The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-05-06
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
For the hrst time since President
Arthur's administration the White
House Is 10 have a thorough renova-
ton on artistic lines. SO heavy has
grown the list OF favored guests In the
Roosevelt household that ii has been
found necessary TO turn the great east
room into a state dining room. The
present White House dining service. n
strange conglomeration OF antique and
modern glass. silver and porcelain.
with many pieces missing. will Ice su.
perseded by a new service OF Sevres
porcelain.
The present state dining room will
be used for small dinner parties. Like
the east room. ii will Ice redecorated.
the present yellow color scheme being
obnoxious TO the family The entrance
hall is also TO be renovated In order
that in general tone and character OF
decoration il may accord with the en-.
bellished east room.
In addition to these changes there is
need for additions for lighting facIli-
tic. very urgent need in case OF tire.
the servants now being dependent en-
tfrely upon the elevator.
Much new furniture OF modern stvlo
is required in place of the nondescript
types now scattered through the Dor.
tons OF the house devoted 10 social
uses
Building Boom Predicted.
Mr.. William III. Given of New York.
whose connection with several archi.
tectural publications has given him n
wide experience in building operations
throughout the country, in discussing
the outlook at one OF the uptown no
tells the other night predicted a stupen.
dous expenditure for building construc-
ton this season.
The building work of 1902 set ir
with the strongest financial showing
that has ever been recorded on this con.
tinent," said Mr.. Given. washington
is likely TO pile up a record breaking
total this year, and no surprise need be
occasioned IL the local aggregate Is
close to $1O.OoO,OOO. The impression
prevails among the leading architects
In New York and in various parts OF
the Union that the national capital has
magnificent architectural future and
that the next decade will record the
erection OF splendid federal structures
here which will make Washington the
most strikingly beautiful city in this
part OF the world. considered purely
from an architectural viewpoint.
The Washburn> In ConGre.s
The visit TO Washington recently OF
former United States Senator William
ID. Washburn brings to mind the fact
that his family is the only one that
ever had three brothers in congress at
the same time. They were Elihu X
Washburn or Illinois, Cadwallader Col
den Washburn OF Wisconsin and Israel
Washburn of Maine. They were all
brothers OF the former senator from
Minnesota. Another brother, Charles
Ames Washburn, was. at the breaking
out Of the civil war, editor OF The Ait,
Californian OF San Francisco. He was
sent as a commissioner OF the United
States to Paraguay and later as minis
ter to that country. He was a distin-
guished inventor
The Two P's.
The phrase las like as two peas
might in the case of the Pulsifer broth
ers be made to read "as like as
two P's."
Both brothers have been employees
on the senate side for many years. Pi:-
man has been a committee clerk for
twenty years. and Woodbury. has
twelve years to his credit. They look
alike, they walk alike. and they talk
and dress alike, so that they are very
frequently mixed up. Pitman Pusifer.
who Is the clerk OF the naval commit
tee. Is often compelled TO listen TO
dreary figures about rivers and har.
bors, while his brother has to hear all
about the naval controversies. Both OF
the men are from Maine, and II one
should resign and 90 home the other
could play Box and Cox and fill both
clerkships and nobody in the capitol
would be any the wiser.
On the Old Testing Ground.
Between the two cities which Elijah
Morse selected for the first test OF te-
legraphy there is now In full operation
system of wireless telegraphy, the
~1SSS ASSChi anu pOSSlDiy lue tHOSl
complete development OF the great in
ventor's method OF transmitting mes
sages. This new system is so far In the
experimental stage only. and no at
tempt has been made to convert the
two stations. one at Brookland and the
other at one of Baltimore's suburbs,
Into commercial enterprise. But for
several weeks past the two cities have
been In instantaneous communication
without the aid of wires or any other
tangible mode OF transmitting words.
Building For Executive Omces.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Cortelyou are both friendly, it is be-
heved. to recent suggestion for the
erection Of an office building for the
White House In the White House
grounds The proposition is to put ND
a structure somewhat temporary in
character that would cost $25. 600 TO
$4,000 and contain sufficient quarters
for President Roosevelt and his entire
executive force. thereby doing awav