The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-05-26
A NEW WHITE HOUSE
PLANS FOR A MAGNIFICENT QUAD
RANoULAR BUILDING.

Present Ediflce Not TO BE Disturbed-I
Wings to BE Built on the East an,
West.
In view Of an increasing interes
among congressman in the matter ol
building a new White House or enlarg
ing it, Colonel Theodore \ Bingham,
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds, was consulted recently rela.
tive to his plans in the matter
Colonel Bingham has not been called
upon officially for his views or for
plans, but he is much interested. hav.
ing had the question preached 70 him
very often recently by senators and rep
resentatives whose visits 70 the White
House have been so numerous as 70 call
10 their attention the needs of more
buildings and more cOnveniences Colo
mel Bingham is as deeply interested as
his predecessor. General j. VI Wilson,
and that is saying a great deal, for il
was one of the desires of General Viii
son 70 see the White House grounds or
namented with new buildings
In thinking over the subject the out
lines OF several plans have come TO the
mind of Colonel Bingham. but be looks
with favor upon plans made during the
life of Mrs Harrison and when she
lived IN the White House Mrs Har-
rison. as Is well known. had fully ma.
tured ideas Of what ought 10 be done
She became so much interested that
plans for an enlargement OF the White
House Were drawn and submitted to
her Copies Of these found their way to
the offices OF the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds and were pre-
served.
Because Of its history Mrs Harrison
was opposed to a wholly new White
House. She wanted the present building
70 stand and TO be enlarged That Is
also the idea of Colonel Bingham. Not
only because of its history, but because
II Is sOhdly built and can be maintained
for centuries, Colonel Bingham thinks
the present building ought to stand.
When officially called upon to present
plans and estimates, Colonel Bingham's |
ideas may change somewhat, but the
plans he now looks upon with favor
provide for magnificent quadrangular
building with beautiful court in the |
center building which would conf |
pare favorably with any in Europe The /
present building would not be touched. |
1t would be the front of the new build |
ing. The greenhouses would be moved /
from the west of the White House to |
the south, forming the southern part of |
the new building. They would be so
placed as not to disturb the southern
view. On the west side, where the
now stand, would be erect
ed wing fronting the three depart
ments. This wing would somewhat re-
'emble the present building and would
be known as the ''oflicial wing" Sim
Iarly placed, on the east side, would be ,
another wing. The wings would be con-
1ected TO the main building by quarter
,lrcle corridors. These corridors would
De suitable for statues and works of art.
quarter circle corridors would also CON
lect the south ends of the wings with
he greenhouses. In the center of this
arrangement. as has been stated, would !
,e beautiful court.
On the whole the plan preserves the
imple style of architecture so promi-
tent in the White House. The old
,uilding would become the residence
ortion, the home of the chief exec
tive, not to be disturbed by the public
nd as private as the home of any citi-
en-. The west wing. in addition TO ex-
cutive Offices and all the rooms neces-
airy In that line, would contain parlors
)r senators and representatives. and q
rand reception room for the diplomat.
corps. The east wing could be turned !
number Of purposes 1t could be
armed into library or an art room.
he president has practically no library
t his disposal
Colonel Bingham has not figured on
ne cost of the projected enlargement.
-e thinks that if congress were not dis
osed 10 make an appropriation for the
attire work at one time il could make
ne appropriations as the work pro- {
ressed, thus dividing the cost by years.
n estimate Of the cost could not be
ade without taking into consideration
neither the additions should be of mar.
e or granite. The present White House !
of sandstone. Washington Star. Z