The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-12-06
The White House to be Altered
and Ealarged.
EXECUTIVE MANSION CROWDED
Items From the Orient and Other
Parts Of the WorId-Japan's
Future Empress.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25-Col. The
odore A Bingham, superintendent of
public buildings and grounds, by re-
quest of Senator Cullom, is making an
estimate of the cost of suitable addition
TO the White House, and it is now be-
lieved by many officials that the pros
poets of an enlargement of the Execu-
tive Mansion are better than ever be-
fore.
Al the White House few days ago,
~nator Cullon observed the necessity
of arranging hat and cloak cases in the
beautiful vestibule, and declared that
it was a shame. He then said that he
intended to introduce bill at the
coming session of Congress authoriZ-
ing an enlargement of the building.
He at once asked Col. Bingham to
make an estimate and to prepare PLANS
This, as stated, is now being done,
and it is thought that Col. Bingham
will have his plans ready by the first
of the year. The bill which Senator
Cullom will introduce will also he pre-
pared in the office of Col. Bingham,
who is greatly pleased with the pros
pect of an addition to the Executive
Mansion.
Before the plans are prepared and
the b1ll is introduced President McKin-
ley will be consulted as to what he
thinks should be done. He has some
wellformed ideas on the subject him
self There is no doubt that he will
give his consent to the steps being
taken for additions, as he, more than
any of the Presidents, sees the neces-
siity for something to. be done. Only a
few days ago 1T became necessary to
remove file cases and bundles of docu-
rents from the executive offices to es-
cape a possible sinking of the floor
In fact, the floor had already sunk a
few inches, and it was not known how
much further it would go. So little
space could be found in the building
that some of the file cases had to be
placed in the Railways on the second
floor
There is no thought that Col Bing-
ham will suggest the tearing down of
the old building. 1t is not believed
that any one else will think of that.
The general idea is that the American
people would not consent to the de-
struction of the historic old building.
Therefore every idea will be in the way
of appropriate additions to the strlc-
ture. With $1,O00,000 the same amount
to be expended on a new building for
the Department of Justice, Coz. Bing-
ham says he could place the Execu-
tive Mansion in keeping with the needs
of big and rich country. 1t is not
known what shape the plans now in
embryo will take, but Col. Bingham
has in his possession plans drawn at
other periods when there was chance
of an addition to it. One of
these was in the time of President
harrison, and the plans were drawn
at the suggestion of Mrs. Harrison.
Her plans were for the erection of a
semi-circular wing on each end, which
would, in time, join another structure
on the south, the whole to form a mag
nificent building with court in the
center.
In many circles there is still in con-
the idea of making no ad-
dition to the mansion, but building a
home for the President in another part
of the city. Those favoring this plan
say that the location OF the White
House for home for the President
and family is not good. 1t is all right
as an office, they say, and should be
kept for that purpose.
col. Bingham says concerning the |
of unhealthfulness that any
malarial conditions would, he thought, |
be made way with by Congress in the |
course of a short time. One element of
this will be the reclamation of the Po-
tomac flats in the territory between |
18th and goth streets. Another nui- /
sance which must be sooner or later |
he pointed out, is the sewer |
which empties into a canal at the foot |
o. 18th street. This sewer is a pest |
hole of the worst sort, and the odors |
from it are carried almost to the White
House at times before they are dissem-
mated by the air. Col. Bingham be-
ieves that this will soon be removed |
as il will be a menace to the public |
when the flats are reclaimed and a
park belonging to the nation begins 10
AXE shape.
Col Bingham explains that the nui-
sanCes named cause no harm at the
White House, throughout which the
most modern sanitary system has been
placed.