The Kosciusko star. (Kosciusko, Miss.) 18??-1898, 1895-08-16
THE DAVIS MANSION.
1t Is Being RemOddled in Virginia by the
the Women of the Confederate
Union.

Jefferson Davis house at Rich
mond, Va. is being remoddled for
the ladies of the Confederate Mu-
scum Literary Society with a view
of having it put back in exactly the
same condition, or at least asnear-
ly as possible, in which it was at
the time of occupancy by Presi-
dent Davis and his family during
the war. When the School Board |
took charge Of it a number of par
tltions were taken out on each
floor for the purpose of obtaining
class rooms large enough to an
swer the purposes of the Central
School. These partitions are be-
ing replaced, and by the time the
Confederate Museum is thrown
open to the public the interior of
the building will have almost the
same appearance as it did more
than 80 years ago, when all eyes
of Virginia, and in fact, of the en-
tire South, were resting on the In
mates of that structure.
1t has been the wish of the la
dies who are now in charge of the
building to make the same as near
ly freproof as possible, so that the
danger of having the treasures to
be preserved in the various rooms
destroyed by flames might be re-
duced to minimum. All Of the
wooden flooring Of the first and
second stories has been removed
and iron beams haze been put in
its place which will be connected
by terra hrma arches. The arches
will be levelled ny with concrete
and granolithic floors, and SINH
lar floor will be laid in the base
ment.
The old doors and door trim
mings will be put back. and this
will be the only woodwork that
will be found in the basement and
the next stories. The wooden
stalrways have been taken out and
their places will be taken by iron
ones, which, however. will be an
exact reproduction of the old ones
in cast iron. The back and side
porches. which were constructed
of wood, will be remodeled in the
same manner as the floors.
The third floor will be thorough
ly repaired and put in 6rst.class
order, but it will not be made fire.
proof at this time. The same is
to he said about the roof. but its
old wooden cornices will be re
placed by galvanized iron, and the
same material is to be used for the
ventilator on the top of the build
ing. The old stucco on the entire
side of the building has been chip
ped off and the walls will be res.
tuccoed. while he.plastering'oft the
interior will also be renewed. Casts
have been taken of many of the
old ornaments and cornices. which
, will be reproduced as nearly as
possible.
The entire bull ling will be heat
ed py steam, and the boiler vii
be placed under the back porch, Sc
as to remove every possible chance
. of fire from the interior Of thu
building All the old plumbin,
= fixtures will be replaced by mod
g ern ones, in ORDER to make tn
n sanitary arrangements perfect.
:, Great care has been taken to re
q produce the building as it wa
ri when occupied by President Davi
$ and his family. and careful meas
/ urements have been made of tn
p entire building. There viii be fly
: rooms on the third floor, four OF
W the second, four on the first, an
d five in the basement. All will b
a. used for mu scum purposes, and
u is the intention to set aside on
h room for each Southern State, bu
r. the selection has not yet be-
N made. Under the contract tn
re buildidg is to be completed Noven
% Der 10, and its cost is estimated ,
S1o SO0 ExohaNuo