The Washington times., 1902-09-14
Colonel Bingham Makes
Detailed Report of the
Various Changes.
MANSION ALL BUT REBUILT
Interior Remodeled and Modernized-
Attic Made Habitable and Entire
Structure Repaired and Improved
Some Notable Changes Made.

the public buildings and grounds. in re-
gard to the progress in the work in the
reconstruction of the White House and
the building of an office for the clerical
force of the President. Colonel Bing-
ham says in detail, as follows:
THE work in progress for making al
terations in and additions to the Execu-
tive Mansion was continued, the follow
ing being the work accomplished during
the month:
"West terrace formerly substructure
of conservatory)--Ceme floors We're
laid in all of the rooms under the ter
race and all the partition walls lathed
and plastered with three coats. A pas
sageway was formed for private en-
trance to the new Office building. A
large arch was taken out at the east
end and three large l beams put in its
place.
Changes in Basement.
Basement fioor-The boiler pit was
completed. the boiler set in place, aud
the pipe connections made. The stew
ards room was divided into three rooms
with stud and metal lath and plaster
partition. All the plaster throughout
the basement was repaired. Two arches
under the south portico were walled up
with cut stone to form toilet rooms. The
ceiling at the east end of the corridor
was changed from a fiat ceiling to one
with groined arches TO correspond with
that in the remainder of the corridor The
doorway at the east end of the corridor
IVES enlarged. The new stairway lead
ing from the small kitchen to the but
ler's pantry on the first floor was parti-
toned off. The work of connecting up
water and heating pipes was continued
East terrace tnew)-The foundations
for this terrace have been completed
and the stone base course laid. EXcaya-
tions have been made for circular
driveway to lead from the east Executive
Avenue to the entrance to the terrace.
During the progress of this excavation a
terra Gotta conduit containing the tele-
graph and telephone cables which con-
meet the marsion with the Treasury De-
partment ard the State, War and Navy
Departments was uncovered and it was
lowered and placed beneath the propos-
ed surface of the new roadway. and a
new manhole built in place of the one
that had to be destroyed, the entire |
work being done by the contractors |
under the supervision of the lineman of
this Office. without interruption to the
working of the lines.
Dining Room Beauti6ed.
First 1oor-The plaster of paris
cornice and panel work and the ceilings
of the vestibule main hall, state dining
room and private dinings room were
nearly completed and about half finished
in the east room The ceiling in the
private dining room has been changed
from fat ceiling to sroined ceiling.
The two large windows cn the west side
of the state dining room were shifted
and reconstructed so as TO come directly
under the windows in the second story.
One of those windows was bricked up
and large brick fireplace built against
it tile floor of white marble was laid
in the buffers pantry and a half story
ceiling put up to form a china closet
In the room The four large chimney
breasts in the east room were cut back
flush with the walls. and four new terra
Gotta fues put in. The stone steps for
the large stairway leading from The
basement to the first floor were set in ,
place and half OF the stone steps of the
stairway leading from the first to the
second floor were set The elevator shaft
was carried up to the required height :
above the roof and work started to pre-.
pare 1t to receive the elevator ma
chinery- Two half stories were formed
near this elevator shaft TO be used as
linen closets.
Second foor-The floors of all the
md h-a1 11- ~, |
Faie part of the house have been lev
led with the use OF furrine s,rips.
These were covered with fireproof dead
ening felt, and on top of this a hard
wood hoor was laid.
Attic Made Habitable.
Attic foor-The floors of the new s
'ooms in The attic were leveled and new !
!oD Hoors laid. All the partition walls Z
we're plastered The heating. water.
IND drain pipes were carried up to the
lew rooms. The drain pipes from the
oof were overhauled and ligh; shafts S
we're built through the roof to give i
ight to the bath rooms on the second
'oor
The Installation of tubes for the i
lectric light wires and for a limited i
ell and telephone system for the man u
ION has been in progress In connection n
Nth the other work.
Greenhouses and conservatory-The
York OF tearing down the conservatory .,
completed, and the rose house. grap- !,
~, and fern house were also torn down :,
q connection with the remodeling of =
ne White House and the erection of -
he new Office building. All the old ma
erial was hauled 10 the propagatiug
ardens south of the Washington Monu- =
lent grounds, for use in re-erecting the =
ouses there. Owing 10 the tearing Il
own of the conservatory and green
ouses, which necessitated the removal
the planss therefrom to the grounds
he repotting of the plants was NOT
until the middle of August c'
nd this was continued during the pt
onth. the plants being arranged in the d;
rounds temporarily until the houses b
ow under erection in the propagating ia
ardens are completed, and, until they sa
e finished. the propagation of spring
,wering plants usually propagated al r
lis time OF the year cannot be com :
enced- The White House greenhouses
e TO be rebuilt as far as possible with
e material from the old greenhouses =
the White House grounds. which We
ere torn down in July and August. usr
Model Conservatives. la'
They are TO be five in number, 75 feet ar lal
ng by is feet wide. each connected lsrs
III notting room and workroom 20 vii
"a vi
40 feet and with cellar. in which dr