Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08

ures, marched to the site Of the excavations
for the foundations Of the proposed mansion
ana performed suitable ceremonies
The President was not present. as he had re-
eonnoitered the site Of the city on March -
I!9l. with the three Commissioner the en-
giaeer and surveyors, and located the sites Of
the Federal house" and the Presidents"
mouse" and arranged the terms OF settlement
WIN the original proprietors, which gave the
| streets and parks TO the government free and
nali the lots for the sum Of eco. 66S an acre.
On Tuesday, October 3, 1892, President and
Mrs Washington and suite left Mount Vernon
ior Philadelphia to prepare for the meeting OF
Congress. The President passed over the site
OF the city, taking an approving look en- route
at the barren field and broken earth where
the home Of the Presidents of ne future was to
| stand.
On the night Of the 10th he was banqueted
at baltimore amid salutes and fireworks aud
retired at 1880 IN. At fam the next day,
salute, which was answered by the ships in
'he haroor, he started for Philadelphia
Inc residents house was built out OF the
DONATIONS OF the states Of Virginia (si20, 0o0) and
Maryiapd (s12.oO for the public buildings and
use OF the sites. the proceeds of the sale of
lots. loans for continuing the work when the
city exchequer became impoverished and in
direct appropriations begrudgingly granted by
Congress during ten years
April "a, 1900, Congress made its first appro-
hOnSe
erected in the city Of Washington for the ac-
| commodation Of the President of the United
States.
In November, 1900, President John Adams
occupied the Presidents house, then an I'M
finished mass of walls of masonry and brick.
March 3, 1907, Congress made its first appro-
priation, the parsimonious sum OF SIS. OO0 for
repairs and improvements on the Presidents
| house and lot OF ground on which the same
stands.
April 25, 1908, Congress appropriated s14. 900
for inclosing. planting and building "a sohd
| flight of steps to the principal door"
The mansion to 1914, when it was DESTROYED
BY an invading enemy. had cost 1888, 2O7.
In 1915 Congress authorized its restoration,
| which was completed and was occupied by
President James Monroe in 1918.
The south poruco was added in 1923 and the
north in 1929. The exterior painted in
lS45. Gas was introduced in lSis. The con-
servatory was erected in 1857.
| The total cost of the mansion and its restora-
| ton in lSl5-1S was $780, 900.
EXPENDITURES ON THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
A statement of appropriations and expendi-
lures on the executive mansion from 1890 till
| 1876 shows the following items:
furniture Observation-Disclosures. S52i. 600
Repairs and alterations Of the build
ing. ................ ............. 552. 600
| Animal repairs, &c. 1914. I6I. 600
Library, lS50-62. observation-disclosures. 1000
| improvement of grounds. 10000
Total, exclusive OF construction &C.
count of the building ........ 81, 81 900
original cost OF mansion. ........ 333. 900
Approximate expenditures, 1S76-90.. zoe. 200
Aggregate expenditures, 179O-1s90,
or 100 years. ....................s 81. O44, 900
As the interior Of the present executive man
sion is greatly out of repair it is Mrs. Harri-
sons hope that whatever action Congress NAV
take looking to the increase of the official and
household accommodations for the Use of the
executive Office and Presidents family will be
determined promptly SO that the new portions
| may be available while the old are being re-
stored. DEBRK