The evening times., 1899-05-11
Spring CLEANING At
THE WHITE House
Work Being Done During the
Presidents Absence.
Thoroughly Renoyating the Fam
ily's Private Apartments.
Mating Substituted for Carpets and
Bric-n-Brnc stored for the sum-
mer-ImprOvements

Notwithstanding the absence OF Presi-
day was one of the busiest days Of the
year at the White House. In accordance
with the general custom, when Mr.. Nc
Kinley and the other occupants of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion are out Of town for any
considerable length of time. the house
keeper takes advantage OF their absence
to give the private apartments thorough
renovation. This being the spring of the
year and the time for such work. the op-
Grafton in the private apartments will be
more extensive than usual.
Colonel Bingham, Superintendent of
Public Buildings and Grounds. who has
the White House Immediately in charge
and has devoted much of his time to per-
sonally supervising the Improvements on
the premises has ordered general house.
cleaning for the private apartments OF the
Presidents family. Yesterday the carpet
ing of the entire upper floor which covers
several hundred yards, was taken up and
sent to the cleaners. The furniture was
also removed and the paint and woodwork
thoroughly scrubbed and washed. Today
mating was put down in the place of the
carpet, which will be stored away for the
summer. The furniture will be covered
with its summer linen and much of the
finer bric-a-brac packed away for the heat
ed term. The lower floor. with the excep-
ton Of the dining room, received its last
cleaning during the Presidents trip
thought necessary to again renovate these
apartments and nothing further than COW
ering the furniture will be done.
Colonel Crook, who is now in charge Of
the Executive department during Mr.. Nc
Kinley's sojourn at Hot Springs. is super
vising the overhauling of the Office rooms
on the upper floor. He devoted the entire
day yesterday to directing the removal Of
the desks and other fixtures from the Of
fees. which, because of the limited space
and the quantity of furniture to be han
died. requires considerable calculation to
make room for the numerous desks,
chairs. typewriters. files. and bookcases.
These, when placed in their proper posi-
tions. leave but little space for moving
about the offices. The carpet in this sec
tion Of the house was also taken up yes
terday and sent to the cleaner.
The historic Cabinet Room now has the
appearance OF a storage warehouse, and
the Presidents reception lobby is COM
pletely filled with miscellaneous furniture.
The telegraph Office which during the ear
ly part Of the conflict with Spain was
christened the War Room. hfG not been
disturbed, but it, too, will receive thor
ough cleaning before the Presidents re-
turn from Hot Springs. The office OF the
Secretary to the President and the gen.
eral working room are now in state OF
chaos. Mating was put down today. and
the regular work Of answering routine cor
respondence will be resumed tomorrow.
Another part OF the White House which
is receiving considerable attention at the
present time is the corridor in the base
ment, in which the new sanitary system
is being constructed. This work is also
under the supervision Of Colonel Bling
ham. 1t is only carried on. however. when
Mr.. Mckinley Is out Of town, on account
of the unpleasant appearance OF the ex-
cavations. The new system OF sewerage
requires a replacement Of larger pipes in
conduit which is now being built. Dur
ing the previous absences Of the family the
work was nearly completed, and II IL ex-
pected now that 1t will be finished within a
week. The conduit, which runs from the
eastern entrance to the lower floor to the
western end of the conservatory. Il four
feet deep and wide In order to construct