Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-02
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Roofs of the Two Wings to Be
Replaced by New Ones.
LEAKS IN BOTH OF THEM
Made Of . Coating Of Tar and
Cement.
MR.. McKIM'S sUPERINTENDENcE
Col. Bingham, Then Superintendent Of
Buildings and Grounds, Severely
Criticised Much Of the Work
MR.. McKIM'S SUPERINTENDENCl

In the closing to the public Of the White
House today there IL indirectly an echo
Of the White-Thaw murder In New York.
The building win probably be closed. the
grounds also, for two or three months.
It was the firm OF McKim. Meade q
White Of New York that drew the plans for
the reconstruction and rehabilitation OF the
White House. The arm personally super
intended the work. which cost over 100000.
Mr.. MoKim being the man In charge most
OF the time.
It now leaks out that the superintendent
Of public buildings and grounds will be
compelled to spend a good many thousands
OF dollars to replace some of the work
done three years ago, For many months
the roofs on the east and west terraces,
the former being the public entrance. to
the home of the President. have been leak
last few months. until now there are great
gaps OF piastering that have fallen and
nasty-looking rain spots show all along
the underside OF the ceilings.
New Roofs for the Wings
Colonel Cromwell, superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds. has begun prep
arattons to remove the roofs Of the two
wings of the Executive Mansion and re-
place them with new roofs. Whether he
will have the money to restore both roofs
at this time cannot be told. as Congress
was reluctant to give the amount OF money
that was asked for on account OF extra
ordinary repairs" The appropriation was
finally cut to $4,000. which must answer
for interior changes and work all over the
building. The east terrace Is in such bad
shape that must have new roof. while
the west wing may be patched up long
enough to last another year.
The east wing is the one, as stated, used
as the public entrance: the west wing being
used as servants quarters, laundry rooms,
onel Cromwell, because the public would
interfere with the work. The length of
time OF closing will probably be longer
than the building was ever shut up before,
except when the reconstruction was going
on three years ago.
The roofs of the two wings were put
up OF coating of tar and cement. The
tar was used under the cement, which
the rain water The cracks also admitted
the warm sun. which melted the tar. The
warm rains OF spring and summer washed
the black tar all through the under por-
ceilings.
Why the Cement Cracked.
II Is said that the cracking OF the cement
was due to the fact that it was put down
late in the year 1908 and In a rush SO as to
have the White House ready for the occu-
pancy OF the Presidents family 1t Will be
remembered that the whole work was
rushed through. Mr.. McKim personally su-
perintending it. The work began in June
and everything was pushed to end 1t by
November The early frosts and cool
weather had bad effect on the cement, It
Is said. This, together with too fast work
made a botch.
The putting on of a new roof on the east
terrace will cost $4,000 or $1,000, with a
similar sum for the west terrace.
Colonel Bingham, who Is now police COM
missioner of New York, and was superin-
tendent Of public buildings and grounds at
the time of the reconstruction, severely
criticised much Of the work that had been
done, as well as the manner of doing It. He
was so severe In his criticism of Architect
McKim that 1t has been claimed he was
sent away and succeeded by another man.
At any rate, he remained at the White
House but short time afterward.