Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-07
THE WHITE HOUSE ELEVATOR
Progress of the Work on the Old Ford,s
Theater Building.
The Report of Col. Wilson of the
Operations on Public Buildings
and Grounds During April.

Col John NJ. Wilson has made q report to
the chief of engineers of operations on pub
lie buildings and grounds during the month
OF April. In regard to the Executive Man
sion he says that estimates have been pre-
pared and submitted at the request Of three
senators for an elevator for the Office DOR
ton OF the mansion. The usual care mas
been extended to the large and valuable COL
lection OF plants in the conservatory and
green houses, and the propagation of bed
ding plants and summer and winter fiower-
Ing plants has been continued. Plans and
estimates have been prepared for a new
superstructure for the main conservatory
Some few articles o. china and glass for the
state dining room service have been or
dered.
The Washington Monument has peen
maintained in excellent condition during the
month, and no acts of vandalism whatever
nave occurred. During the first week of the
month the operation of all machinery was
suspended, and the boilers, the pipe line
the elevator machinery, dynamo. etc. were
carefully overhauled. The elevator car was
painted inside and out. The elevator ana
ITS machinery were inspected on the oath
ultimo and found to be in excellent condi-
ton. There were lib visitors TO the top
OF the monument during the month, 4, Us of
whom used the stairway, making 2 total Of
80, 4Us persons who have assembled since the
shaft was opened to visitors on October y
1SSS.
FOrd's Theater Building.
Under the terms OF the act of Congress,
approved March u. 1894, making an appro-
pria;ion Of sl1,9oS for the further repair of
this building, operations were commenced
on April =. During the month eighteen
brick piers, resting on concrete foundat ton.
were erected in the cellar for the purpose of
carrying the iron columns which sustain
The floor beams of the second story: one
pier. which stands Immediately over the
large boilers, rests on iron beams properly
placed TO carry the necessary weight; nine
teen holes have been cut through the first
floor and the same number through the sec
ond floor, and brick foundations for eleven
of the second floor columns have been COM
pleted
A thorough system of snoring the first.
second and attic floors and the roof, previ-
Gus TO tearing down the east wall. has been
completed: a section Of the roof removed
and the east wall torn down TO the floor OF
the second story. The upper portion OF this
wall was found TO be Of the poorest quality
OF salmon brick and lime mortar and was
easily removed. Upon reaching a portion
OF the wall laid at later date, under the
direction Of Cen Meigs, is was found 20 be
or the best quality Of materials, laid in
cement mortar. and the operation Of tearing
down became slow and laborioCs Every
effort is being made, Col Wilson says, 10
push the work as rapidly as possible SO
that the building can be occupied at the
earliest practicable day.
We have been somewhat cramped for
room in tearing down the rear wall" he
says, but Ii is anticipated that the laying
Of the new wall will commence by May TO-
and be completed early IN June. when the
plasterers will at once go to work. In the
meantime 1t is hoped that the iron work.
the increased light and ventilation. will be
well advanced, and the fire escapes started.
1t is probable that the building will be
ready for occupancy by August /, and pos
sibly at an earlier date
The White House Grounds.
Within the iron fences surrounding the
mansion the lawns have been mown, trees.
shrubs and vines pruned. walks and drain