Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23

Probably the entire Nation has beer
shocked at the suggestion that 1t woulc
cost $500 600 to put q new roof on thu
White House. President Coolidge him
self was SO shocked that he prefers
the hazard Of having the roof fall about
his illustrious ears rather than ask
Congress to spend so huge q sum. Still
there is speculation as to what might
happen II the roof should tumble ir
some night during a State reception
when all the members of the cabine,
and the Vice President and all the
members of the diplomatic corps were
present. The thought sends shiveI
down the back Of official Washington.
| Real estate men and builders of the
Capital have been startled also at the
| estimated cost of recovering the Elk
ecutive Mansion. The area of the root
| is not large and 1t has been said that
| probably the whole White House did
not cost half q million dollars in the
beginning. The truth is no one seems
to know just what the White House
cost at the beginning or what 1t has
cost to keep 1t in condition. The total
sum probably would be huge. however
| for only last year something like $50
| 900 was voted for minor repairs and
apparently it served only as a drop in
the bucket.
1t is known, however. that back in
1897 when the White House was
well under way the United States
Government had only 100000 avail
able for all it's departmental and eN-
ecutive buildings. OF this sum $780,
600 had been borrowed from the
! neighboring and friendly State of
Maryland.
Washington Urged Distance.
A little delving into history shows
again there is nothing new under the
sun. When the Government was
thinking about an extensive building
program 1t was suggested that the
departmental building, as well as the
White House, be clustered about the
capitol so as to be convenient to Con
gress. At that time PENNSYLVANIA
avenue was quagmire and journey
from the Capitol to the present loca-
ton or the White House was a real
undertaking instead of an incident.
But George Washington, wise in
his day and generation, objected
strenuously to the scheme. He said:
The case of access to the Govern
ment departments for members of
Congress land Senators) would result
IN interruptions and delays in the
public business
One hears the same complaint in
washington today. despite the fact
that Washington had his way and
the buildings were located at what
was thought to be great distances.
Modern transportation methods have
annihilated distance, however, and
the interruptions and delays" go on.
First Occupied I'm 1900.
The White House as 1t exists today
is a growth of more than 100 wears
1t was first occupied in 1900, but at
that time was a boxlike affair with
| neither north nor south portico. The
front door. facing Pennsylvania ave
nue., was approached by narrow wood
en- steps.
After the visit of the British to
Washington in 1874 it was necessary
to rebuild the burned mansion. There
is a legend that the Presidents home
! first was called the White House after
this incident. when 1t was necessary
| to paint the walls left standing in
order to obliterate the smoke stains
But the mansion had been named the
White House before this occurrence
The rebuilding was not completed
until 1929. The north portico was
| added in 1898, all of this work being
after the plans of James Hoban, the
original architect and builder.
In 1900 it was proposed to add two
beautiful pillared and domed wings to
the White House at a cost of $1,000
900. Later this idea was modified
when Roosevelt became President and
had the less pretentious executive of
fees built.
The White House roof is not an
ordinary house covering. In the first
place, it is constructed Of copper.
Some one described it as a sort OF
village, with its rallied walks, run
ways, gates and stairs. 1t even has