Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-01
Over 81 Miles of Wire in the
White House.
THE SYSTEM COMPLETE
LIGHTING OF THE ROOMS WILL
BE A FEATURE.
Mr.. Charles NJ. Maxwell Tells Of the
Installation Of the Apparatus and
It's Many Appliances.

The lighting OF the White House will
be feature of future receptions. The
rehabilitation of the White House included
the installation of complete new electric
plant. The contract was let to Harry Alex
ahder OF New York. Mr.. Alexander sent
one of the most expert electricians In the
country to superintend the work. This was
Charles NJ. Maxwell, who had been in
charge Of the electrical exhibits at .he
Paris exposition. and who was formerly
superintendent of electric lighting for Geo.
A. Fuller & Co., the contractors and build
ers. Mr.. Maxwell took great pride in the
work, and has received many compliments
on his successful efforts. Speaking today
Of the plant Mr.. Maxwell said:
About les, 900 Feet of Wire.
1.-THE electrical installation in this build
ing is the result of six months hard work.
There are in all about 16SOOO feet OF cleo
trio wire, all Of which is inclosed in iron
conduits. each system being entirely dis
tinct one from another. First, there is an
electric lighting system which supplies cur
rent to 5000 incandescent lights throughout
the building. There is also a distinct power
system which supplies current to ventilating
motors. automatic electric pumps and cleo
trio elevators, and also complete electric
bell system, telephone system. both pri-
vate and public The work on this installa-
ton was begun in the latter part OF July,
and will probably be completed about the
10th OF January. at total cost OF about
500. 900.
1.-The remarkable features of the electrical
systems In this building are the facts that
In installing the electrical work II was nee
essary to be prepared for such state occa-
sions as today. the New Year reception. 1t
Is possible, with the present lighting system
In the White House. to be able to illuminate
70
qufrements. The lighting panel boards are
of Tennessee marble. and are OF the very
highest type. all Of the copper work being
Of hand-filed finish, and the fuses are of
an inclosed type which are instantaneously
removable. Each room the first floor
has a distinct main controlling switch, with
subsidiary switches. in addition to having
push-button switches outside OF the various
panel boards for temporary illumination.
The same principles are applied to all the
various panel boards in both the executive
buildings and the terrace anneXes.
The Automatic Elevator.
'"The automatic electric elevator Of the
White House has drawn marked attention
from visitors, and. although intricate in
construction, is perfect in mocha nfsm, and
even Quentin Roosevelt, the baby Of the
family, does not hesitate to trust himself
to operate 1t. By pressing a button on
your floor the elevator comes to you and
the door opens, and after having stepped
inside the car and pressing a button cor
responding to the floor you desire to go to.
the door closes and carries you to your
destination. The dumb walter In the pam
try is operated on the same principle aside
from the buttons being the outside Of
the dumb waiter: In the pantry there is a
massive electrical plate warming apparatus
which has capacity Of in a few minutes,
heating 1900 plates. The plate-warmer is
controlled by number Of electric switches
which make is possible to increase the tenn
DerAtllre In the tins sufficient for
cooking purposes.
The Telephone System.
1.-THE public telephone system. with a GEN.
trail station located in the executive offices
covers the entire White House grounds In
addition to this there is private telephone
system which is intended solely for the
President and his familys use. The watch
mans clock and burglar alarm system Of
the White House, are complete and perfect
In every respect 1 cannot, however, de-
scribe them, but can say that the watch
mans stations are intended to be visit ID
at intervals Of ten minutes. Ample pro.
VISIONS have been made throughout the
building FOR protection against fire, all Of
which are electrically operated. A perfect
electrical ventilating system has been in
stalled throughout the various buildings by
which the air Is renewed every twelve
minutes. The water supply of the White
House is from a massive tank directly I'M
der the roof, which is automatically kept
filled by an electric pump and the lowering
Of the water but few inches starts the
electric pump into operation SO that 1t re-
quires no attention from the engineer. The
electric fixtures are without doubt the
finest in the United States. The crystal
chandeliers Of the east room, green, blue
and red rooms, and the gorgeous standards
In the vestibule and the corridor of the
White House are simple in design but
magnificent in effect. I can safely say that
the electrical installation of the White
House is the most intricate and comp.ete
system installed in this country. as the
greatest attention has been paid to even the
smallest detail. Neither time nor expense
has been spared in accomplishing this re-