The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-10-06
WASHINGTON LETTER


LSpeClal COrreSpOnQenCesI
President Roosevelt. returning Il
Washington from Oyster Bay to re
sumo his final seasons work as presi
dent, informally dedicated the new
Union station, the presidential sta
ton" During the absence of the CHIEF
magistrate from the capital the finish
ing touches have been put upon tbs
great railway terminal. It has beer
called the presidential station be
cause, for the first time in an edifice
Of this kind. special apartments have
been set aside for the use of the presi.
dent when he IS beginning or ending a
railroad journey.
/ The Presidential Station.
Although the new station has many
points Of distinction, being for in
stance, the largest and costliest rail-
road terminal in the world its most
notable novelty is file presidential suit.
No other ruler Of &c republic has ever
had such facilities Indeed, no for
eign sovereign has had apartments of
equal luxury and convenience.
| The presidential apartments occupy
the eastern end of this marble master
piece and extend the full width OF the
building. At the southeast corner Is
the main entrance to the sa1t = an
arched carriage portal Of simple Snd
imposing architecture. The nature Of
the quarters is indicated only by scuIp-
ture over the doorway, representing
the seal Of the United States, surround
ed by flags. If preferred, entrance or
egress may be had on the east. front,
where several doors open from the
apartments to corridor or port1co'
spacious enough to permit half dozen
carriages to be drawn up.
The Reception Room.
The main entrance opens on a. vesti-
bule This communicates with the.
main reception room, from which OPEN
most of the doors on the east front.
This reception room is high ceilinged;,,
almost as large as the historic east,
room at the White House and sngE;
gestive of that salon in its general d.
the fresco characterization and other
decorations, which are very elaborate.
are in blue and gold.
The use in the decorative scheme of
the figure Of the American eagle and
the shield with the stars and stripes
conveys a hint as to- the character Of
the room. The woodwork and furniture
are of mahogany. The suit. Is lighted
by day by a row of large windows
opening to the east At night both con-
cealed and exposed lights are utilized.
In the reception room are three cham
deliers, and there are also eight massz
I've ornamental brackets on the side
walls. "a 20 s.
Train Shed and Concourse.
Through vestibule. at the north end
the presidential suit communicates
with the train shed and cuncourse. This
concourse is 754 by 100 feet, large
enough it has been said, to, accommo-
date the entire standing army of the
United States. Trains enter this $20,
100000 station on thirty three tracks.
The presidential specials viii use the
track at the eastern end of the yard
nearest the state suit That will re-
quire but a short walk from cars to
carriages for the presidential party.
Capitol improvements. s.,
Alterations and improvements in and
about the capitol and the house Office
building which will cost about $780,
COO are being made under direction of
Superintendent Elliott Woods. who is
rushing the work SO that 1t shall be
completed before congress cOnvenes
Dec. Z. al
For years the inadequacy of the ele-
vator service on the house side of the
capitol has been source of constant
complaint during sessions. Throughout
the last session this lack was greatly
increased by the occupancy for the
first time of the house Office building,
the tenancy Of whose rooms by repre-
sentatfves, committees and clerical
forces made lot of travel through the
tunnel and more than doubled the num-
Der of passengers carried daily I'm the
southwest elevator.
20 New Elevator Being Built.
When congress adjourned the fnten-
ton was to install another elevator on
the house side. running the shaft
through the small room In the west
corridor at the south end of the lobby
formerly known as the speakers room
and to keep this elevator exclusively
for use by members and newspaper
men. 1t was found, however, that to
locate the shaft there would necessi-
tate too much cutting away of the
foundations of the building, and anoth
er scheme was devised.
/ Representative jenkins, chairman Of
the committee on judiciary, agreed to
vacate the judiciary room on the south
corridor, gallery floov, and to take in
lieu the speakers private room for
executive committee work and large
room In the Office building for hear
ings. Workmen are now cutting an
elevator shaft. through the judiciary
room, which will give entrance from
the ground floor on to the east hall,
just inside the south capitol entrance,
which will connect on the basement
floor with branch tunnel linking the
Office building and the capitol, for the
convenience of newspaper men. clerks
and others.
House Postoffice to Be Moved.
The house postotice will be moved to
the office building, and the space thus
/ ,xcockod x.,tl1 10 40 Y.tfoI r3co6 Nv f1Sc