The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-07-26
GLEN ECHO HEIGHTS.

| GLEN ECHO HEIGHTS.
The newspapers have BEEN teeming
for week or two with references &c
certain queer real estate operations OF
the Harrisons at Washington, and our
readers no doubt are curious to know
what it is all about.
AS long ago as July | there were
rumOrs of somewhat shady specula-
tions by the Harrisons in suburban
real estate near the city, and Mrs.
Harrison being interviewed on the
subject. made this statement to re-
porter of the Associated Press:
"There have been suggestions from
various sources about purchasing a
summer home in the suburbs OF Wash
ington. which, at the end of his
official term, might be sold at con-
siderable advance. We have had an
example of this; but the president will
not use his official rank as means Of
making money even to the extent OF
purchasing a home for his summer
use and selling it when he retires from
office. The president has decided
scruples about that
The example" here alluded to is
intended as SUR at President Cleve-
land, who while president went off by
himself bought Red Top, which was
far ahead of any BOOM" paid full
price for it and allowed no public
money to be spent, directly or indi-
rectly, towards enhancing its value,
and few years later sold it at a hand
some profit.
Yet will it be believed, at the same
time, that Mrs. Harrison was making
these utterances intended with coarse
thrust at Mr.. Cleveland, who at all
times had treated the HarriSonS with
with the utmost courtesy, to convey
the idea that although the president
was willing to take "a $4,000 cottage
as a gift, ne would never-no, never
make any real estate investments
around Washington for the purpose of
making money thereby-at this same
time, we say, the whole Harrison fam
lily was engaged neck and heels in a
negotiation to help along the Messrs.
Baltzley, real estate dealers in Wash
ington, to "boom" "A huge land specu-
lation at Glen Echo Heights, a pictur-
esaue spot on the banks of the Poto-
mac, six miles from the city, where
these spectators had started sum
mer resort by building some cottages,
huge cafe, hotel, etc, and making it
accessible from the city by an electric
railway. To begin with, lot valued
at S2l, 1873 was decided to Mrs. Harri-
son for the consideration of 81: another
to John G. Scott, Mrs Harrison's
father, for like trife: two other lots
were conveyed to f. w. Halford, the
presidents private secretary, valued
at So, 700, for 81, $3.50; Others to Alice
+. Sanger, the presidents typewriter:
Others to Mary Scott Dimmick, Mrs
Harrison's sister: others to Mary Har-
rlson Mckee. another sister, and so
on, some twenty or more lots all to
relatives Of the president, at from 81
per lot up to a fourth or half of their
valuation.
The deeds being recorded in Mont
gomery county, Md, it was only by
accident" that these transactions
became public. The buyers. of course,
said nothing, but it is only natural
that the Messrs. Baltzley should de-
sire to get all the advantage they can
of the presidential investments and
therefore made no secret of them.
The revelation created profound
stir in Washington, and Republican
senators ard representatives made no
concealmeut of their disgust. Sena-
tors Edmunds. Dawes, Hoar, Morrill,
and Others, VINO, like them, have GER
tain old-fashjoned notions about the
dignity Of the presidential Office, are
said IN have been eSDeciallv Sayerp