The Sunday Herald from Washington, District of Columbia • Page 17

jr.wwv LH II A- -a. tv 4 Vf. I -f -i---. v-" WAft 33tttX fr." 5 SUNDAY, TUNE14, 1891. PAGES ,17 XO 24 I- i 5nmu 552 WHITE HOUSE REPAIRS.

now mrs. HinmsoN wilt, lay OUT $24,000. Tho Groan Room to Ro Rctlocorated In Rococo Stylo, unci tlio State Dlning-Rooin nml Othor 1'ortions of the, Mansion to llo Artistically Touched Up. It is fortunnto that at this particular tlmo there is a lady In tho Exocutlvo Mauslon who unites practical knowledge- of tho details of good housekeeping with a refined and cultivated sense of the appropriate and beautiful, as Mrs. Harrison does.

As tho time draws near for the availability of tho Congressional appropriation made for repairs and incidental Improvements in tho White House Mrs. Harrison and Moj. Ernst, who has charge of public buildings and grounds, havo had several consultations a3 to how twenty-four of tho thirty-five thousand dollars appropriated shall be spent. There have been no contracts yet awarded, but the presumption Is that V. H.

Post of Uartford, who decorated and rofurnlBhtid tho dainty Blue Room lust year, will gel the contract for this work, since they noV have under consideration plans submitted to them to make estimates upon. The other eleven thousand dollars of tho appropriation' will be expended for the usual current expenses of the year. The improvements will probably beccin with the Green Rooru, in tho parlor suite. This room is to remain a green loom as to tone, but Is to be correspondingly light aud delicate as the Blue Parlor, and peaehblow is to be combined with it In decorative work and In furnishing. The style is what is known as rococo.

The state dining-ioom has long been in a lamentably shabby condition, incompatible with the demands of the President's surroundings, and it will have a thorough ronovatiou, such as it has not had since the Grant regime. It is to be fitted up in colonial style, probably iu four colors that hafmonizo In delicacy of tone with it. There is a lamentable deficiency of china and glasswaro In the White House pantry, none but occasional pieces having been purchased since Mrs. Hayes was first lady of the land. To state 'dlhtug-rooin complete in its.

appointments Mrs. Harrison proposes purchasing" limited amount of each bpforo the next official season is inaugurated. She expects to elve much personal attention to all these smaller and more womau.ly do-tatls, so that whether the President succeeds 'himself or not, somebody will enjoy living comfortably iu the refurnished and rejuvenated Executlvo Mansion, much more than Its present occupants have been able to do. The main corridor and' front vestibule are to receive attention, and are to be finished in a continuation of the style of tho corridor on the official side of tho house on the second floor, which was begun last year aud left Incomplete on account of the funds giving out. It is of a dull gold color In comb-work on the walls, with a deep freizo of darker tono shading Into bronze-brown.

Tho parlor suite, consisting of tho Red, Blue, and Green drawing-rooms, will bo closed from the public as soon as the work of renovation begins, which WiJl bo about July 1, but the East Room will bo used for tho President's one-o'clock receptions, as usual, although it is also to receive a sprlnkliug of improvement In the shape of now carpets and furniture covers to with tho decorative stylo on tho Walls and wood-work. Tho furniture will go out a few pieces at a time, and return upholstered in white and bronze, with perhaps soriSe modifications as to shades. On going up stairs tho Improvements will follow, and Mrs. Harrison's bed-room is to be repapercd and such other incidental repairs on that floor as may be, put and keep tho living-rooms in "order will bo made. Butpothliig will be.

attempted of a more cxpehslvo character' thau'would be required by any Tiouseholder of means and standing. The plumflfpg tho house has not been satisfactory for long time, and it will receive especial attention, The bath-tubs aro raised up tho old stylo with wood-work frames taken out and Iron tubs, done over with white enamel paint aud lined with porcelain put In, and the floors aud walls tiled. Every effort will le made to put tho basement in a perfect sanitary condition, The laundry is to bo modernized, the walls and floors tiled to correspond with the Improvements made In tho kitchens last season, and a drying-room is to bo added to the accommodations. In the basemeut corridor the brick floors aro to bo qoncretod under wood and tho basement batbroqms, 'scullery, and other conveniences throughly renovated by introducing the most approved modern Improvements. Thus it will be seen that the twenty-four thousand dollars will be none too ranch (o do all that is absolutely needed to putlibe Executlvo Mansion in comfortable shape.

A Now Office Building. Contractor C. Trott has recently completed for Messrs. Wolf Cohen au attractive office building 030 street. It is 20x53 feet in size, three stories aud basement high, with front of brownstone and pressed brick, surmounted with a neat galvanized iron cdr-i nice.

Tho interior is trimmed with hard-wood' and has a first-class steam-heating plant together with all modem appliances for nni office building. "RESTORING THE SHOREHAM. Tho "Hie Job Expected to "lto Complete by September. Tho restoration of the Shoreham Is going forward with all possible speed under tho immediate supervislou of Architect Robort T. Fleming.

It is a big atid dcllcato but nothing will bo left undone to make the work complete in every particular, so that when finished tho building will bo as solid as tho ingenuity of architect aud builder and the use of tho best material can make It. At first it was thought tho house could bo placed in safe condition by merely replacing the flooring in the halls, which gave way. But an inspection of tho floors in thochambcrs led to tho belief that they were decaying in spots, and It was then determined to tear them all up and put new flooring throughout tho building. This is now being done. The work on the seventh story is already complete, and it Is expected to havo tho entire job finished by tho first of September.

Tho total cost is expected to bo in tho neighborhood of $100,000. Not only tho floors will be relaid, but all the ceilings throughout the house will be replas-tered and redecorated. As thero aro altogether over two hundred rooms in the house tho magnitude of the work will bo understood. In tho restoration ok tho house Architect Fleming will use none of the fllliug between joists, which is believed to havo rotted the woodwork aud caused tho falling of the floors iu tho halls. Mr.

Fleming does not believe in tho use of this filling, and attributes many accidents similar to that'of the Shoreham to it. In tho work of reconstruction he has employed a different method to secure a maximum degree of strength and safet y. A BOOM FOR BEIiTSVIIiLiE. A Colohy of Bancs to Settle ou 3,000 Acres of I.nnd Near tho Town. The Bcltsvillo Land and Improvement Company are making extensive improvements on their addition to tho city of Beltsvillo, which is situated on high ground twelve miles out on the main line of tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Their land comprises three hundred and twenty-five acres, and the company has a large force of laborers at -work making streets, sidewalks, and In other ways preparing tho subdivision for A nUmbedfUotiShave already? plansfor-tho erection of dwellings aroboing prepared. Tho location of Beltsvillo is very high and attractive. From some portions of tho ground the Washington Monument and tho Capitol can be seen. A fact which seems destined to contribute greatly to the growth and prosperity of this section is the settlement one and a half miles from Beltsvillo of a largo colony of industrious Danes. Three thousand acres of land have been purchased for them and already seventy families, containing several hundred people, are on their way to this country.

The I Danes are a very desirable class of colonists, as they aro intelligent, steady, and hard-working, and It Is probable if tho first colony proves a success others will follow. Trinidad and, the Northeast. J. Boyer, tho wellJcnpwn reali Restate agent at 025 street, who makes a specialty of northeast property, states that inquiries for property in this section aro more active at present than before In tho history of the city. Ho reports many sales at good prices, among others a number of lots the Trinidad" subdivision, which ho considers oio' fo'f Jlie most accessible, elevated, and healthful rest-, dent localities to be found around Washing-i ton, The entire Twelfth-street front of block 7 was sold a fo'w days ago as au entirety at 80 cents a foot, while tho corner of Twelfth and streets was sold at 1 a foot.

Two sales are noted of improved properties on street at about 75 cents, and other large sales of unimproved lots In this tract are pending. Two pieces of unimproved ground were sold at auction during tho week ono at 55J cents and tho other at 42 cents. Tho half hundred now residences recently erected In the vicinity of II and Twelfth streets aro rapidly selling, and tho outlook for active transactions in tho immediato future is encouraging. Mr. Boyer is enthusiastic over his pot subdivision of Trinidad, and is loud in its praise as a desirable residence section.

Ho resides on tho tract himself, and says that its advantages as a suburban locality cannot bo surpassed. To Remodel an Avenue Building. Architect Fleming has prepared plans for remodeling the building', atHhe northeast Eleventh1 street aridHho Avenuej occu. pled by Brentano and Princo, tho photographer, This property, as well as the building occupied by Johnson's restaurant on Eleventh' street, Is owned by Judge Cox. The latter building will also bo remodeled and joined to the other, and the whole of the lower floor will be occupied by the Brentanos.

Tho roof of the front building will be changed, tho outside stairway wJH be taken away, and a long bay window will be built' "oh the Eleventh-street side, The improvements are expected to cost in the neighborhood of $20,000. Mr. Robert I. Fleming, the architect, has purchased a Jot on Twelfth street, between and opposite his own residence, on which he will erect a fine three-story and basement-dwelling, i THE BUILDERS BUSY. MANY NEW ROW.H AND FINE SINGLE 'RESIDENCES TO BUII.T.

Trying to ITJ11 the Demand for Small aiid Medluin-SlKcd Dwelling A Sure Sign of tho Healthy Growth 'or tho City. Tho real estate market has been comparatively dull the past week. Few transactions of any' magnitude took place, the transfers being mostly confined to l6ts for dwelling-houses and small investments. But among tho builders and architects there was much activity and a largo number of. building permits were issued.

None of these wero for large edifices, but they were not tho le6s important on that account. They wero mostly for small and medium-sized dwellings, whoso construction affofds'tho surest indication of the steady and healthy development of the city. Among the permits were several for rows of small houses. Wright Sockett will build six two-story b.rlcks on street northeast and five similar dwellings on street northeast. Mrs.

M. J. Hunt will build four two-story bricks on street -southeast. B. 'nines took out permits for nine two-story frame houses at Isherwood.

James A. Healey got permits for building four two story and basement bricks on Third street northwest. Mr. Theodore A. Harding will build three handsome four-story brick and.

stone houses on street northwest, between Seventeenth and Eighteenth. Mr. Joseph Prather is having built by Contractor P. Fersinger three three-story and basement dwellings at Fourth and streets northwest. They have fronts of brownstone and pressed brick, circular and square bay windows, and the roofs will bo' slated mansard.

The interiors will be finished in natural wood, with furnaces, speaking tubes, electric bells, and all modern comforts. The three houses will cost Tho total number of permits for now buildings Issued during the week ending onJTriday night was 74. The aggregate cost of the proposed buildings was $379,430. Tho permits were divided among the different sections of the 'city as fpllos'r''orDyw'esttwenty-six permits three," northeast, twenty-two, southeast, eleven, county, twelve, $8,330. A BEAUTIFCTi NEWHOUSE DoHigneil by Architect Mulsh for Mr.

J. Iteed iattoll. The residence for J. Reed Littell, now in course of erection on street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, is a striking example of stjio of domestic architecture which Architect J. Maish has exhibited in some of the most attractive houses in the city.

The treatment of the front is simple, but effectively carriod out iu perfect harmony of design and material. Tho first two stories are built in a selected shade of hand-made red brick, trimmed with Seneca stouo lintels and sills, with an oriel projection in tho second story met by the overhanging eaves of tho high, blue-slato roof. Tho incline of the roof is relieved by tho graceful dormer windows of the third story. On the main floor is the entrance hall leading to a reception-room on tho rjght' and opening into tho staircase hall. This staircase hall Is provided with a handsome fire place, built in Pom-paeian brick, and from the, first laudjng of tho main stairway opens a recess forming a balcony overlooking the dining-room.

From tho rear of tho dining-room is projected an angular bay, having a window seat, and to tho left Is the butler's pantry. On the main sleeping floor the chambers are attractively finished with tiled fire-places, and in tho front Is a large room to bo finished in a delicate shade of gray, and haying a wide alcove and an oriel projection. The woodwork of the upper floors will bo tinted to harmonize with the prevailing color of tho rooms. The bath-room will be finished in cream-colored tiles. On the upper floor is arranged a unique "den" or library, having a largo rock-faced Mone fire-place, and tho decoration and arrangement of this room shows a complete departure from the conventional.

Largo packing-rooms, linen and cedar closets are conveniently located. This improvement will be an attractive addition to the rapidly growing section between Sixteenth street and New Hampshire avenue, In which Architect. Maish has already provided the handsome store now owned and occupied by Messrs. Iheodore and B. NoyeS and C.

B. Rheem, ahd It is1 to be regretted that more resldenpes are not erected hi that artistic and substantial stylo of' architecture which carries with It an individually and purity of design never attained by over ornamentation or the use of imitation materials; The contract for building Mr. residence' is being carried out by Mr. F. H.

i Saunders, and It will be comploted about October 1. THREE PINE DWELLINGS TqDu Erected at New Hampshire A venuo And Seventeenth Street. Architect N. T. Haller is preparing the; plans for the erection of three handsome dwelling houses for Mr.

S. B. Priest, a wealthy resident of Cleveland, Ohio, at tho inter section ofNew Hampshlro avenue, Seventeenth and streots. The ground, 50x00 feet, was bought a few days ago and tho price paid was $11,000, or about per foot. Tho houses that will improve this property will have three stories, basement, aud sub-collar, 18x42 feet, with base and entry porches of town brownstone, and pressed brick above.

A circular bay window wjth tower top will add to the beauty of the exterior, also tw6 square bay windows, with pediment finish, and high slate roofs. The interiors will bo finished in oak and cherry, with cabinet mantels, open fire-places, steam heating plant, and electrical fixtures, etc. BUILDING NOTES. H. M.

Earle has sold to Mrs. Anna B. Spear a pleco of property on the corner of Elghtoehth and Rigcs streets, fronting 40 feet on Eighteenth street and 85 feet on Rlggs street. Tho price paid was $9,500. Mrs." Shaw contemplates erecting two handsome residences on this site.

John F. Waggaman has sold during th past weeks sixteen lots iu the subdivision of Wesley Heights. Tho purchasers were Mrs. B. McKnlght, John E.

McLeran, Frank Bennett, and Robert Caverly. Tho prices ranged from $1,600 to $2,500 per lot, and in size arc 25x150 feet. Mr. McLeran intends to build. Mr.

Joseph Gillotte will havo built on Ninth street, between and from plans now being made by Architect Joseph C. Johnson, two six-room dwellings. They will havo fronts of pressed brick and Ohio stone, galvanized cornices, electric bells, etc. Two houses, from plans by the same architect, will be built on the alloy in the rear, and will cost $5,000. Architect Joseph C.

Johnson has also under way plans for a tasty dwelling that will be built for Mrs. A. E. Bateman, on street, between Thirty-fourth-and Thirty-fifth streets northwest. It will be 1Sx40 feet, two stories and cellar, and tho front will bo of brownstone and pressed brick, with square bay window, galvanized-iron cornice, and iron steps.

The interior will be trimmed iu white pine, and will contain latrobe stoves, cabinet mantels, electric bells, and the cost will be $3,000. The row of seven handsome houses which D. B. Groff Is building on Seventh street, between andH streets northeast, aro about andi will, be ready for occupancy by the first They are constructed of pressed with stone trimmings. Each house has.

andrslateVroofea" toiyer. lots aro 116x1(1 rand tho bouses two stories. and basement; Germiiiller Mr. Henry Keller is hpvlug erected a handsome three-story anil basement dwelling on North Capitol street, between anil streets, l)y Contractor P. Fersinger.

It will be 18x57 feet, and the' front will be of Hummelstown brownstone aud pressed brick, with square bay windows. The interior will be trimmed in natural finish white pine. It will contain cabinet mantels, speaklng'tubes, electric bells, a gas-lighting apparatus, and will bo heated by a furnace. A. Augustine, is building for Mr.

C. E. Brayton, of tho Treasury Department, a handsome house at Colonial Beach, which Mr. Brayton will occupy when finished. It will be a frame 32x32 feet, two stories and attic, with a series of bay-window projections, with a broad piazza running around it.

The centre of the high-hipped roof will be topped with a handsome observatory balcbnv. The interior will bo neatly finished in "natural woods, and will contain a gas machine, electric bells, speaking tubes, together with a system of sewerage. The cost will be $3,000. Architect Joseph C. Johnson has been commissioned by Mr.

Lewis J. Ifft to prepare plans and desigus for two dwellings that ho will have, built on Florida avenuo near Linden street, Le Drojt They will be 18x50 feet, and will bo three stories and basement with fronts second story sill of Hummelstown brownstone, the upper part being of pressed brick. They will also have tower topped circular bay windows, slated mansard roofs, copper cornices, and stone steps. Tho interiors will be trimmed Iu white pine, natural finish, and will contain tiled vestibules and fire-places, cabinet mantels, electric bells, speakjug tubes, and will be heated by furnaces. Tho cost will be $12,000.

Mr. Morris Hahn will erect at 1914 Pennsylvania avenuo, from plans now being pro pared tyy Architects B.and S. elegant three story and cellar store and flat house. It will be 28x80 with front of pressed brick, Ohio stone, and terra cotta, The store on the nrstnoor win nave a Jargq plate glass and iron show window, and will bo the entire size of tho building. Above the window will arise two graceful oriel bay windows with tower tops that will pxtend to the roof, which will be of slate.

Jndopeudont of each other, the two upper stories will bo finished as two flats, and will contain latrobo stoves, cabinet mantels, speakingtubes, electric; bells, gas-lighting apparatus, ud will be heated by i furnaces. All modern appliances will beoised and tho cost will be $9,000. -Arliltnt: nrimm Yinw ni w4r plans tor a haudsome residence, that will be till 1 1 1 si l)nni nl xu'n a 4 i i i juiu uu jiuuuuho ncu fipar street northwest, for a gentleman whOso name fa not frlvnri. Tt will hnA7vRn 4rid attic, and the front to the second story upper part of pressed brick. It, will also have two loggia-finished bay windows, and will be surmounted by a high-pitched, slated hip roof with au observatory gallery at the hlehest point.

The interior will be trimmed in' natural finish oak, with a handsome hallway aud staircase of the same wood; the vestibule will be tiled as also will be the fire-places, which will be finished with cabluet mantels. A hot-water heating plant will bo used, also electrical fixtures, speaking tubes, etc. A coachman's residence and a commodious! stable will bo erected In the rear, the whole to cpstlS.OOO. THE NEW POST OFFICE. COMPLETING THE WORK OE SECUB- ING THE AVENUE SITE.

What Now Kemnlns to Do Done Before tho SuperTlnlnc; Architect Can BoEin His rlris-A Genorar Dfsposltlbn to I Kinmllfn It is probablo that acouplo of weeks more time will see the titles to tho property on tho square opposite tho Star office vested in the Government, thus removing all obstacles in the way of beginning work on tho new post-Ofiice building. Early In tho week the find lngs of tho commission which appraised the property were approved by tho court without difficulty. These findings and tho notice of tho action of tho court were transmitted on Friday to the Department of Justice, by which they were turned over to the Treasury Department. The report of tho appraisers will, under the act of Congress, have to bo approved by tho President before they become finally effective. Whether tho President will take action on them before the titles to the different pieces of property are examined and approved or afterwards is not yet known.

The examination of the titles will first be madefy the District Attorney, in whose hands the papers now are. Then tho titles will havo to be finally examined and approved by tho examiner of titles In the Department of Justice, and when this is done tho Supervising Architect's OfUcecau at, once begin to prepare the plans for the building. It 16 not believed by officials and others who aro familiar with the subject that any fresh difficulties or further delay will occur. All is now thought to be plain sailing. It is not believed that tho President will have any fault to flndwith the appraisement of the property as made by the commission.

It is agreed on all hands that the property owners wero awarded fair prices for their holdings in the square desired for the Post Office site, while the Government is not asked to pay unreasonable figures'. Altogether real estate men look bu the settlement reached as one of the most satisfactory ever made in a. similar case In' Washing There seems to be a general disposition among the officials at tho Department of Justice and at tho Treasury to expedite matters' as rapidly as possible, so that the actual work on the much-needed Post Office building may be commenced without delay. Mil. STAPLES TAKES THE JtTGGS It "Will Kcopen in October Under His Management.

Fifteenth street about the corner of has been gloomy at night since tho closing of the Riggs House. This will not, continue long, however, as Mr. O. G. Staples, of Willards Hotel, has leased the house, and will reopen it as alrst-class hotel on the American plan the first of October.

Mr. Staples has had a long experience in hotel management, and will no doubt make a success of the Riggs House as he has of tho other hotels with which he has been' connected. Tho Riggs House will bo thoroughly repaired and renovated during the summer. Tho office on Fifteenth street.will bo. enlarged and remodeled; some of tho pillars will bo taken out and tho ontrance will bo improved.

Tho kitchen will bo furnished with new ranges and all modern improvements, and the storerooms, which arO.at present in the basement, will be -moved to tho top floor of tho house. Mr. Staples has bought that portion of the present furniture of the house, which is in good condition, will retain' it; New furniture of tho best kind will bd purchased to supplement this, and before tho opening, in October, the house will be fitted up throughout equal to any in tho country. Among the furniture of tho Riggs TToiise are two of the finest andj largest mirrors in the country. They are about sixteen feet high and nine feet wide, of the finest French plate, and were made in Paris especially for exhibition at tho Contannial.

They are.now in position in tho small parlor on the office floor on street. Mr. Staples has not Included the annex on street in hU lease. The hotel building proper, contains about two hundred "and twenty-five rooms. i i.

Secretary Foster in Wall Street. N. Y. Evening World. When Secretary Foster was in town last week hobnobbing with' the bankers and moneyed men of Gotham I saw him several times in Wall street locked arm in arm with Solicitor Hepburn, who never let the Secretary out of during liis visit; It is 'sdfe tofsay-that-not 6ne in a thousand in th'o busy throng which crowded the streets in tho vicinity of the Sub-Treasury recognized tho Cabinet officer, who, from his appearance, might very' well be taken for a well-to-do farmer who had casually drifted down to that part of tho city to tako In tho sights of its busy life, A lossely-fitting suit, a broad-brimmed straw hat, and a cotton necktie aroused no suspicion on tho part of observers, and tho Secretary was jostled and elbowed by brokers' clerks and messenger boys just like any other citizen who gets caught in the rush of the street during business hours, ugene B.

Wight has bought for $10,000 of 'J. S. Jonks, sub. 233, square feet on Nineteenth street, street and Cedar Place, rp I Mtf ajfcr.tELTi.