The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-11-17
THE WHITE HOUSE.

One OF the employees of the White
House, Mr. Pendell, who has been
there for many years, tells some things
| of interest about the historic building.
He says:
1.-The term White House, by which
it is now known throughout the coun-
try, 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 1917.
Before the first occupant, John
Adams, had established himself in
the mansion, Congress appropriated
for furniture what was then consid-
cred the munificent sum of $15, 900,
and the money was made to h Id out
during the four years of his admins
tration. When his successor, Jeffer-
son, took up his residence there $14,-
900 was aside for the accommodation of
the household of the President, to be
laid out at his discretion and under
his direction together with the pro-
ceeds from the sale of such part OF the
furniture and equipage belonging to
the Presidents household as may be
decayed and out of repair. Most of
this money was devoted to refurnish-
ing the house and it was all spent in
three years.
-Four years later a like sum was
placed at the disposal of Madison and
the same amount was appropriated at
the beginning of his second term
The burning of the mansion while he
resided there, however, necessitated
its reconstruction, for which $50, 0G0
was appropriated in 1921, together
with the proceeds of the sale of the
old furniture. The year following
Jas. Monroe came into the historic
old mansion and $50, 900 more was
spent in finishing and refurnishing
it.
1.-The regulation sum-$14, 000-was
again allowed when John Quincy
Adams took possession, and in 1926
and 1927 sc, 900 additional was appro-
priated for finishing the East Room.
The front portico of Ionic pillars was
added in Jackson's first term at
cost of SIS, 200, and in his second term
$26, 600 was spent for furniture and re-
pairs. All this time most of the fur
niture was brought from London or
Paris, and nearly all of it was of ma
hogany. When William HI. Harrison
became President the appropriation
was SuI io"ll W So,uOO, Will IHS sup
ulation that the furniture bought
should be of American manufacture.
POLK and Taylor were each allow
ed $4,000 for the customary altera-
tions, but when Pierce took up his
residence there the generous sum of
$25, 900 was appropriated for furniture
and 1880 for repairs and white
washing the interior.
buchanan spent $50, 900, and in his
first term Lincoln used 900 on the
house. A thorough overhauling took
place when johnson was inaugurated.
at a cost of $4,000, and i'll 1865 500, 600
was added to complete the work. A
like amount was expended by Grant
during his first term and $4,000 the
second, exclusive of fuel, which aver
aged $1,000 d year.
During Hayes administration
$4,000 was spent for furniture and re-
pairs and during the Garfield-Arthur
regime the mansion was refitted and
the jewelled glass screen substituted
for the old wooden partition, the
whole amount expended being $40 900
"President Cleveland spent S71 900
during his first term, and Harrison
$1,000
1.-The average annual outlay is now
$25, 900 for furniture and repairs and
So, 900 for fuel. The carpets on the
floors of the reception rooms have to
be renewed every year, owing to the
immense amount of wear they are
subject to under the feet of the pub
lic.n