The times., 1898-08-04
NEW WHITE HOUSE NEEDED
Col. Bingham Says the Mansion
Is Strained by 0vercrowding.
SOME RELIEF Is IMPERATIVE
Attention Is Called to the DiscolOr-
alton Of the East Front of the
Sfnte. War and Navy Building
Caused by Dust From Gravel
Roudyva. An Ensy Remedy.

The necessity for the construction of n
new home for the President and his fam
lily has again been urged by Col. Theo-
dore A. Bingham. who is in charge of the
public buildings and grounds of the city.
in his annual report which was submitted
yesterday.
Col. Bingham invites attention to the
fact that the floors of the present Execu-
tive Mansion need strengthening, and in
speaking of the same. he says: "The ne
cessity only accentuates the fact that
the time has come when something is
imperativeiy needed to relieve the actual
physical strain now made on the mansion
by overcrowiing.
The bad condition of the conservatory
adjoining the mansion on the west is also
noted The framework, which is of wood.
is in a decaying and dangerous condition
and an estimate Of $1,000 is made by Col.
Bingham for the purpose uf erecting a
new iron superstrueture in place of the
old one
A number Of minor improvements were
made at the mansion during the past
year, but they have been OF d meaSer
nature on recount of limited appropria-
tions. The necessary painting has been
done and new furniture. carpets, mating
and curtains supplied as needed. An au-
tomato telephone exchange has been
installed and the hydraulic machinery for
the elevator replaced with an electrical
motor and apparatus. Numerous minor
repairs were also made TO the green
houses connected with the mansion.
Col Bingham makes a second recon-
mendation which is only eEondary IA I'M
portance to those which he makes con-
cerning the White House. This latter
refers to the matter of the discoloration
of the east side of the magnificent granite
front of the present State, War and
Navy building by dust from the road
way west of the Executive Mansion
grounds.
The dirty appearance of the structure
has been noticed and commented upon
all the more this year by reason OF the
larger number IF persons visiting the
headquarters of the army and navy on
official business pertaining TO the con-
duct of the war and the prevailing opin-
ion is that something should be done to
preserve the appearance of the beautiful
structure, which is probably the most
magnificent government Office building in
the world.
The cause, Mr. Bingham says, can
easily be remedied by the laying of an
asphalt pavement along the surface of
/ the present roadway at a cost of about
/ S14.5G0, and recommendation is. included
! in the report of Col. Bingham for the
/ construction of the proposed pavement.
/ Another feature of the report is a
| statement concerning the operations at
the Washington Monument during the
| last fiscal year. The boilers and ma
! chinery were carefully inspected and ex-
amined and found to be in excellent con-
! dition. More than 12s. 900 visitors made
/ the trip to the top of the great shaft
i during the year, making a total of LBS,
| 696 persons since the monument was
opened to the public, October 9. 1885, a
noteworthy fact in connection with the
| report on the monument is one contained
| in the statement that during the building
| of the shaft and in its subsequent admin
| istration no one has been killed.
Col Bingham reports that 100000 plants
were propagated at the nursery gardens
| last year for use in the adOrnment of the
| parks and reservations OF the city. The
| bronze pedestal and polished granite bass
| for the statue of Logan. to be erected in
| Iowa Circle have been completed. The
| desirabiiity of replacing the present tel
| egraph line connecting the Capitol VIII
the Government Printing Office and oil
! ferent departments with underground
| conduits and cables has again been sub
mitted for the consideration of Congress
| An appropriation is also asked for SiuH
| for the making of repairs to the historic
mansion on Tenth Street northwest, II
! which Lincoln died
/. The total estimate for the care ant
| preservation of the public buildings an'
| grounds during the fiscal year ending II
1900 is S1S4Si6.