Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-20
is NOT TO RAISE ROOF
Alterations to Be in Interior of the
Attic Only.
HE WILL ASK FOR $4,000
Appropriation Will Probably Be an
Item in Sundry Civil Bill and Is
to Provide Bedrooms.

Col. Spencer Cosby. the engineer officer
of the army in charge of public buildings
and grounds. is beginning to receive a
storm Of inquiries from newspaper men,
architects and others. following his re-
cent trip to Trenton to confer with Presi-
dent-elect Wilson as to certain changes to
be made in the White House.
Col. Cosby explained 10 a Star reporter
today that misapprehension exists as to
what is to be done at the White House.
He denied the printed reports that any
attempt is to be made to raise the roof
of the executive mansion or to build an
other story over the old house.
THE White House attic" he said, con
tains, as do many other houses a lot OF
waste room, which is now used for stor-
age, especially over the east and west
ends of the house. 1t is proposed to
utilize this space for the creation of more
rooms.
There will be no architectural changes
to the exterior Of any kind whatever. we
may have to put in a few skylights over
this space now used as storage space.
but they will, Of course. be in the roof
and will not show from the outside.
Congress Must Give Funds.
1T is not absolutely certain yet, in
fact, that the changes will be made, as
Congress will have to appropriate for
them before they can be carried out. They
will. however, cost less than $4,000. and
an item covering them will be inserted
I'm one of the appropriation bills, probably
the sundry civil bill.
There was a vast amount Of space in
the White House attic before the rooms
now in the attic were added during the
changes in Col. Roosevelt's administra-
ton All of this attic space was not used
in the creation Of these rooms. and all
we propose to do is create additional
bedrooms in the attic storage space that
is left.
."rhe changes will. of course. be made
under architectural supervision. Gov
Wilson approved them the other DAY
when / went to Trenton to see him ABOUT
them, and he gave out then. Following
that visit, all that any one can say ABOUT
them when he said that additional bed
rooms were needed and that they would
be built in the attic"
Arrangement Of Mansion.
Architects who have not been consulted
about the proposed changes have hereto
fore expressed the opinion that more
rooms can not be added to. the White
House except by building d higher roof.
-
criticism were this attempted. or were
any structural changes proposed which
would in any way whatever alter the ap-
pearance of the White House The White
House, as now arranged. consists OF the
ground floor, with entrance on the east
side. next to the Treasury. through which
guests enter for all formal affairs except
the New Year reception.
Then there is the first floor. containing
the east room, the suite OF state parlors
and the state dining room. All private
guests of the President enter through the
front door on this floor.
Rooms on Second Floor.
The second floor is devoted exclusively
to the use Of the President and his fam
lily, and on it are the great library or
living room and seven large bedrooms,
each having a private bath. Five Of these
bedrooms have dressing rooms as large
as the bedrooms in modern house. and
have done service as bedrooms when
large house parties have been entertained
at the White House.
In the attic the servants sleep. This
attic commands magnificent view OF the
Potomac and the Virginia hills. includ-
ing Arlington and Fort Myer extending
even to Alexandria.