The Washington times., 1901-07-21
AN INAUGURATION echo.
Damages to Government Property
May Lead TO Legal Action.
Failure to Repair White House
Fencing Ruined in IL Reviewing
Stand Fire Causes Severe Criti-
cism of the inaugural Committee.

In his annual report. which was sub
lnittcd to the Chief OF Engineers yester-
day. Col Theodore A. Bingham. Super
intendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds. criticises the Inaugural Com
nittee for its failure 10 repair the dam
age done to Government property by the
fire which destroyed a reviewing stand
located near the Executive Mansion. The
proprietv of legal action to recover an
amount sufficient to repair the loss il
suggested.
On the subject of this damage to Gov
ernment property, the report says:
1T was with hesitation that this office
permitted the erection Of said stands. But
the committee was so positive in its
promises to permit no damage and to
repair such slight damage as it could he
seen was unavoidable that this office
finally consented. The committee was
very slow in removing its stands after
the Inauguration, and on the night of
March 10 a fire occurred at the stand on
the northwest corner of the Executive
Mansion grounds, due to the carelessness
of the watchman in lighting his lanterns.
',The fire was soon extinguished. but
three of the handsome and expensive
granite posts and about fifty feet Of gran
way of Executive Avenue. The iron fenc-
ing in that locality was also severely
burned and handsome elm in the
grounds was ruined.
after the expenses of Inauguration
were settled by the committee there was
said to be an unexpended surplus of some
s., Geo OF $500 Urgent representations
were made to the Citizens Committee to
repair the damage.
The committee. however, showed no
disposition to pay this just obligation.
Even a strong representation of the case
from the honorable Secretary of War
produced no results and the said surplus
was, it is understood, turned over To some
charity fund of the District
These facts considered Colonel Bing-
ham recommends that in future Congress
refuse permission for the erection of
stands on the grounds of Executive Man
sion, and that the Inaugural Committee
be required by law to give personal bond
with guaranty deposits for complete
pair of all damage to Government proper
ty CAUSED directly or indirectly by their
prepare tons for inaugural festivities. The
question is submitted as to whether the
charity fund referred to is, not subject to
legal process for the recovery of dam
to be necessary to repair the damage.
The report outlines the work done under
the supervision of Colonel Bingham as
follows:
I'm addition to the public buildings and
grounds. this office has also been charged
with the care and repair of the Govern
ment telegraph lines connecting the Cap
itol with the various departments and
the Government Printing Office; the re-
pair of the building on Tenth Street
wnere Abraham Lincoln died; of the con-
struction of the statue of Gen John
A. Logan, and of the ceremonies
incident to its unveiling on April 9. 1901;
of such matters connected with the erec-
ton of a statue TO General Sherman as
may properly devolve upon the War De-
partment: of the monument at Wakefield,
Va. the birthplace of Washington. and
the iron pile dock erected under the su-
pervision of this office in 1894. under the
direction of the Department of State at
the mouth of Bridge Creek. Va; Of the
erection in the National Military
Park at Gettysburg. Pa, of a tab
let to Abraham Lincoln; of the
care, preservation and safety of
buildings occupied by the War De-
partment in the District of Columbia,
except the State, War and Navy Build
ing; of the banks of the Potomac River
from the north line of the Arsenal
grounds to the southern curb line OF "
Street; of the work of continuing plans
for extending the Executive Mansion; of
the work of making an examination and
reporting plans for the treatment of that
section of the District of Columbia situ-
ated south of Pennsylvania Avenue and
nf Y
suitable connection between the Potomac
and Geological Parks: since March 6, 1901.
executive and disbursing officer of the
Grant Statue or Memorial Commission;
and since May /, 1901, executive and dis.
bursting officer of the Mcclellan Statue
Commission"
The report first takes up the matter of
the care, repair, and refurnishing of the
W hite House and tells of what has been
done in this direction. In connection with
the carrying out OF the law appropriating
5000 for continuing plans for the extend
ing of the Executive Mansion the report
says:
''on December u. 1900. in connection
with ceremonies arranged for celebrating
the centennial Of the occupation of Wash
ington the Capital City, a model of
the proposed extension was exhibited in
the East Room of the Executive Mansion
before the President, Cabinet, members of
Congress, Governors. and other distin-
guished citizens. The model was accom-
panied by number of exhibition draw
ings and all were explained in an address
by the officer in charge OF public build
ings and grounds. The drawings, num-
bering forty-seven, We're completed in
March, 1901, traced and blue printed and
with the accompanying specifications
were ready for use April. 1901, and await
further action by Congress"
Colonel Bingham has made the following
careful estimate of the cost of the pro-
posed extension Of the Mansion: Exc.tva-
tion. $4,000; concrete. $500; steel, $780,
600: floor system, sSi. 00o; wooden floor.
so 900; walls, s353, ,000 windows, etc, s24.-
90: marble columns, SlDs, go; mechanical
equipment $50 0g0 painting and plastering,
$50. 900; contingencies. 10 per cent. SI03,36o:
total, 81. 1880.
The report reviews at some length the
work done on the Washington Monument,
especially the installation of new cleo
trio elevator.
cended to the top Of the shaft, and of
these ~ 81 walked up the stairs. During
the first six months of this year no eleva-
tor was running in the Monument and
during the months of February. March.
April and May the Monument was closed
altogether TO visitors.
During the month of January, Isis per-
sons walked up. and in June 5,i05. The
largest number of visitors was in August
when 1876 persons went TO the top of
the shaft. OF whom i.l9S walked The
total number OF persons who have visited
the Monument since October g. lsss Is
I.94s. .Ol2. During the fiscal year there were
3I5 arrests made by the park watchmen
resulting in SO convictions: 1t6 prisoners
forfeited collateral and q were intoxicat-
ed and released when sober Only were
made prisoners and dismissed
Under the head of children's play