The Washington times., 1902-12-28

When the improvements at the White
House are completed President Roose-
velt will be able to push a button and
get about anything he wants.
The new electrical system is cne
feature Of the building concerning which
there is neither criticism nor complaint
from any source Experts say it is TN
ouestionably the finest 10 the country,
and complete to the most minute de-
tail The newest approved inventions
are used throughout, and much OF the
intricate mechanism works automad-
calIy.
There arc more than thirty-two miles
OF electric wires In the building, and
they carry the current everywhere for
all sorts OF purposes, from heating the
plates so the Presidents cakes won't get
cold az breakfast. to sending the Gle
vators bobbing around as though they
we're run by ghosts. The multitude Of
wires are inclosed in tubular iron con-
duits, each system being separate and
distinct The conduiJs are all hidden
away under the floors OF the Railways
One Of the features Of the new sys-
TEN is a private telephone outfit for the
use OF the President and his family
only. It works automatically, and when
Mr.. Roosevelt wants to talk with his
wife or any member Of his family Il
! is only necessary for him 10 put the
/ receiver TO his ear and press the but
| ton bearing the number Of the room
I Hn - 80. f- an
/ There is no central tc say things 70
/ II the answer Is not prompt. but neither
I is there any possibility Of the conveI-
| satiOn being overheard. The private
/ telephone system extends only to the
rooms occupied by the Presidents fam
| ily and 10 Secretary Cortelyou's desk
Then there is a public telephone sys-
TEN. which is operated through a cen
trsl' at the executive Offices. This is
/ connected with all Of the principal
rooms at the White House.
The lighting system is marvellous in
the intricacy Of its details. On the main
I floor IS a great panel. or switchboard.
/ which controls all the lights on that
I floor. All OF the lights caa be thrown
[ on az once by the main switch. or all
the lights in one room can be turned
I on all together with one switch. or
gradually, by turning lot OF small but
/ tons. so as TO furnish any desired
amount Of illumination. The East Room
/ has its own switchboard. which con
/ tains twenty-six circuits. Of which twen-
/ ty-one are IN. the ceiling. Each Of the
upper floors has two panels, one at each
end. and there Is one In each terrace
annex. The switchboards are Of Tennes-
see marble. and are covered by heavy
doors 10 which the electrician carries
the key Outside Of the doors are but
I tons that control all OF the hall lights.
so that II the electrician should lose
either himself or the key, darkness need
not come over the house 70 is possible
10 turn the lights on from inside the
panel so they cannot be turned Of from
The outside but not TO turn them off so
/ that they cannot be turned on with the
exposed buttons.
The elevators work automatically. The
I President presses the button and the
/ car comes to the floor he is on. He gets
/ IN, PRESSES another button. on which is
the number Of the floor he wishes to 20
/ 10. end there he goes. He can leave the
elevator there until some one else
wants it or he can send # 10 the main
I floor by pushing another button.
Tne dumb waiter on which the Presi-
dents meals are sent from the kitchen
in the basement to the dining room