The Washington times., 1903-04-16
RADICAL CHANGES IN
WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS
Alterations Which May Bar
Ingress From the Avenue.
ARCHITECT M'KIM'S IDEAS
Sightseers Complain About Inconven-
ience to Which They Are Put in
Seeking Admittance to Mansion.

Radical changes are in prospect re
gardjng tire surroundings of the White
House, and when they are carried into
erect the appearance OF the mansion
and grounds VIII present an altogether
different view from that OF the present
time. The plan is said TO contemplate
practically the closing OF the grounds
along the Pennsylvania Avenue front.
or, at least. restrictions on the use Of
the grounds by pedestrians going to and
from the State, War aud Navy building.
The general accuracy of these state
ments is admitted by Architect Charles
+. McKim. of New York. who planned
the White House alterations. and who
stin exercises a certain supervision
over the mansion in respect TO decor
ative effects He is in Washington 10
superintend the arrangement of the new
bay trees and boxwood bushes on the
east and west terraces in such q way
as best TO carry out his ideas for the
proper adornment OF those promenades
President Wanted Il So.
Mr.. MeKim's attention was first called
to the complaints of hundreds of sight
seers who are put TO great ineonven-
ience and loss Of time because of the
absence Of steps leading from the White
House front lawn to the public en-
trance to the mansion through the
east terrace, opposite the Treasury
building It has been reported that Mr..
Mckim was the person responsible for
this omission, as all the improvements
were made subject to his plan. This
is not denied by the architect. but his
explanation is made in the following
words:
THAT is the way the President wanted
it. Both he and Mrs. Roosevelt approved
the plans for the alterations to the man
sion
The suggestion was made the Presi- !
dent probably did not realize that fol- |
lowing the custom for dozens of years !
past, tourists, unaware of the recent !
changes, would continue to present i
themselves for admittance to. the man /
sion at the main entrance. and, when /
turned away there, would protest be-
cause prevented from going directly to /
the east terrace entrance.
a Roundabout Way.
Though the direct distance is only q
few steps. all visitors must take the
circuitous route back to Pennsylvania
Avenue and around the corner outside /
the mansion grounds. For sightseers
from distant parts Of the United States
doing Washington On a closely esti-
mated schedule of time and distances.
the reception they thus encounter. or
what may be the only White House visit
OF their lives, is not OF a pleasing ns-
ture. Mr. Mckim would rot comment
on the justice of these numerous com
plants. but>said.
7 hope before a great while these
grounds viii be changed. The White
House Is no longer a public place. al any
rate. bat is the residence Of the Presi-
dent The general plan viii have 10 Be
worked out by a competent nan. and
can think OF no one who could do that
better than sir Olmsted. the landscape
architect. He's the son Of his father.
you know. and that ought to assure good
things in anything he puts his hand to-
Asked whether the proposed plan
would prevent the Use OF the walks
: through the grounds by officials going
o and from the state, War and NAVY
building. Mr. McKim intimated that il
vs. 5uld but reiterated his statement that
I'll details would of course have 10 be
worked out by the landscape architect.
In the same way the natural inference
seems 20 be that thereafter the Presi-
dents Office building viii have 10 be ap-
preached from the little side street run
ming from Pennsylvania Avenue 10 the
Mall. just as entrance is now gained on |
The opposite side OF the White House |
grounds by those who wish 10 see the
East Room.