The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-28
ELEGANT RESIDENCES.
The Beautiful Homes of Some of Our Prom.
inent Public Men.

The Beautiful Homes of Some of Our Prom.
inent Public Men.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Nearly all public men
of distinction in Washington securing pri-
vate residences of their own. A majority of the
old senators and representatives own their prop
erty or have leases Away back in the forties
the senators, representatives, Cabinet officers
and other men of distinction huddled together
in public buildings o. in private houses,
and lived in messes. They used to provide for
themselves by having house-keepers, caterers,
ETC., and living like domestic families, Henry
Clay and that class of men, it is related, lived in
messes. The rent for buildings of the class de-
sired by public men is so high that they cannot
afford 1t, and they find it much cheaper to own
their own houses. Many OF these have very ex-
pensve places of abode. Senator Palmer, of
Michigan, started recently to build house to
cost $50, 000, with kitchen in the
attic and a stable i'll the cellar, but it
turns out that it will cost him cool
81, 600, 600. Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, owns
a residence in Thomas circle. .orth $50, 900. and
is now building another on @ street and Massa-
chusetts avenue which is to cost 100000. SEN
ator Sherman has a residence worth $4,000 and
farm of s'xtysix acres in the suburbs, which
he bought for 5000 an acre and will sell for
81, 600 an acre before he lets 60 of it. Senator
Sherman. it is seen, is quite as good manager
of his own affairs those of the government
He made fortune in disposing of an addition to
the city out near Senator Logan's residence.
Logan also made good deal when he purchased
his old mansion, few months ago, for $40. 600.
He has had $40, 900 shook in his face for it sew
eral times
Secretary Whitney seems to be one of the most
extravagant public men in the matter of resi-
dences He bought country place and paid
$50 600 for it, a short time ago, but is thinking
of selling it for $4,000. He has just leased the
old Frellnghuysen mansion. On the street be-
tween Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, for
which he pays a good round rental, and is going
to have an addition built to it in the way Of
ballroom, which the ladies say is to be 'per
fectly grand" He is to decorate it with goods
from his New York residence.
Window, of Minnesota had fashionable res
idence when he was in the Senate but has dis
posed of it.
Mr.. Pendleton, of Ohio, purchased an elegant
after he went into the Senate and since going
to Berlin as minister, rents it to Secretary Endi
colt.
Blaines 800 900 place is an ornament to the
city, and Senator Stewart, of Nebraska, has one
almost as handsome; and then comes Judge Tho
man, of the Civil-service Commission, with an
ambition for a nice place, which he procured
and paid for in Indiana schoolfund orders.
The whole list of old public officials could be
gone over, showing that, during the last decade,
majority of them have, as stated, owned places
of their own here. A number of rural repre-
sentatives are buying modest little residences at
cost of 81, 600 to $8 000 thus saving the annual
rent for rooms, which they have been laying out
on an average Of from $500 to 81 200 year.
Real estate advances rapidly in Washington
that it is almost impossible TO make mistake
in purchasing