18. New main staircase to second story, looking north.. The remodeled East Room, looking northeast. The remodeled East Room, looking northwest New State Dining Room Redecorated Red Parlor 2522 2522 252 Redecorated Blue Parlor.. Redecorated Green Parlor 20. 21. 22, The northwest entrance to north grounds. 19. Potomac Park: View of old canal lock house, Seventeenth and B streets.. Main entrance at Seventeenth and B streets.. 23. Statues: General Jackson.. 2522 2522 2522 2554 2554 2554 2554 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 2562 MAPS. 1. White House Grounds, showing exterior changes made during fiscal year 2526 1903. 2. Potomac River front, from Arsenal Grounds to N street SW 2570 UNITED STATES PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. SIX OF THE NEW VARIETIES OF CODIÆUMS OF THE PROPAGATING GARDENS. OFFICE OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, Washington, D. C., July 20, 1903. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations upon public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia under the Chief of Engineers during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903: Col. Theo. A. Bingham, major, Corps of Engineers, was the officer in charge from the beginning of the fiscal year until April 30, 1903, on which latter date he was relieved by Col. T. W. Symons, major, Corps of Engineers, by virtue of Special Order No. 37, paragraph 27, A. G. O., February 13, 1903. Besides the care of public buildings and grounds, this office has also been charged with additional duties, as follows: 1. The preservation, care, and safety of buildings occupied by the War Department in the District of Columbia, except the State, War and Navy Departments building. 2. The care and repair of the Government telegraph line connecting the Capitol with the various Departments and with the Government Printing Office. 3. The immediate charge of the banks of the Potomac River from the north line of the Arsenal (or Washington Barracks) grounds to the southern curb line of N street S. 4. Care of the building on Tenth street NW. where Abraham Lincoln died. 5. Such matters connected with the erection of the statue of General Sherman as may properly devolve upon the War Department. 6. The monument at Wakefield, Va., the birthplace of Washington, and the iron pile dock at the mouth of Bridge Creek, Virginia. 7. The erection, in the national military park at Gettysburg, Pa., of a memorial tablet to Abraham Lincoln. 8. Since March 6, 1901, executive and disbursing officer of the Grant Statue or Memorial Commission. 9. Since May 4, 1901, the same for McClellan Statue Commission. 10. Since August 11, 1901, in charge of that portion of Potomac Park between the tidal reservoir and the Washington Monument Grounds, and between Seventeenth street and Virginia avenue NW. and Maryland avenue and Fourteenth street SW., called hereafter "Monument Park Annex." 11. From April 3 to October 31, 1902, charged with the erection of a pedestal and statue of Rochambeau in Lafayette Park. 12. Since July 26, 1902, in charge of the erection of a monument at Fredericksburg, Va., to the memory of Gen. Hugh Mercer. PUBLIC BUILDINGS. REMODELING THE EXECUTIVE MANSION. During the spring of 1902 it seemed very desirable that the decoration of some of the rooms should be done over. The President, being desirous that the work should be of as high quality as any in America, called in consultation the firm of McKim, Mead & White, architects, of New York. More than was first con templated seemed desirable, and extensive plans were developed. The necessary funds, which were very large in amount, were promptly appropriated by Congress in sundry civil act approved June 28, 1902, as follows: 1. For extraordinary repairs and refurnishing of the Executive Mansion and for each and every purpose connected therewith, including all necessary alterations and additions, cabinetwork, decoration of rooms, covered ways, and approaches, grading, paving, porte-cochère, gates, and electric wiring and light fixtures for house and grounds, all to be done according to plans the details of which shall be approved by the President, and completed in every detail within the sum hereby appropriateď, four hundred and seventy-five thousand four hundred and forty-five dollars, to be immediately available and to be expended by contract or otherwise in the discrétion of, under the direction of, the President. 2. For a building to accommodate the offices of the President, to be located in the grounds of the Executive Mansion, and for each and every purpose connected therewith, including heating apparatus and light fixtures, furniture, and removal of greenhouses, all to be done according to plans the details of which shall be approved by the President, and completed in every respect within the sum hereby appropriated, sixty-five thousand one hundred and ninety-six dollars, to be expended by contract or otherwise in the discretion of and under the direction of the President, and to be immediately available; and said building shall be constructed with sufficient foundation and walls suitable for a durable, permanent building and of sufficient strength for an additional story when needed. 3. For rent of temporary offices for the President, to be immediately available, two thousand dollars. In a general way the plans were 1. To obtain the much-needed additional room for the family of the President on the second story by moving elsewhere the President's offices, clerks, records, telegraph, etc. These offices were not only overcrowded themselves, but deprived the President and his family of much-needed living space. 2. To remodel the old Mansion and redecorate and refurnish it throughout. 3. Until a more elaborate building for the purpose should be constructed, to erect for strictly office use of the President a building in the grounds west of the House and opposite the Navy Department. The President was desirous that as free a hand as possible should be given the architects consistent with proper disbursement and general supervision and inspection by this office. A satisfactory contract was finally made with the architects July 16, 1902, and another with Norcross Brothers Company, of Worcester, Mass., contractors under them. Meanwhile such preliminary work was done as is reported in Annual Report of this office for June 30, 1902. Owing to the extensive changes to be made, it was necessary for the President and his family to move into temporary quarters elsewhere, and the house No. 22 Jackson place, on the west side of Lafayette square, was secured for this purpose. The President moved into this house June 23, 1902, and moved back into the remodeled White House November 12, 1902. It was also necessary for the White House to be stripped bare of all furnishings, fixtures, etc. This was done. As much as possible was stored in the storehouse at the propagating gardens pertaining to this office the remainder in hired storage rooms. The historic portraits of the Presidents were placed in fireproof storage buildings, and the silver and similar valuables placed in fireproof safe deposit. Work on the new plans was pushed vigorously all summer. |