Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18
Colonel Bingham Making Estimates
on an Addition.
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION CROWDED
Senator CuIIom to Introduce a
Bill.
NEED FOR AN EXTENSION

Col Theodore A Bingham, superntend-
ent of public buildings and grounds, by
request of Senator Cullom is making an
estimate of the cost of a suitable addition
to the White House, and it is now believed
by many officials that the prospects of an
enlargement of the Executive Mansion are
better than ever before.
At the White House few days ago, as
narrated in The Star at the time, Senator
Cullom observed the necessity OF arranging
hat and cloak cases in the beautiful vesti-
bule, ana declared that it a shame
He then said that he intended to introduce
bill at the coming session of Congress
authorizing an enlargement Of the building
He at once asked Col Bingham to make an
estimate and to prepare plans.
Plans Ready by January /.
This, as stated, is now being done, and
1t Is thought that Col. Bingham will have
his plans ready by the first of the year
The bill which Senator CulIom will intro
duCe will also be prepared in the office of
Col. Bingham, who IS greatly pleased with
the prospect of an addition to the Execu-
tive Mansion.
Before the plans are prepared and the
bill is introduced President Mckinley will
be consulted as to what he thinks should
De done. He has some Well-formed ideas
II.
that he VIII give his consent to the steps
being taken for additions, as he more than
any OF the Presidents. sees the necessity
Tor something to be done. Only a few
oays ago 1t became necessary to remove
nle cases and bundles of documents from
the executive offices to escape a possible
sinking Of the floor. In fact, the floor had
already sunk 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 mad to be placed
IN the Railways on the second floor
Old building TO Be Preserved.
There Is no thought that Col. Bingham
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 destruction of the historic
old building. Therefore every idea will be
IN the way OF appropriate additions to the
structure. With 81 900. 900, the same
amount 10 tie expended on a new building
Tor the Department of Justice, Col. Bing-
ham says ne could place the Executive
Mansion In keeping with the needs of a
what shape the plans now in embryo Will
take, but Colonel Bingham has in his
possession plans drawn at other periods
when there was chance of an addition to
the building. One Of these was in the
time Of President Harrison. and the plans
were drawn at the suggestion of Mrs Har-
rlson. Her plans We're for the erection Of
seml-clroular wing each end which
would. in time, join another structure on
the south the whole to form a magnificent
building with court in the center
Private Home for the President.
In many circles there Is still In conten-
plation the idea of making no addition to
the mansion, but building 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 Presi-
dent and family is not good. It is all
right as an office, they say, and should be
kept for that purpose.
Col. Bingham says concerning the sug-
gestion of unhealthfulness that any ma
larial conditions would, he thought be
made way with by Congress in the course
OF short time. One element of this will
be the reclamation of the Potomac flats
In the territory between 10Th and 2Dth
streets. Another nuisance which must
be sooner or later removed, he pointed out
Is the sewer which empties into a canal at
the foot of 11th street. This sewer is
pest hole of the worst sort, and the odors
from il are carried almost to the White
House at times before they are dissent
mated by the air. Col. bingham believes
that this will soon be removed, az 1t Will
be q ug mace to the public when the flats
are reclaimed and park belonging to the
nation begins to take shape.
Col. Bingham explains that the nuisances
ne.lned cause 20 harm at the White House
throughout which the most modern sani-
tary system has been placed