Evening star., 1897-07-31
How He Would Enlarge the Execu-
tive Mansion.
CURVED WINGS ON THE SOUTHERN Side
Might Be Constructed for $780,
600.
DEMAND FOR MORE ROOM

An earnest effort will be made to have
some provisions made during the next ses-
sion of Congress for the repair and exten-
sion of the White House. 1t is in a dilapi-
dated and overcrowded condition. and a
point has been reached when there cannot,
with any reasonableness, be further pro-
crastination.
The necessity for better Accommodations
fci the President and his family has long
been discussed II is no new theme. Sug-
gestions on the subject have been largely
with the idea of a new executive residence
perhaps on some other site. A thought OF
the cost involved in any plan for a new
building and the vision of long struggle
between contending sites. If once the pro-
Ject for a new location were adopted. has
proven appalling. Moreover. there is a SEN
timental attachment TO the old White
House which would make the public slow
TO yield approval 10 its abandonment. Sew
eral plans for the Improvement of the old
mansion have been advanced and discussed.
These have, 10 a greater or less degree, in
volved such radical changes to threaten
the loss of the identity OF the old structure
and they have all contemplated a very
large expenditure. The plans drawn at the
suggestion of Mrs. Harrison. while she was
IN the White House, were at the time more
widely discussed than have been any other
plans, ard in many respects they were the
most practicable. 1t would. however have
cost two or three million dollars to carry
them out. The contemplation of this cost
led the economists in Congress 10 the con-
clusion that the present building would do
very well for awhile.
Mrs. Harrison's Plan
The present building facing north Mrs.
Harrison's plans contemplated the con-
struction of two main additions facing. re-
spectively, east and west, and forming. to-
Sether with the present structure and two
connecting semi-circular connecting wings.
court or lark inclosed on three sides and
opened to the south. The connecting wings
curvirg toward the back of the present
structure and connecting IL with the pro-
posed additions were to be surmounted on
either SIDE by small dome with a steep
pitch.
Col. Dingham's Plan.
Colonel Bingham of the army, who sue
ceeded General Wilson as superintendent of
public buildings and grounds, has in mind
a general plan for the enlargement of the
mansion, the details of which he intends
to work out so as to bring the matter to
the attention of Congress at the coming
session His plan is in a measure an adap
tation of one feature CT Mrs. Harrison's
plans. yet differs from those plans sufi1-
ciently to have a claim to originality, and
1T could be carried out at a cost, perhaps
inside of Si0o.oV His idea is to provide for
all the additional room that will be needed
years 10 come, without destroying or
detracting from the architectural appear
ce of the mansion as IL now is. He
would do this by throwing out a wing from
each side of the building on the segment OF
a circle curving toward the back of the
building, somewhat similar to the wings
by which Mrs. Harrison proposed to con-
meet the two main additions in her plan 10
the present structure. One of these would
extend on curved line out from the east
room, and one would occupy a part of the
space now occupied by the conservatory.
Each wing would end in a portico facing
south, and If in the distant future still
more room were needed two large addi-
tions, such as Mrs. Harrison proposed.
facing east and west. could be built
extensions from the southern trrminations
of these wings. The plan, however. con
templates the building being complete with
cut these possible extensions. A sketch of
the front elevation with the addition of
these wings will show no material change
in the general architectural appearance of
the mansion. The historic old structure
would be preserved in its individuality and
no shock be given to the sentiment which
surrounds it. nor to architectural proprie-
ties. Ionic columns, similar to those which
support the main pcrtico. would be used
in the construction of the wings. and the
lintels and entablature would be the same
The southern porticos of the wings would
be supported by colonnade.
This proposed extension would provide
five or six additional bed rooms and state
dining room, probably circular, about sixty
lSSt III uidhettfr III lHS west Wig, III
the east wing ample office rooms connect
frg with the rooms now occupied for
offices. besides a broad corridor and great
reception room, similar to the dining room
in the other wing, extension of the
east room, which is altogether too small
fer the accommodation of the immense
throng at the Presidents receptions.
The Advantages Of the Plan.
The need of an extension of the building
is universally acknowledged, and the fact
that it can be done satisfactorily at SO
small a cost encourages the hope that
Congress will provide the money. At pres
ent there are but two bath rooms in the
mansion, not half enough room for the
office work and far short of sufficient sleep
ing accommodations. The five additional
bed rooms with bath rooms, would amply
provide for the domestic establshm
The additional room down stairs would
lieve the strain at the public receptions be-
sides providing suitable state dining nall,
and a lift in each of the wings would add
N no o,.l