The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-22
A NEW WHITE HOUSE


ssN'-aSSV's SSseS'"Ss
Present Edince Not to BE Disturbed--It
VIII BE the Front OF the New Building.
F, Wings to be Built ON the East and
West.
J In view Of an increasing interest
among congressman in the matter Of
building new White House or enlarg-
ing it, Colonel Theodore A. 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 broached to him
very often recently by senators and rep
resentatives whose visits to the White
House have been 30 numerous as to call
to their attention the needs of more
buildings and more conveniences. Colo
mel Bingham is as deeply interested AS
his predecessor, General j. M. Wilson,
and that is saying great deal. for it
was one of the desires Of General vii
son to 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 he 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 we'll known, had fully ma
tured ideas of what ought to be done
She became go 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
to stand and to be enlarged. That Is
also the idea Of Colonel Bingham. Not
only because Of its history, but because
it is solidly built and can be maintained
1 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
J plans he now looks upon with favor
provide for magnificent quadrangular
building, with a beautiful court in the
center, building which would conf
pare favorably with any in Europe. The
present building would not be touched.
It 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
!! greenhouses now stand, would be erect
ed q wing fronting the three depart
ments. This wing would somewhat re-
semble the present building and would
be known as the "offlcial wing" Sim.
ilarly placed, ON the east side, would be
another wing. The wings would be con-
neCted to the main building by quarter
circle corridors. These corridors would
| be suitable for statues and works Of art.
| Quarter circle corridors would also con-
meet the south ends Of the wings with
the greenhouses In the center of this
arrangement, as has been stated, would
be beautiful court.
On the whole the plan preserves the
simple style of architecture so promi-
nent in the White House. The old
building would become the residence
portion, the home of the chief exec
| utive, not to be disturbed by the public
and as private as the home of any citi-
zen. The west wing, in addition to ex
| ecutive offices and all the rooms neces-
sary in that line, would contain parlors
for senators and representatives and q
grand reception room for the diplomat.
J ic corps. The east wing could be turned
to number Of purposes. 1t could be
turned into library or an art room.
The president has practically no library
at his disposal
Colonel Bingham has not figured on
the cost of the projected enlargement.
He thinks that if congress were not dis
posed to make an appropriation for the
entire work at one time it could make
the appropriations as the work pro-
gressed, thus dividing the cost by years.
An estimate Of the cost could not be
made without taking into consideration
whether the additions should be of mar
BILE or granite. The present White House
| in of sandstone. .-Washingtop Star.
l