The broad ax., 1907-10-19
WASHINGTON LETTER
Tspecial correspondenee.l

for the president at Washington. Off,
cIally this new private station viii be
known as the executive annex, and II
Will consist Of an entire wing OF the
new Union railway station, which COW
ers more ground than any other build
ing In America and Is the biggest sta
ton in the world. Built Of white mar
bic. IL Will be uncommonly beautiful.
But its distinctive and most cOnsplcu-
Gus architectural feature Is the presi-
dental wing. which comprises a su-
perb entrance for carriages, a vast
state reception room, a private room
for the chief magistrate and several
other apartments.
Closed to the Public.
This wing when not in use by the
president will be closed against all Wis
itors. II will be thrown open, how
ever, on order from the White House
to receive foreign dignitaries calling
at Washington as we'll as important
officials Of our own government, who
will pass through It on arriving and
departing from Washington. They,
however, will use the entrances open
ing upon q portlcO on the east side.
The presidents entrance will be re-
served for him and his suit.
The Presidents Room.
The presidents room, as 1t Is call
ed, will be most beautifully and luxu-
riously furnished. Costly oriental rugs
will cover the floors. The ceiling viii
be done in gold and color, and the
walls will be paneled In blue silk. In
the middle will be n table suitable for
writing, provided with a solid silver
inkstand and other appurtenances to
match, this and all the other articles
OF furniture being OF mahogany. All
Of this luxury will not cost the chief
executive a penny, but will be paid for
ont OF the pockets Of the railroad COM
panies.
The State Reception Room.
For receiving high foreign dignita-
ries is provided the state reception
room, into which the yestibule opens
Thanks to an arrangement convenient
ly made for the purpose, the president
can step directly out Of his private
room into this great apartment, which
is 20 feet long by 80 feet wide.
The railroads are going to try to
make the state reception room the
most beautiful apartment in the Unit
ed States. Its vaulted ceiling will be
exquisitely frescoed in colors, and its
furnishings Of red leather and mahog-
any win be the finest that money can
buy. The floor will be q parquet Of
rare woods highly polished and with
priceless rugs scattered about
The Main Station.
The main part Of the station con- |
tains the largest room In the world
760 feet In length. It Is called the
concourse, is rooted In with glass IN a |
magnificent arch and n intended as a |
gathering place for people who are
waiting for trains. The novel features
OF the building are a room set aside
for the exclusive use OF invalids IA
physician being always on hand and
a small morgue for use In case Of fatal
railroad accidents.
Would Light Fairgrounds.
That the Fairgrounds should be light
ed 50 that they can be kept open at
night is one OF the suggestions made
In the annual report OF DR.. Henry s.
Curtis, supervisor Of the Washington
association, to the Dis
trict commissioners. He says that 1t
has been found in other cities where
this Is done the attendance during the
summer at least is larger between Z
and $50 o'clock in the evening than at
any other time.
The total attendance at the play
grounds for the year was 272, 732. Last
year was the first In which the play
grounds were kept open after the be-
ginning Of school, and the attendance
during the fall and spring months was
nearly as great as during the summer.
curios From the Philippines.
Samuel d. Crawford, an Erie pal
man, who Is a lieutenant colonel In the
Philippine constabulary and has been
N the islands over six years, recently
presented to the president a number Of
curiosities from the islands. Among
~-~S~ q hCdu a. uaukGIOuS | 1
weapon made by hand process by the
lgorrotes, the widest and most un-
civilized Of the Philippine tribes; a @
string, which Is a fine piece Of cloth
For wrapping the body, and some aro-
matte tobacco, grown In the mountains
of the islands.
Jap Sword Fer RoossvsIt.
When Tanlemon Hltachiyama, the
Japanese wrestler, left Japan to come
to this country his one ambition was ,
10 have an audience with President
Roosevelt. Because Of his achieve
nents a. q wrestler bis native town Of .
Aito some years ago presented him q
'olid gold jeweled sword, such as used
oy the famous warriors Of Japan In
The days OF old. HitachIyama asked
permission Of his townsmen to present
his sword to President Roosevelt and /.
permission was readily given The
wrestler had the sword with him when
" called upon the president and made