Evening journal., 1893-08-22
THE WHITE HOUSE.
WHAT THE PRESIDENTS OFFICIAL
RESIDENCE HAS COST.

Year Have Reached Total of So ,332,-
OOO-How the Annual sum Tor Its Main
tenance Has Grown.
Seventy-ive years ago the White House
grounds presented a most unattractive ap-
pearance, without grass or shrubbery They
extended over the greater part of the area
now occupied by the treasury and the state,
war and navy departments. The land on
which the treasury now stands was then
used as the White House vegetable garden.
while the orchard was on the site now oc-
cupied by the state, war and navy depart
ments.
The loo back of the mansion was used for
pasture, as in those days there were usu-
ally four or five cows attached to the White
House. Under the front portico was a
dairy supplied with water brought by an
inch pipe from a spring in Franklin park
several squares distant. and this dairy was
the pride Of more than one mistress Of the
White House in the days when the presi-
dent himself did the marketing and the
cooking was under the personal supervision
OF che presidents wife.
In striking contrast 60 those primitive
times is the present regime, which relieves
the first lady of the land of all housekeep-
ing cares and leaves her free TO meet her
numerous social obligations.
The entire cost of the White House up to
the present time has been g, ,332, 600. Nine
hundred and thirty thousand dollars Of this
amount has been expended in finishing,
furnishing and carpeting the mansion since
1877. Since 1907 S562, 900 has been spent in
repairing it, and since 1918 S313, 600 in i'm
/ proving the grounds surrounding it.
| Notwithstanding the fact it has cost
80 i.
inadequate for the uses required of il. II
is capable really only Of comfortable ac-
commodations for the presidents Office
rooms and apartments for social recep-
tions.
There are but five bedrooms, a dining
room, sitting room and the red parlor"
| for the use of the family. The other pub
lie reception rooms and state dining room
conld, Of course be used by the presidents
household, but they are too large and
grand to offer many attractions to quiet
family.
The repainting Of the White House is
not an inconsiderable item of the yearly
repairs. Enough white paint, it is said
has been laid on the portico pillars to
double their present diameter, and the out
side walls would likewise have gained
several feet il the old paint had not first
been removed.
The term White House, by which it is
now known throughout the country, was
not applied to it until after the sandstone
walls, blackened by smoke and flames
when the British set fire to it, were painted
a cleaning white in 1877.
Before the first occupant. John Adams,
had established himself in the mansion
congress appropriated for furniture what
was then considered the munifcent sum OF
$4,000, and this money was made 20 hold
out during the four years of his admins
tration.
When his successor. jefferson, took ur
his residence there, $4,000 was set aside
''for the accommodation of the household
of the president, TO be laid out at his -,
cretion and under his direction, together
with the proceeds from the sale of such
part of the furniture and equipage belong
ing to the presidents household as may b,
decayed and out Of repair" Most of thi.
money was devoted 20 refurnishing tn,
house, and it was all spent in three years
Four years later like sum was placed al
the disposal of Madison, and the saml
amount was appropriated at the beginning
of his second term.
! The burning of the mansion while he re
sided there. however. necessitated its re
construction, for which $4,000 was appro
priated in 1917, together with the proceed.
! of the sale of the old furniture. The yeai
following James Monroe came into the his
toric old mansion, and $4,000 more wa.
spent in finishing and Tefurnishing il.
The regulation sum-sl4, ,000-was agair
allowed when John Quincy Adams tool
possession, and in 1926 and 1927 81, 900 addi
tional was appropriated for finishing and
4 furnishing the east room.
a The front portico of Ionic pillars wa
added in Jackson's first term at a cost o
$4,000. and in his second tim $4,000 wai
/, spent for furniture. Van buren was voted
10000 for furniture and repairs. All thii
& time most of the furniture was brought
from London or Paris and nearly all Of i
was of mahogany. When William ii. Har
s rison became president, the appropriation
was cut down to $1,000, with the stipula
tion that the furniture bought should b
Of American manufacture.
[ Polk and Taylor were each allowed S14,
. 600 for the customary alterations, but whel
4 Pierce took up his residence in the Whit
4. House the generous sum of S25, 600 was ap
( proprated for furniture and Sl1 .250 for re
pairs and ''whitewashing" the interior
Buchanan spent $4,000, and in his tern
Lincoln used $4,000 on the house.
+ ] luOiouHn oNtludullhB tooh pldlc Mutl
l. johnson was inaugurated, at a cost Of SIC,
/. 600, and in 1866 and 1866 $4,000 was adde'
y to complete the work. A like amount wa
e expended by Grant during his first term
n and $4,000 the second, exclusive of fuel
y which averaged 5000 year.
ls During Hayes administration $1,000 wa
epent for furniture and repairs, and durin
r the Garfeld-Arthur regime the mansio
J. was reftted and the jeweled glass scree
1. substituted for the old wooden partition
the whole amount expended being SliO, 90,
ia President Cleveland spent S74, 900 durin
his first term, and Harrison s96,O 900
d The average annual outlay is now sos ,OC
oi for furniture and repairs and s., 900 for fue
is The carpets on the floors Of the receptio
Il. rooms have to be renewed every year, OWN
IN to the immense amount of wear they al
tx subjected to under the feet Of the public
he New York Times.
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