Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-30
Plans for the Enlargement Of the
Executive Mansion.
WOULD MAKE IT A QUADRANGLE
Present Building Has Never Been
Adequate or Comfortable.
NEEDED ACCOMMODATIONS



The presidential candidate victorious in
this years campaign is practically assured
a more comfortable home than has shell
tered the weary heads of any of his prede-
cessors The night before Congress adj
jourped 1t appropriated 5000 to be expend-
ed in continuing certain plans for an en-
larged White House, already begun in the
office of Col. Bingham, U. s. A, in charge
of Uncle Sans public buildings and
grounds. The bill further provided for
model of the proposed expansion Of the
presidential home. In December, during
the celebration of the centennial ami
versary of the removal Of the federal cap
ital from New York to this city, the corner
stone of the projected building will proba-
bly, be laid.
The millions Of men, women and children
who will be part owners of this greater
White House are, of course, eager to know
just how 1t will appear, inside and out, in
the event that Col. Binghams interesting
plan is adopted. 1t will be the embodiment
Of suggestions made BY many dsnngulshsd
The father of his country, If alive, would
Iavor the proposition to enlarge rather than
rebuild the historic mansion, which he saw
built for his successor, John Adams. WASH
ington opined that it should g; NIT of an
addition in future, as circumstances might
render proper. without hurting but rather
AIDING 10 iIle beauty anu udSlliIlccICt VI
the whole, as original plan" Col. Bing-
hams finished plans will be substantially
those conceived by Mrs Harrison, while she
was in the White House, and drawn and
expanded by Mr.. Frederick D. Owen.
Two New Wings.
No such sacrilege as the alteration of one
jot of the architectural grandeur of the pres
ent sandstone White House will be attempt
ed The building will simply be enlarged
by addition of two wings. just was the
old sandstone Capital, built shortly after
ward. The wings Of the White House will
not. however, be outspread in the direction
of the buildings length.
They will be folded back. at right angles
thereto. They will be almost exact repro
auctions of the original building, in arch-
lecture and dimensions and will be con-
nected Herewith by colonnades curying
back at the sides. Thus will be completed
a U-shapcd structure in stone. the old
White House facing north; the new wings,
east and west. the plan goes further and
incloses the south end of the Presidents
private grounds with large conservatory
in glass and iron, with curving side ranges
connecting with the stone wings. Thus will
be formed a complete quadrangle inclosing
on all sides central courtyard.
The crowded office rooms now composing
40 per cent of the presidential home are to
be cleared to make room for additional
living apartments. The entire building
will then be converted into a private resi-
dence.
The Completed Quadrangle.
We will now make supposed inspection
of the completed quadrangle. Entering the
present White House at the great north
door, pass around to the right, through
a small ante room, the Presidents private
dining room and into a corridor leading to
a west door, now opening into the present
| conservatory. The latter is no longer there
but instead we pass into the western colon
made. A short corridor straight before us
leads to a circular rotunda wherein are ar
| rarged groups of statuary. Passing on and
| taking another corridor running SOUTH We
enter the west or official wing. In this
| building is the private office of the Presi-
dent, also capacious room for his cabinet,
a separate office and ante room for his sec
rotary, others for the assistant secretaries,
stenographers and clerks now packed to-
gether like sardines in one of the upper east
rooms of the old mansion. In another part
| of the new wing is large room with desks
and tables to be reserved for the news
paper men. who must now content them
selves In whatever space they can find
within the entries and waiting rooms of the
executive offices. Here is large telegraph
room, there long-distance telephone room,
| ard over there are separate rooms for rec
ords, files and documents. Stepping out
upon the wide portico to the west and
| looking through the Ionic columns of its
porte cochere we see the State. War and
| Navy building across the street. Continu-
| Ing southwark, We pass out of the official
| wing and step down into a circular palm
| garden. The dome above and the sides sur
| rounding are executed in glass and iron
| Turning now to the left, we enter long
1 conservatory banked on either side with
| rare and fragrant plants. Here are the
| favorite flowers of Mrs. Mckinley, of Mrs
| Cleveland and of ladies of the White House
:, preceding them. In the center of this vast
house OF glass is a circular lily pavilion.
where We walk around beautiful fountain
| graced by the Victoria regia. Completing
the length Of the conservatory. turning
| again to the left and passing another palm
l garden at the southeast corner of the
quadrangle we now mount a stairway lead
| ing to the new east or public wing of the
| enlarged White House.
The Public Wing.
This wing is an exact counterpart Of
| that on the western side From its mag
| niicent doorway we view the great, white
| Treasury Department across the street.
| Proceeding northward along the corridor,
| by which we entered this wing, we reach
| the eastern colonnade with Its central
statuary rotunda and. facing west once
more, enter the east room Of the old White
| House by doorway cut through what Is
| ment.
This entire circuit of the projected quad
| rangle will afford guests at future White
| House receptions a continuous promenade
| of 1900 feet. With two additional en-
| frances and driveways-one at each wing
| the throngs surging onward to get a presi-
| DENTAL handshake will no longer be SUBJ
| iected to the indignity Of dismissal through
the executive front window. This uncon-