The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-04
VISITED MOUNT VERNON
An ELECTRIC RAILWAY PUTS THE
PLACE IN EASY ACCESS.
Board of visitors spiendiiy Entertained by
the Ladies Association-CoionelB Big
ger Presents a Resolution.

Colonel John Bell Bigger. clerk Of the
/ House Of Delegates. and keeper Of re-
cords. yesterday returned from Mount
Vernon, where on Friday he attended
gathering Of the board OF visitors Of
| Virginia, who had been invited 10 meet
on that day tie ladies OF the Mount Yer
! non Ladies Association Of the Union.
The members Of the board of visitors
are always highly delighted with the re-
! ception which they receive from the
hands OF these ladies at their annual
gatherings and Colonel Bigger yesterday
| merely reiterated his former experience
/ lie spoke in the highest terms about the
| manner in which the establishment Is
supported and maintained, and OF the
noble work done by the ladies, who are
merely prompted by patriotism to
| carry out their labors.
The board Of visitors OF virginia nave
never attempted 10 exercise any author
! ity. though they would have been per
fectIy justified TO do 50 in accordance
with the provisions OF the charter. They
have merely made occasional sugges-
tons which, however, In every instance
were acted upon by the ladies, and car
ried into operation. The board acted in
an advisory capacity, and when they sug-
gested several years ago that the burning
Of wood in the fire places Of the buld-
Ing might be done away with, TO less~n
as much as possible the danger OF con-
| Migration, he ladies Immediately issued
an order to that effect Similar prompt
action was taken two years ago, when
| the board suggested the ACCESSIBILITY OF
/ keeping on hand a supply OF chemical
| fire eXtiugushers.
AT the gathering Of the ladies and the
/ board Of visitors on Friday the fact was
| brought out that the easterly wall OF the
! building which faces the Potomac, had
| slightly bulged. 1t was thought that pos
/ sibly the timbers had given away by
| having too many people at one time
walk through the rooms Of the upper
| for. superintendent II. II. Dodge was
instructed to remedy the evil as soon as
possible.
Mrs. Hearst, widow Of the late Senator
Hearst. who was largely interested in
| the Chamberlain Hotel al Old Point came
down from Washington in her swift
yacht and took part in the gathering for
a short while. The members Of the board
at their arrival were invited into the
South Carolina room, where the first
meeting was held. IL was stated at the
time that on several occasions n desire
had been expressed that the hours for
visiting the building and grounds, which
now close at =. NJ, be extended. The
ladies announced that they had instructed
the superintendent TO extend the time to
6 p. NJ. on Wednesdays. The board Of
visitors asked that power be given TO
the regent Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Town
send Of New York, to instruct the SUI
perintendent to open the grounds and
building for longer hours on other days,
II ne deemed II advisable. Subsequently
the ladies acted in accordance with the
plan suggested by the board OF visitors.
At the close Of the meeting the whole
party repaired to the library, where the
board Of visitors were entertained at
lunch by the ladies'
Mrs. Walker, of North Carolina, told
Colonel Bigger during the day that she
was greatly impressed with the remarks
which he made during the recent gath
erns Of the Southern Governors in this
city, when he expressed the hope that |
an opportunity might be given to be |
present az a repetition Of the fame us |
dialogue between the Governor of North |
Carolina and the Governor OF South |
Carolina which resulted in the mysterious |
disappearance OF both gentlemen.
The electric railroad. which has been |
opened recently between Alexandria AID |
MouHL NtTiout mas already proven q. /
success, and IL Is expected 10 add largely |
TO the resources OF the Mount Vernon |
Association by bringing the place IN easy |
access TO al who are DESTROYS TO visit /
the historic ground. The distance OF eight |
miles is now made In thirty-lye minutes. |
The financial condition OF the Associa-
ton was reported 20 be very good, and |
the receipts from admission fees during |
the past year have been Unexpectedly |
high. A good deal Of the increase has
been brought on by the visitors to the
annual encampment Of the Grand Army |
Of the Republic last fall.
At the suggestion OF Colonel Bigger |
the following resolution has been adopted
by the board OF visitors Of Virginia. |
copies Of which have been sent to the |
ladies Of the Mount Vernon Association: |
Resolved, That the board OF visitors
Of Virginia 10 Mount Vernon express its |
appreciation OF the great interest taken |
by the la lies Of the Mount Vernon Ladies' |
Association Of the Union I'm the manage
ment and preservation Of the home and
tomb Of Washington, and also the energy |
displayed and the active labors performed
by the efficient superintendent Mr.. II. II.
Dodge, and his industrious assistant, Mr..
James Young.
This board promises a cheerful CO.
operation with the Association in any
thing that tends 10 the perpetuity Il |
this historic and sacred spot I'm its origi-
raj appearance and grandeur, and IL
desires and urges that every facility |
consistent with the preservation Of Mount /
Vernon shall be afforded the public In
visiting the Mecca Of the American co.
pie.