The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-12-12
MUTATIONS or A TOWN.
u New York Bubnrb Where Mi1lionnires
Delight to Dwell.
Especial Corrospondencc.l

81 w. " N~ss"
Delight to Dwell.
Especial Correspondence.
GREENWICH, Conn, Dec. At was when
William M. Tweed was In the zenith OF his
power Ne ''boss'' OF the city Of New York
that ho discovered this pretty town on tho
shore Of Long Island sound from the deck
OF his yacht. He WINS looking for an attrnc-
tive place within easy distance of the city
of which hc WAS dictator where he might
build u summer residence to his liking, and
he fell In love with Greenwich at first sight.
Further acquaintance with the place con-
flrmed his first impressions and us soon as
possible hc located himself within its boy
ders, to the great advantage Of the town.
which straightway began to shake off itH
purely provincial characteristics.
The Greenwich of today is largely n place
OF suburban residences. Tho homes OF
scores of New York business men, many OF
whom are among the city's financial mag
mates and some Of national repute, are 10.
Gated here. Although the evolution of the
suburban idea would have included Green
witch eventually without Tweed's help.
there is no doubt that his influence set ita
development ahead by many years.
The old Tweed place now forms part of
viz ~ SolaoSs - - W
jeremiah Milbank, deceased. Mr.. Mil
banks fortune was enormous at the time
Of his death, and he accumulated it in the
manufacture and sale Of articles OF table
consumption. ,Tweed's purchase OF tho
farm now known as the Milbnnk place came
about ina curious way. The farm was, be-
fore Tweed got it, the property of q man
named Mead, a member of a very
GUS family in Greenwich, and it had been
owned by u Mead almost ever since 1t first
came into the possession of awhile man. 1t
was valued at about $500 an acre, but Mead
told Tweed when the latter asked about a
selling price that he didn't want to sell at
all.
"Now, MIR. Mead" said Tweed, %''suppose
you would sell; how much would you
wants"
"a good deal more'n you or any one else
would be willing to pay-more'n it's worth
by a long chalk"
but how nuchP persisted the "boss;''
maybe you'd get your price. Besides, I'd
like to know your figure us a matter of GU
riosity."
"Waal," said Mead, 'say 81 900 an acre.
That would be 6 $4,000, but no one would
pay that for it,"
"Just as a matter of curiosity" said
Tweed, lets make memorandum of that
Mr.. Mead"
Then he drew up a few lines to the effect
that for $4,000 the undersigned would sci,
the farm at any time during the next three
months. Mead signed the paper, and tt
his amazement Tweed gave him a check
for the $685. GOO $4,000 more than Mead
asked) the next day, and the farm passed
from the possession Of the family that hat
held it for so many years. The place wa:
at once put in good order, and has evel
since been Il Of the show places Of Green
witch.
More interest is nowadays shown in thu
deer park and trotting track that were lait
out by William Rockefeller than in the OLE
Tweed place. When the Standard Oh
company decided that it would be best tina
one of its founders should live in or nea
New York, Mr.. Rockefeller was chosen t,
come east, and Greenwich looked as goot
to him as it had some years before tt
Tweed. He built d fine residence here, ant
being fond of horses laid out the track o
which I have spoken. Every morning be
fore breakfast the petroleum magnate uset
to devote a half hour or so to speeding hi
most promising horses, and his place ant
his manner of amusing himself ATTRACTED
q good deal of attention, which was doubles
when he, established his deer park. MI
Rockefeller determined a year or two ag
to make his permanent hone in Tarrytown
N. Y, where he still resides, but he retaine'
his summer home here n his deer, whic
last are the admiration of the entire tow
and its many visitors.
Henry O.. Havemeyer, president of th
Sugar trust, is another prominent residen
Of Greenwich. Mr.. Havemeyer has bee
most open handed ever since he settle
down here. Mr.. Havemeyer's most nun;
ficent gift to Greenwich is the handsom
new schoolhouse that is being erected at
cost of over 800, 600. The smaller taxpay
ers of the place ngree that it is a might
fine schoolhouse, but they are worrying
good deal about how they are going to pa
the taxes when the educational machiner
Of the district is enlarged to meet the RI
quirements of the house, and it's expense
are correspondingly keyed up. The schoo
house at one time threatened to cause
lasting rupture between Z. c.. Benedict
'the presidents FRIEND" and Mr.. Hav.
meyer. Mr.. Benedict discovered one morl
ing to his surprise that the roof of the ne'
building when completed would shut O.
his view of the sound. There was q yer
earnest conference between Mr.. Benedis
and Mr.. Hayelneyer, and q compromise b
which the roof will be built six or eight fee
lower than was intended.
E. II. johnson, ex-president of the Et
ison Electric company, is also u resider
here, and his house some of the marvels {
the town by reason Of the numerous al
expensive electric appliances with which
is fitted up. Its system of burglar alarm
Is SO perfect that cracksmen are said t
steer quite clear Of the town for fear of b
ing shocked to death, and its lighting is
elaborate and SO brilliant that it is an Of
iect of rare beauty at night. 1t may
seen for miles up and down the sound an
is a landmark to all who navigate thes
waters. CHARLES APPLEBY.
A Valuable Rcmedy.
Hon. Edmund l.. Pitts. the late pres