The morning times., 1897-02-21
A BLAZE OF OFFICIAL LIGHT
The Scheme for the Illumination
of the Public Buildings.
A NIGHT OF FESTIVE FIRES
The Special Inaugural Committee
Outlines the Brilliance and
Splendor of Its Plans Street Cars
VIII Be Run All Night-Assured
Success of the Ball.

The public buildings Of Washington viii
be deco rated this Inauguration for the
first time since the fall of Richmond.
The complete success OF the special com
mttee of the executive committee OF the
inaugural ceremonies in obtaining the cen
sent of the authorities in this matter was
published exclusively day or two ago
in The Morning Times. Mr.. James L.
Norris is chairman of this committee, Eav-
ing associated with him Messrs. Butter
worth, Browne and Long.
The details OF the report We're the matters
of most interest at the meeting OF the ex-
eCutiye committee, which was held last
night, Mr. C. j. Bell presiding, Major
Bracket and Mr.. Walker being secreUa-
TieS
The following extracts from the report
will greatly interest the public:
The officials OF the State, War and Navy
Department will handsomely decorate that
building, free OF expense to your committee.
The building will he Illuminated on the night
OF the 4th of March All the lights. cleo
tric and others, in the rooms, halls, and
corridors will be lighted, and all windo w
curtains elevated so as TO expose the entire
windows. The officials Of this building
require the committee to pay for the eX-
pense OF the electric current used.
MIR. George w Baird, chief engineer,
U. S. N, andsuperintendent, who has charge
of the building, has agreed TO procure two
projectors, powerful searchlights, and at
tendants, from the General Electric Light
Company, who viii operate the search
liphr fn VIII ~ IN.
ington Monument, the Presidents house
and all other buildings within their range
This gentleman has also agreed to furnish
an Immense garrison flag to be placed at
some central point on the building, so that
the searchlights can throw light upon the
flag during the night, he furnishing the
flag without expense to your committee
Mr.. Baird desires some large pictures To
place about at various points with the deco
ration of the building.
The Secretary OF Agriculture has in
formed your committee that the Agricul-
tural Department buildings will be decorated
and Illuminated, and the grounds illumin-
ated, free OF expense to your committee,
but woild suggest that the subcommittee,
under your charge, having charge of street
| decoration, furnish the department with
some bunting and pictures, if any be on
hand
Your committee suggests that four
large garrison flags, on poles be suspended
from the four windows of the Washington
Monument, so that the two search ligh ts
| that Will be placed upon the State, War
and Navy Department, may throw light,
from time to time, upon the Monument
and upon the flags that are located ON
| the north, east and west windows OF the
Monument.
''Mr. John Stephen Sewall, first lieu
| tenant engineer, now Commissioner OF
Public Buildings and Grounds, who recently
| succeeded Col John Wilson, after con
| ference with your committee, and Col.
| John Wilson, has agreed Co furnish the four
| garrison flags, with poles, and place them
| in position, free of expense to your COM
| nlittee.
''The Smithsonian Institution and the
National Museum will be Illuminated, all
lights inside of the building being used for
the purpose and shades raised at all win
| dows; also win illuminate grounds in and
about the buildings
The Smithsonian and National Museum
| have no funds with which to decorate their
buildings and have not been able to obtain
| flags for the purpose, but ii flags be fur
| nished by your subcommitteeh having charge
OF street decoration the two bureaus will
use the flags in decorating the buildings
| and defray the expense of wCrkrnen who
| will place the same in position.
Your committee suggests that search
| light be placed upon the tower of the Smith
! sonan Institution for the purpose of throw
| ing light upon the Washington Monument
| especially upon the flags on the north,
south and east windows, and also to
| throw light upon the dome of the Capitol
and other portions of the Capitol within
| its range.
The officials of the Bureau Of En-
| craving and Printing have informed youi
committee that the building will be hand
somely decorated and Illuminated on the
night of the 4th, free of expense to your
| committee.
| The officials of the Treasury Depart
ment inform your committee that the build
ing viii be handsomely decorated, free of
expense to your committee, but that an
expense will be incurred in defraying the
cost of the electric current and for the
lighting of gas in the various rooms, halls
and corridors Of the building
The officials of the Interior Depart
ment have agreed to illuminate the entire
building on the interior by lighting all gas
lights and electric lights throughout the
building, free of expense to your commit
tee, and viii light all the lamps on the
| verandas or porticos, but that an expense
may be created for lighting the gas lamps
| on the verandas, which will be only for
| the amount of gas consumed, which would
| be small.
! 1.-The Officials at the Capitol have in
| formed your committee that they will
| illuminate the building by lighting all
| electric lights in the building, and will
| also illuminate the grounds, having q
| large number Of arc lamps for so doing, all
| to he free of expense to your committee
The dome OF the Capitol is not supplied
with any electric wires but it is believed
| that search lights, one on the tower ol
| the Smithsonian, one in the tower of the
new city poStoffice and one on the build
| ing of the Washington Loan and TruS,
| Company, throwing their lights on the
dome of the Capitol Will produce a mag
| nificent effect.
1.-The general postoffice will light al
the gas lights throughout the building and
all on the outside, the verandas, free O
cost. The officials will decorate the
building if your subcommittee furnish
flags bunting and pictures.
1.-The officials of the Department OF
Justice have agreed with your COMMITTED
| to decorate the building, but wish Your
| committee to supply the building with a
search light, SO that light can be thrown
| upon the State, War, and Navy Depart