The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-30
TO REPAIR THE EAST ROOM.
COLUMNS WILL RE PUT UNDER A
SAGGING CEILING.

Commissioner of Public Buildings
VIII RenOVHtc the White House
During the Presidents Absence-A
PHOTOGRAPHER Disappointed be
cause an EmpIOye Shut the PrcSi-
Dental Carriage az He Was TAX
Ing kinetiscOpe Picture.
Washington, July 29-while the Presi-
the white house, the commissioner of pub
lie buildings and grounds will try TO
strengthen the ceilings in the famous east
room, which are now dangerously weak
The office rooms are directly over the east
room, and the weight of the furniture, rec
ords and other equipment is such as to
cause the ceiling underneath to sag down
to an alarming extent The east room
runs the whole depth of the building with
only the front and back walls. and the
east wall for support. Several years ago
an attempt was made to remedy the pres
ent defect by putting in large beams run
ming east and west across the middle Of
the room, supported on the east by the
stone wall. and on the west by the parti-
ton dividing the official part of the build
ing from the residence portion of the
structure The sagging down in the CEN
ter still continues, and it is feared that I'M
less additional support is given, the ceiling
may fan down or materially injure the
eastern wing of the building.
The workmen, under Col. Bingham. will
begin the work at once, with the expecta-
ton of completing it before the President
returns from Lake Champlaln. 1t is I'M
derstood that the strengthening
process will be applied from
above, and heavy Orders will
be used. While the work is in pro-
gress the official part of the building will
have to be abandoned, and the clerical
force will be transferred 60 another part
of the house or given leave Of absence
portion Of the clerical force will go to
Lake Champlain with the President. and
transact such public business as may re-
quire immediate action A good supply
of official stationery, blank commissions
and other official documents was shipped
TO the Presidents summer headquarters
in anticipation of the transaction OF some
executive work.
The repairs to the east room will be
made with a view to preserving the beau
~ and grandeur of the room II was
suggested that the defect might easily be
remedied by placing several iron columns
in the middle of the apartment col
Bingham, after consultation with the
President and also with the chief of engi-
neers, concluded that the necessary re-
pairs could be made without spelling the
symmetry or architectural beauty of the
historic room.
In addition to the Improvements in the
east ROOM the other portions of the man
sion will be thoroughly renovated and put
in perfect condition by the time the Presi-
dent returns. The paint work In the cab
met room. the Presidents private office,
and the official portion of the building gem
orally, will be touched up and the blue.
red and green rooms together with the
state dining room, will receive needed at
tention. few slight repairs will be
made in the living part of the house, but
the latter is i'm comparatively good condi-
ton for it was fully gone over just be-
fore the Clevelands relinquished the house
to the present occupants.
Three disconsolate looking men stood
outside of the white house this morning
and saw the President and his wife roll
noiselessly away TO the railway station.
They were not disappointed Office seekers.
or suppliants for political patronage, but
simply a trio of enterprising photogra-
piers, representing a kinetiscope company.
They desired to get picture OF the Presi-
dent and his wife leaving the executive
mansion to start on their summer Vaca-
ton. The idea was a happy one, and the
President, when consulted on the subject
made no objection to being caught on the
fly, on his way to the depot
Private Secretary Porter was also taken
into the scheme and offered Ia
lection. The coachman was allowed to
drive over the course. which had been
previously marked in chalk, by the pho
tographer Every little detail so far as
the principals were concerned, was ar
ranged and the photographer and his as
slstants loaded the camera, with a capac-
ity for taking fifty snap shots TO the min
ute. and placed il where 1t would com
mand full view of the Presidents car
rage and lis distinguished occupants, as
il rolled from under the north portico
The only obstacle that seemed TO be in
the way of a good picture was the uncer-
tainty Of the sun, which insisted upon
lodging behind floating clouds at inter
walls. When the President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley were about to enter their carriage
a cloud fitted across the sky. temporarily
obscuring the sun. An ofic.ous employe
hastily raised the half top Of the brough-
am, completely hiding the occupants
or the carriage from view. In an instant
the sun burst forth in all its splendOr but
the poor photographer simply caught the
horses, the driver and footman, and the
carriage, but the fact that the President
and his wife were within does not appear
In what was expected to be a very popular
picture. II the camera had been a Cat
ting gun the Disguised photographer
would have probably fred a volley into
the employe who put up the top OF the
Presidents carriage. and thus cut off the
view OF the central figures In the proposed
picture.
NnraNfnnga Nam