Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-09


UNDER THE DIRECTION or MRS HARRISON
ArRorosED FITTING CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
A bill Of great interest TO Washington and 10
the whole country was introduced in the Senate
today by Mr.. Stanford, providing for an extern
sion Of the Executive Mansion.
THE PREAMBLE To rHs BILL
The preamble to the bin is as follows:
Whereas on the 18th day Of October, 1897.
will be reached the first centennial Of the lay
ing Of the corner stone of the Presidents
house in the city of Washington. District Of
Columbia, the record Of which has been per-
petuated by the following record in the minute
book of the federal commissioners:
october Is. 1872. the commissioners Of the
city OF Washington. The commissioners ac-
companied by numerous collection of Free
Masons. architects and Of the inhabitants Of
the cities OF Washington and Georgetown. this
day laid the first corner stone of the Presidents
house.
Whereas tina. historic edifice which has
served in the dual capacity of executive Office
and executive residence for twenty-five Presi-
dents Of the United States during the long
period of ninety years. during which time the
republic has expanded from Union of sixteen
states with a population Of 5000 600 to a nation
OF forty-four states with 81 900 90 inhabitants
whereas in these changed conditions of ad-
1linlstIallNe requirements ana large territorial
area and population the said mansion is no
longer adequate for the accommodation of the
public and private requirements Of the eXecu-
tive department.; and
whereas the said mansion. owing TO the
long lapse of years and the perishability Of
materials used in construction. is in a decayed
and dangerous condition, through rotten TIM
bers, settling floors and other results of time.
PROVISION OF THE BILL
Therefore be il enacted, &C, that the Secre-
tary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury. and
the Secretary of War. constituting a commits
sion be authorised and directed to cause TO be
erected adjacent TO the present Executive
Mansion and connecting herewith an extension
OF said mansion in accordance with accom-
panying plan, proposed by Mrs. Caroline Scott
Harrison, to embrace the present mansion rs
private executive mansion. enlarged BIZ the
addition of an executive Office OF official wing
on the west and public wing or gallery of pie
lures, historic relics and art treasures
on the east. Both counterparts of the
original structure in design and con-
nected Herewith by collonades and
Railways and on the south by a connecting
range of iron and glass structures of symmetri-
cal design forming executive conseryatories
and winter gardens; the whole architectural
group forming an inner park or garden, at a
cost not TO exceed S9J0, 000."
THE PLANS.
AhS UNI ~ aSScih toAACA ny q VI
plans and drawings drawn under the inspec-
ton Of Mrs. Harrison by F. ID. Owen. The
plans show the present mansion with two
wings on the east and west respectively, con-
nected by cononades SO as to destroy no por-
ton of the present structure. The build
ing then extends from both ends
to the south and the square
is completed by green houses and palm houses
on the south. The southern buildings by the
plans not of sufficient height to interfere
with the light or the air of the main building.
The inner court shows an area of 800 feet
square. which, according to the plans, is to be
beautified with flowers fountains, &c.
The present intention and hope is that the
corner stone of the new structure can be laid
with appropriate ceremonies October Is. 1892,
as this date is peculiarly appropriate, being the
400th anniversary of the discovery of America
and the centennial of the laying of the founda-
ton of the present edifice. In the mean
time it is hoped that about 100000
can be appropriated for the building Of the
conseryatories on the south in accordance with
the plan, as it is a well known fact that the
present conservatories at the White House are
so dilapidated and out of plumb that a good
hard wind will some day capsize the whole
affair.