The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-08
A PALACE.
Plans OF New
Mansion
PRE- SlDENT.
1t Would Rival Any of the
European Buildings.

The plans for a new executive man
sion, says q. writer in the New York
Times, which have been prepared by
Paul j. PETE, the architect of the con-
gressional library, are drawn on
scale which would put the building in
close rivalry with the palaces of Eu-
rope In one respect, at least, the build
ing is proposed to excel anything of it's
kind. 1t is to have a winter garden
which will outrank that at Frankfort or
Chatsworth by no less than Il, 900 square
feet
Meridian hill, one of the highest
points in the city of Washington, is
proposed for the site of the mansion.
1t is double the height of the foundation
site of the capitol, the latter being 80
feet, and the former over 200 feet from
the high tide water of the Potomac
Here the plans call for the erection
of a White House so much larger and
imposing than the present one as to be
hardly compared with it. To furnish
a fitting setting for the building it is
proposed to devote 50 acres immediate
ly surrounding it to park. This is
about 80 more than the grounds sur
rounding the present White House
The style of the building is to be clas-
sic, or rather the American adapta-
ton of the Roman classic, as first evolv-
ed in the capitol, and recently in the
congressional library. The materia,
proposed for its construction is white
marble. Its commanding position on
an eminence gives opportunity for an
unusually pretentious approach, which
is to extend a great distance to the
street level. This has been planned
with winding stairway on each side,
and in the center a large pond, and
back of the pond a cluster of grottoes.
The main part of the building de-
scribes a letter H. Large columns line
the front and wings of the building.
Attached to each wing and extending
toward the rear is the winter garden,
covering a space Of $4,000 square feet.
The new executive mansion is to face
the south. The state apartments occupy
the east wing, following the traditions
of the old building. The private apart
ments occupy the west wing. On the
top of the building is a roof garden,
intended for the use of the presidents
family. AT the back of the building is
an open square surrounded by the con-
servatories, whose design is not less
beautiful than the mansion itself.
For the convenient handling of sew
eral thousand guests, extended arrange
ments are made for dressing rooms on
the ground floor under both the east
room and the main entrance. The re-
ception rooms above are reached by
broad and separate stairways. On the
east side of the mansion, abundant
space is left for accommodating great
numbers of carriages. which can be
reached by electric communication
with open illuminated posters.
The main entrance fO the mansion
in the centre of the building, leads one
into broad vaulted hall, whose arches
are sustained by columns. At the end
of the hall is a view of the Japanese
garden and the palm house in the dis
lance. To the right of the entrance,
three reception rooms open from the
hall leading into the east room, follow
ing another tradition of the old White
House. This room is designed in white,
pink and gold, with mirrored Sides
and a vaulted ceiling with four sets of
pillars, gives an appearance of great
splendOr to the apartment. A prone
made from this east room leads through
short hall to the state dining room
a sumptuous hall. To the left of the
main entrance is a picture gallery for
presidential portraits, etc. Three front
rooms on this side are designed as wait
ing rooms for dinner guests or for spe-
clal guests on any occasion. AS these
rooms adjoin the private apartments
of the president, they are also suitable
waiting rooms for presidential callers
On entering the presidents wing of
the building (the west wing) from the
outside, one passes under a handsome
porte cochere. On each side of the en-
trance is reception or waiting room,
suitable also for wraps on the occasion
of private entertainments.
AT the end of a long hall of attrac-
1--WE design is room of sufficient size
Tor as large private entertainments as
the president may care to give. A
breakfast room is at the other end Of
the nall, and also large dining room.
Inc second floor is devoted to the
IlNlng apartments of the president. In
front is an inclosed loggia facing the
sun, through which the library is
reached by glass DOORS A boudoir ad-
joins the library on one side separat-
ing 1t from a charming bedroom facing
the southeastern sun. Apartments for
the entertainment of distinguished Wis.,
ltors who may be guests of the nation
VIII occupy the story above the east
wing.
Among the minor features which are
included in the designs, there will be a
tunnel between the kitchen apartments.
the Conservatives, and the street for
the transportation of supplies, avoid
ing any backyard feature on any side
of the building. The other feature is
gymnasium, billiard room, etc, under
the conservatory, adjoining the presid-
ents private dining room.
THE FIGHTING EDITORS.