The Washington times., 1902-07-31
Artistic Adornnent cf
Rooms to Begin This
Morning.
READY FOR THE PLAyfRRERS
Entire Mansion in Far Advanced State
Expected That It Will Be Entirely
Ready for President on Return From
Oyster Bay n October.

Today marks what nay properly be
termed the beginning ofs the final half
OF the work Incidental to the transfor-
nation of the White House from the
;nce- home Of the President TO his ex-
lusive private residence. Today the
-t4stic adornment of the mansion be-
ms, when a firm of Boston decorators
at their men at work on the stucco
1amentation of the main hallway end
Joining long corridor. and henceforth
" activity OF the busy artisans Will be
pended more especially in the finer
.es Of work, leading up TO the fin
hing touches OF the completed man
ION.
For six weeks past the tearing out of
iniiammatIe materials and the substi
tuition of modern materials of the fire
proof kind has been in progress. The
heavy construction work may now be
said TO be practically completed, at
least to such an extent as to enable
tie other stages Of interior work to be
carried on rapidly. The heavy steel
Eirders replacing the old wooden floor
beams of tie first and second floors are
now in place and the terra Gotta
sheatning and cement covering has been
completed to such an extent as TO leave
but a small proportion of that work
still unfinished.
Show Place of Mansion
The spacious East Room. celebrated
through many Administrations as
gorgeous apartment. and the one show
place os the mansion for the general
public. has passed from the crude
stage Of reconstruction to that of read
mess for the plasterers. The freproof
Gooring vas completed some time ago
aud the ceiling is now being rapidly
In this room. as throughout:
the entire mansion. the details of cleo
trio wiring and arrangements for heat
ing and ventilation are progressing rap
idly
The decoration OF the East Room IS
planned to be one OF the features de
luxe" Of the new White House. At this
time however. there is no one in Wash
iugton who can give definite idea Of
hat the adopted plan really is. Su-
perirtcndrnt French who is In charge
OF the work OF construction, says he
knows nothing more than the mere ont
lire OF The work, showing the location
and size Of certain mural adornments
20 BE- hereafter fashioned by experts in
the art o. decoration Not until these
artisans unfold their plans and sketches
VIII the future beauty Of the great
apartment be known. This viii not be
In r,1g -.a--c
have concluded the work on which they
are now about TO begin.
In Red Corridor.
The work which Will be started today
in the long corridor heretofore known
as the Red Corridor"-will be In charge
e.. 4 Boston firm. They viii also provide
the decorations for the private dining
room which. for the convenience OF the
Presidents family. will be one Of the
Arst rooms 10 be finished. The corridor
is now in such condition that the work
q The decorators can be carried on with
out Interference. and the scanolding for
lhe work was put in place yesterday.
The apartments previously termed the
Green Room. Blue Room and Red Room.
rs we'll as the private dining room. will
aext be ready for beautifying touches OF
color. The enlarged state dining room,
Including not only all OF the former
space, but the width OF the old main
staircase. viii soon be ready for the
piasterers. in all these rooms the cleo
trical workers have completed their
groundwork.
The thick walled brick elevator shaft
Is completed for about two-thirds OF its
5ntire construction, the portions around
he entTanceways still awaiting the at
ention OF the handlers OF trowel and
Mortar. The elevator to be installed will
De q rwift-rmning electric one. Its To-
,ation IS at the point where the old ele-
iator stood, Immediately adjacent to the
Cug corridor and 10 the west Of the
naiu entrance hall. Close by It will be |
winding staircase from basement to
,ttic-the lesser staircase. as compared |
With the marble affair TO be built be- |,