The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-07
THE REMODELED WHITE HOUSE.
Removal of Omces VIII Add to the
Family Comfort.

Washington Letter in New York Post.
AS already noted, this summer is notable
in Washington for the amount OF its build
ing operations. particularly in hotels.
apartment houses and offices. More struc-
tural steel is coming here this season, IL
would appear, than in any OF the five years
past, but this may be because Washington
has just reached the cage-construction Pc
riod in its development.
The building operations of greatest inter-
est to the country are those at the White
House. where improvements costing con-
siderably more than half million dollars
are In progress. The new Office building Is
gratifying surprise 1t Is remarkable
that a structure of its size could be erected
so near the White House without seeming
to interfere more with the general view OF
the place and grounds and the picture OF
the mansion long associated in the pub
lie mind. The devices by which this new
building has been obscured are very in
genious. A. slice has been taken out OF
the high bank on the west side OF the
White House grounds, slipping down to the
drive between them and the War Depart
ment building, and the Office building set
into the excavation thus made. IL is only
a one-story affair, with basement. and so,
In the range of the eye, appears not much
above the level of the first floor OF the
White House. Then its outer wall extends
so squarely to the sidewalk line the
westerly drive TO disassociate the build
ing entirely from the White House. and I'm
common parlance lone would hardly know
that IL was there" Its general lines are
harmonious with those OF the White
House, and its color treatment will doubt
Some question has already been raised by
the employees as to whether the new build
ing will furnish them room enough, with
the prediction that IL will not. The prob
| however.
force at the White House. now numbering
about twenty, will have TO get along with
this building, as it could not well be en-
larged. and the prospects of the pres
idential Office going anywhere else during
the present generation are very remote
The convenience OF this building will per-
suade its tenants 10 remain. Then the OBJ
lection of having the President occupy
rooms in the building OF a department can
not be raised against this, and altogether
IL seems TO meet a large number OF the
lonS-Sought requirements.
The changes in the White House itself
VIII result in remarkable saving Of the
available space. Most of the things that
have seemed like fundamentals are found
10 be really 'later-day additions. and usually
In poor taste. The flight Of stairs In the
private part of the house, from the first to
| the second floor. so closely resembling the
| stairways on steamboats,. was such addi-
ton. The original staircase stood where the
private elevator has since been introduced.
! and now, with slightly changed partition
| lines, the stairway will go back TO it's old
| place. releasing for general uses some very
valuable space with window frontage.
The high banks on the treasury side OF
the White House have also been cut into
1 for driveways TO the new. entrance in the
/ basement, where the carriages for recep-
tions and other occasions will unload.
/ There will be no more of the advice OF the
coachman who explained 10 his patrons on
! their way To a reception that II they would
| only get out OF the carriage just before IL
| reached the White House and walk the rest
| OF the way they would save an hour" and
| that II they would come out at its close and
| find him at spot agreed upon a half block
| away they would again save an hour %
| Such incidents. more less humorous.
have characterized the White House recep-
| tiOnS of the past