Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-01
CITY AND DISTRICT.

II LA&ND
THE wEIrE HOUSE EXTENSION.
Objections Urged To the senate Plan
wings ON the East and West Suggested.
THE STAR has received from a gentleman oc-
cupying a high judicial place. and respected as
ascholar, the following communication respect
ing the proposed enlargement of the Executive
Mansion:
To the Editor OF THE EVENING STAR:
As q resident and native of Washington,
have been greatly gratified at the determine
ton evinced by Congress to make such provi-
sion for the comfort of the President will tend
to insure him, in his leisure hours, the privacy
enjoyed by the humblest housekeeperin Wash
fngton. Our Presidents have too long been COM
PEELED to live during their whole terms of Office
In a house practically as public as a tavern, and
10 what might well be regarded as public In
deceucy.
But with all respect to the wisdom and taste
of that august body, venture To- express the
hope that some change In the proposed plan
may be made by the House of Representatives:
for, in my humble judgment, its adoption
would fall tar short of removing the worst evils
of the present arrangements.
The Senate proposes that at short distance
south of the present mansion there shall be built
duplicate house, connected by corridor, and
that the new edifice shall be appropriated ex-
egsivey to the i family Of the President mt
scheme is that 1t practically destroys forever
the symmetry and individuality OF the ancient
mansion, which, after a life of more than half a
century, has become as well known, probably,
rs any public building in the world. With the
proposed alteration the present beautiful south
ern front disappears forever.
Again, the new building would completely
cut OF from the present then the official resi-
deuce) the lovely view to the south of the beau
tiful grounds, of the river and The hills beyond
IL, Arlington, the monument and all the other
striking objects of interest now so eagerly
gaZed at by the visitors from the southern win
dows of the east room and the adjacent apart
ments. Their prospect TO the south from those
apartments will thenceforth be limited TO the
enhancing view of "A white wall some thirty
more feet distant, which would equally OPP
pose a complete barrier TO the grateful southern
breeZeS.
The discomforts to the inmates of the new
mansion would be still less endurable. Their
priva te rooms would be completely overlooked
by the visitors TO the official residence; for no
lady occupying one OF the northern rooms
could make her toilet without first closing the
blinds gainst the prying eyes on the other side
OF the corridor. The fine view TO the north
from the front rooms OF the present mansion of
the beautiful lawn, the fountain, Lafayette
square and the Avenue, gay with professions,
would be gone forever TO the family in their
pent-up quarters. The breezes that enter the
present northern windows would be inter-
eepted, and the tree current OF air through and
through the building, essential to>fealth,
would no longer be possible.
In crowded cities landhOlderS of limited
means are obliged, for want of space, to submit
10 the erection by others of walls destroying
the prospect and cutting of the air; But was it
ever heard of that u proprietor with the means
to avoid il would voluntarily destroy to SO
serious ali extent the comfort and elegance of
his own home. Does any one believe that the
owner OF any of the fine houses on Lafayette
Square, L. he wished to- enlarge his house, and
could possibly do SO in any other way, would
interposc SUCH wall opposite his windows,
cutting of the view and the air? And yet the
government, with ample room elsewhere, is
gravely asked in this manner to disfigure this
leautifuI mansion and destroy at once its nri-
yacy and Comfort.
The artificial mounds in the grounds to the
lance from the south fronts; but the erection of
the duplicate house would bring them much
too close To Its southern entrance for beauty or
convenience, and would probably involve the
removal OF the fine magnolia and other trees
that have shaded the lawn so many years.
Now, respectfully submit that these incOn-
venienceS and diSfigurementS should not be
permitted if there is a feasible and appropriate
method of avoiding them, and venture to sug-
Let there be built two wings, appropriately
connected with the main building, each OF two
stories in height. Let the western wing be ap-
propriated exclusively to offices for the Presi-
dent and his clerks and reception rooms for
those visiting him on public business. There
need be no com ID unication with The rest of the
house, except In the second story, which might
be through tre-proOf doors, and proper safes
might be built for the preservation OF the pre-
ctoas documents now exposed in the present
comoustible structure.
The eastern wing would be occupied on the
principal floors by an additional reception
room Tor state occasions, now so greatly needed
and likely to be still more required in the
future, as the population increases. Above
stairs would be additional chambers for the
Presidents family. An entrance i'm the north
front OF the eastern corridor would admit guests
on state occasions, and disrobing rooms for
ladies and gentlemen could be placed in the
same corridor, thus leaving the family portion
OF the house completely tree from intrusion.
The lower portion OF the western corridor could
still be used In part tor the conservatory or for
30 much OF IL as should prudently be annexed to
dwelling. III IL were considered that this ex-
tension OF the northern facade would tend to
dwarf the present mansion it would be easy to
raise the entablature on its top, or even to add
an additional story to the main house. ANY
person who wishes to comprehend the probable
effect Of this proposed alteration may examine
an engraving of "Ainsley House, (" in Yorkshire,
contained in volume 3, of "Nears Views OF
Seats" in the Congressional library, which
represents mansion greatly resembling the
Presidents house, with the addition OF wings
such as ! propose. i trust these suggestions
may call public attention to a subject so inter-
esting 10 every resident and visitor TO our beau
titul city.