Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31

vibration noticeable when such gatherings
assembled in the White House In former
years. These floors are not only thorough
as to strength. but In every other way,
having been made so by laying two-inch
Georgia pine PLANK with diagonal course
of seven-eighths- pine, while on top OF all
Is very fHefoak parquet floor, smooth and
waxed.
THE general public think, Is not aware
that the old White House. laek..l sufficient
modern accommodations. F1r instance.
nine additional bath and toilet rooms have
been added, all of them modern.
after the repairs on the building were
well under way 1t was found that on &C
count of settlement and shrinkage in tn !.
old construction the second floor was badly
out Of level. and to remedy this an entire
new floor was laid in the second story.
And In doing this we were enabled to level
up the old floors, SO that the new floors
are reasonably straight and correct.
1T Is somewhat surprising and interest
ing to note that in the remodeling of the
interior of the Old building alone over no.
coo new brick were used. These were used
in patching and filling in defective places
and wherever needed for strength and
durability.
Important Improvements.
1.-The old chimney fues were cleaned ard
made good. New heating ducts were ar
ranged. and the whole heating plant. In
stead of being placed above ground, has
been placed in a cellar underneath the
front vestibule, ten feet below the level
of the garden floor All fresh air inlets and
return, and all steam pipes Of every de-
sight. making the garden floor Of the
White House part of the house, which can
be used for any purpose that may be neces-
sary or desirable. -Four large sleeping
rooms have been added in the attic, as well
as a linen room. flag room, bath room and
a large store room.
1.-THE roof has also been thoroughly re-
paired. and the roof drainage is an entirely
for the roof was Of kind tnas in all my
previous experience had never before en-
countered, nor had l ever heard Of any
system resembling this. The drainage was
taken through the roof and between the
ceiling of the second floor and the attic
floor In copper pipes. These copper pipes
were laid inside Of wooden spouts, hewn
from solid tmbers. All the spouts were led
to one general outlet near the center of the
building, terminating in down pipe OF
ten inches diameter, which connected with
the sewer. I fancy that in SONS former
days the old wooden spouts conveyed the
water from the roof, but that as time
passed 1t was found that they decayed and
leaked, when they were lined with lead
and copper, and later copper conductors
were laid inside the spouts This Old sys-
tenn has been entirely dsicarde1. new
wrought-iron system Of piping having
taken it's place.
''In the west wing. or terrace, the trans
formation has been very mar<e1. THIS
part Of the building had been previously
used for storage. tool house. &c. It now
contains laundries sleeping rooms, &c.
Where bare brick walls formerly stood are
now smooth pfastered ceilings and parti-
lions. and all Is fresh. attractive and suit
able for occupancy of the proper help for
the White House. The old colonuade has
been beautified and made suitable 10 be
used as passageway by the Presiden. IN
going from the house to his Office. The
east wing Is entirely new.
The East Room.
1.-THE floor and ceiling of the old east room
have been entirely taken out and are now
wholly new. The first floor is Of fireproof
material. All these floors are supported by
iron beams. The finish and decoration Of
the east room are. entirely new throughout
The wainscotfng is woodwork and Is new
in every particular. The four mantels are
new and the fireplaces and fiues have been
remodeled and made absolutely fireproof
and all four of the fireplaces have been
made so that fires can be built in them.
The heat for the rooms over the east room
is conveyed in galvanized iron conduits.
These are laid in the. walls and concealed.
The plumbing for the next floor is also
concealed in the walls. The old chimney
breasts of the east room have been cut
away, which makes the projection into the
room far less In the new room than in the
old, and makes the room somewhat larger.
1t Is also more convenient. as the four col
umnS have been abolished.
"One more door has been added to the
green room. opening into the east room.
The floor of this room also is supported on
iron girders, with fireproof material be-
tween
THE blue room has also the same floors
as the green room; the chimney breast
which originally existed in this ROOM has
been cut away, making the walls uniformly
smooth on both sides, which adds some that
to the size of the room. This room also
has a new mantel and fireplace which
be used. The ceiling is entirely new,
having been replastered and ornamented
Entirely New.
1.-THE red room has received the same at
tention in the matters of floor and ceiling