The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-09
IT'S LONG HISTORY
White House and Its List of
MiStreSSeS.
HOW 1T WILL BE ENLARGED
No Larger Now Than a Gen.
fury Ago.

Washington Dec. San expanded White
House IS expected TO follow the expanded
republic, and the national capital centen-
NAL celebration Of December y viii be
used to boom The project. A plaster
model, showing the proposed greater
White House" in miniature, and a series
Of drawings showing its construction de-
tails. VIII be exhibited by Colonel Thee
d0re A. Bingham, the engineer officer in
charge of the mansion, to the governors
of the states, members Of congress and
other DISTINGUISHED guests He and other
centennial orators wiz draw vivid con
trasts between the capital city Of 1900 and
that of 1890, the nation Of a century ago
and that of today so as to emphasize the
idea that the presidency has outgrown its
Official headquarters.
Colonel Bingham's model embraces the
present White House, unaItered, but com
bined with Mrs. Harrison's schemes for
wings Mrs Harrisons plans, as worked
out 10y Mr. j. D. Owen, an architect con-
nected with Colonel Bingham's Office
comprise two new buildings like the Old
one. but placed at right angles thereto
and connected by colonades or wings
The model to be shown at the White
House VIII include only these connecting
wings added to the White House as it
now appears Their exterior architecture
IS in the form of colonades sweeping
around to the rear, with Ionic columns
similar to those that support the main
poruco. Behind these may be seen a
~ "a
House walls AT the extremity Of each
colorado wing is a new entrance with a
porte cJcheIe facing squarely south. The
wings are two stories in height, their col
lnns extending to the top all around.
The extensions are designed to afford a
rev reception room and ample office
apartments connecting with those now on
the second floor, a new circular state
dining room. sixty feet in diameter and
five additional bedrooms.
The White House of 1900 is no larger
than that Of 1880, although Washington
especially designed it to be enlarged from
time to time. When John Adams moved
into ct a century ago, it was not too large
Tor his needs. Mrs. Adams said it was
very well proportcned to the president s
salary, then $4,000 a year. At his state
functions. Mr.. Adams received but thirty
two senator's whereas Mr. Mckinley must
be- host to ninety. The apartments fin
which were entertained but los represen-
tai r. 900 must now hold 357 at White
House l---p-.-u. - "a now con-
tanning eight members, then hau out tive
The d.D'omatc was but a small handful
of fore gners. The president could enter
a1f
the state dining room. built to accommo-
date but forty guests; President 81cKn-
ley must spread his board in a long, mar
row corridor running east and west
through me center of the building. with
out windows. In Adams time all public
officers i'm washington could gather in
The White House each having an oppor-
:unitv to chat with the president At the
Mckinley receptions, each guest must pro
coed by way of his private dining room,
10 avoid conflict with those departing,
who are dismissed through one Of the
front windows on the other side and over
a bridge spanning the deep areaway sur
rounding tie house.
Nevertheless. the Adamses would not
recognize the White House Of today rs
thar which they occupied in 1850, if view
ing It's exterior alone. Then it was an is
olated structure without q sheltered en-
trance, without fences and without lawn.
There was plain chimney on each of the
front corners and TWO more nearer the
center straight. narrow path led from
the mud and slush of Pennsylvania ave
nue. then running back of the mansion.
20 the unpretentioUs front door, now at
the rear of the building. The surface