The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-05-23
WASHINGTON'S TOMB.
ExtOrtionate Charge for Visiting the
PIace-Investigation Invited.


PIace-Investigation Invited.
A large majority of the visitors to the
Capital make pilgrimage to Mount
Vernon and the tomb of Washington.
Mount Vernon is delightful spot. Not
only is it rich in historic association,
but there is not a more beautiful place
in this part of the country. But com
paratively few visitors realize that the
Mount Vernon estate was purchased by
popular subscription, the price paid
being $250,000. Perhaps their igno-
rance is justified when the arrogant
position of the Mount Vernon Associa
ton is taken into consideration. II
there ever was monopoly this assOcla-
ton has one. There seems to be no
good reason why the association should
use the bones of the father of his
country" as a capital to make money
out of the general public, especially
when the public is the owner of the
estate. Under a contract which has
been entered into between the associa-
ton and steamboat the owners of the
latter are permitted to have the eXclu-
Ii4.ia t- 80 - 5I,e - VI
- ~ u1,,Ira5 of tha''Co 1Jo'' ~
iiI','u, CN,I VI ~ VIZ uI'ii,to "
i, +%is ono ~ 't tLa aolI i 'l &c WI W.
;,ettn,, tis n,to,.to,, t;
IS - 80 - W. ~ IN" 'li a5
tbeT fbny Lave aiiovad ~, ~,
ovist without nrofest STRANGERS nrotast
loudest. and il is but ripht that a hear
inc should be granted to their side of the
question.
Mount Vernon is only fifteen miles
from WASHINGTON. The CHARGE for the
round trip and admission TO the
grounds is one dollar. of which sum the
Steamboat proprietors take siXtv-live
cents and the Mount Vernon Association
tbirtv-five cents. II is not quite plain
why the association should exact thirty
five cents n head from the public for
admission to an estate which that pub
lie owns. Naturally the questions arise.
..Whcre does the money go?" and
"Who are the beneiiciaries of this ex-
tortion?" The property is governed by
a board of regents. and this board is
ruled by vice recent. 1t is the closest
kind of a CORPORATION. When vacancy
occurs in ii he hoard the vice recent
makes an annointmrnl to fiji tha 3osi-
| ton and & is understood that his
no,va,, in tbic rasnnrt !. absolute Tho
hoard holds q nirnic ot tho estate evarv
summer and counts the winninms Of
tho nrnyions season When ony in
nuirias are made Of the hoard if Wrans
;tsoIf in innnnntraLla n1ystn,.v If
! dnirne to allow tbn rubIic 70 nnter IFS
Grounds at an cvtortionate nrice and
fiat is enough
The ovcnse oivon for the evccssive
choroe is that f is necessary to have y
Iar@e Snm Of money on hand to @n9rd
Tho ,.on,oine Of Woybinrton and 10 l,nan
the estate and house in nronar rpnair
As matter, of fact thern i not the
SLIGHTEST dancer that onv one will dis
t,3.h Wo.binTto,'e homes Tho aro az
ven nrotpct1d os thev can bo without
| tho lar,-a rnord ,,,hicb i i cold !.
aIwavs rnaiv f. dafnnd tham II i,
narhsns worthy of romark tbat tho
Visitors SOC nnIT ohort half a doznn nor
so,s obont +be ,,Iaoo ond yot on inn.
,rncsion is always rivnn ibon, thot .
small army is in Waiting to nouncp
| unon the scoundrels who would desc
crate the tomb. Your correspondent
has visited Mount Vernon a dozen
times. and has never vet seen a guard
that could not be overpowered by five
resolute men. The army of protectors
of the tomb of WASHINGTON is a myth.
plIre and simple. No Extraordinary eX-
penses are incurred on this account,