of the residence of
the Duke of Leicester in Dublin. 1t
is not very imposing edifice, though
it is by no means an inelegant struc-
ture. Dickens, in his American
Notes, compared it to an English
clubhouse. English tourists, who
come to Washington, are surprised
at the asmallness Of the "Presi-
dents CASTLE" as they generally
term it. The total appropriations
made for the erection and mainten-
ance OF the Presidents house from
1909 to 1888 amounted to 81, zoe, 900.
Every four years $4,000 is appro-
prialed by Congress to refurnish the
executive mansion. III the exterior
of the White House is plain, the in
terror is by no means SO. On the
first floor, the nam entrance and
vestibule, 40x5O, feet, is tastefully
frescoed, A sash screen dividing
The latter forms "a private corridor
within. The east room, designed
originally as banquet hall and so
used as late as 1887, is SOx4O feet,
and % feet high. The style of arch
itecture is pure Greek, the ceiling in
oil and the walls in embossed paper.
The dado, columns, girdcrs, corni
cfs, and carved mantels in wood, in
white and gilt. Mirrors and richly
polished furniture add to the attrac.
tions of this room. 1t is now used
as a part of a suite for receptions
The Green room is 30x20, and is also
beautifully furnished and decorated.
The Blue room is 40x30 feet, oval
form and furnished in blue gilt. III
this room the President receives on
occasions of public or private recep-
tiOns. The state dining room is
40x30 feet, and contains a dining
table to seat thirty-eight PERSONS
The china set in use consists of 500
pieces, aud cost about $4,000. On
this floor are also the Red room, din
ing room, small waiting room ana
buffers pantry. On the second floor
are the Office rooms, the cabinet
room, library, state bed chamber
and private dressing room, corridors
and chambers. The servants rooms
are in the basement.
In the Cabinet room is table
with seats for each member OF the
Cabinet. The President sits at the
south end, the Secretary OF State on
his right, Secretary of the Treasury
on the left, Secretary of War next
to the Secretary of State and Score
tary of the Navy directly opposite
on the left, Postmaster General ON
the right next the Secretary of War,
opposite on the left tn, Attorney
General, and at the north end fac
ing the President sits the Secretary
of the Interior.
The official household ofthe Presi-
dent consists of a private secretary,
an assistant secretary, two execu.
tive clerks, four clerks, a telegraph
operator, a steward, an usher, five
messengers, four door-keepers, a
Waterman, aud furnace-keeper.-
Congress appropriates the mooey to
pay the salaries of all these officers,
but the President has to pay, out
of his private purse, all the other
servants required to conduct his
household affairs. The steward has
charge Of the furniture and plate,
which are the property Of the United
States, under the direction Of the