Evening star., 1950-10-07
White House Skeleton
OF Steel Approaching
Completion Near Roof
By w. H. Shippen

By W. H. Shippen
A massive steel skeleton of sky
scraper strength was near COM
pletion today within the once-un-
stable walls of the White House
The home of the Presidents is
now braced against fire, hurricane
or very heavy shock, although the
remaining two thirds of the whole
job will not be completed before
December l, 1851.
Today, however, the mansion
rests upon completely new. rein
forced foundations extending "a
feet below the old, and an extra
ordinarily heavy steel frame some
95 per cent complete has assumed
the load once borne by the stone
walls.
First-Hand Progress Report.
Reporters and photographers
obtained a first-hand progress re-
port yesterday afternoon as work.
men installed a ground floor of
reinforced concrete while steel
workers near the roof riveted and
welded together the final sections
of the steel frame. A similar in
spection was made last July 12
About half of the first floor has
been poured above a new base
ment deep enough to contain a
mezzanine floor.
The steel framework of the up.
per stories has been f1oored with
temporary planking for the work.
men.
Maj. Gen. Glen E. Edgerton,
executive director of the commits
sion in charge of the $5.4 million
project, estimated the total job is
now ON schedule and 81 per cent
complete. He predicted the presi-
Dental family can move home
from across Pennsylvania avenue
by December /, 1851, at the latest.
Mechanical Section.
At present large excavation in
front of the White House is be-
ing lined with reinforced concrete
to house an extensive mechanical
section. The excavation laid bare
the mouth to the tunnel con-
Meeting the White House with the
Treasury Department.
This tunnel will be altered
somewhat because of the new in
stallations.
In addition to the old carpenter
and paint shops, constructed un-
der the lawn and service drives,
the underground mechanical sec
ton will contain the transformer
room and machinery for the air
conditioning plant, including fans
and air compressors.
Silent on Bomb Shelter.
Gen. Edgerton would not COM
ment on questions as to whether
the rebuilt White House would
contain a bomb shelter.
Reporters who had seen the
undermined and weakened con-
dition of the old foundations
could not help but wonder what
might have happened to the late
President Roosevelt and his
household in event of even light
bombing had they lacked pro-
lection.
Installation of modern conven-
fences for succeeding Presidents
for more than 100 years in the
future had riddled the walls with
conduits for water. heat, elec-
tricity. communications and the
like.
The interior of the White House
yesterday resembled the basement
of a small skyscraper on the way
up amid the clatter of riveters,
compressors and hoists and the
sparkle and hiss of acetylene
torches.
$50 Men on Job.
A force of about $50 men was
on the job-steel workers, welders,
carpenters, concrete workers,
plasterers and laborers.
Gen. Edgerton gave assurance
that every precaution is being
taken to preserve the fittings of
the historic rooms, which are to
be restored in their former posi-
tions, size and decorations.
In addition to new basement
space, servants quarters and me-
chanical rooms, the restored White
House will have some 66 instead of
SIS rooms, about "a instead of Is
bathrooms and half baths and two
more elevators.
President Truman has lost none
of his original interest in the job
with the passing months. He in
spects the work often and mostly
in the morning before the work.
Y1oay, raY0rt of r'c1Ock