The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-08
MUTATIONS OF A TOWN.
A New York suburb Where .Tillionaires
Delight to Dwell.
Especial Correspondence

Delight to Dwell.
Especial Correspondence
GREENWICH. Conn, Dec. 4.-It was when
William ". Tweed was in the zenith of his
power as boss" of the city Of New York
that he discovered this pretty town on the
shore of Long Island sound from the deck
of his yacht. He was looking for an attrac-
tive place within easy distance of thsscity
of which he was dictator where he might
build a summer residence 10 his liking and
be fell in love with Greenwich az first sight.
Further acquaintance with the place con-
frmed his first impressions and as soon as
possible he located himself within its bor-
ders, TO the great advantage of the town,
which straightway began to shake CT its
purely provincial characteristics.
The Greenwich OF today is largely place
of suburban residences. The 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 To-
Gated here Although the evolution of the
suburban idea would have included Green
wich eventually without Tweed's help,
there is no doubt that his influence set its
development ahead by many years.
The old Tweed place now forms part Of
the Milbank estate, a property created by
jeremiah Milbank, deceased. Mr.. Mil
bank S fortune was enormous at the time
Of his death, and he accumulated il in the
manufacture and sale of articles of table
consumption. Tweed's purchase of the
farm now known as tae Milbank place came
about in a curious way. The farm was, be-
fore Tweed got it. the property of man
named Mead, a member of a very numer-
Gus family in Greenwich, and it had been
owned by Mead almost ever since it first
came into the possession of white man. 1t
was valued at about goo an acre, but Mead
told Tweed when the latter asked about a
selling price that he didn'1 want to sell at
ALL
Now, Mr.. 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 muchf" persisted the .sboss;p
maybe you'd get your price. Besides, I'd
like to know your figure as a matter of Gu
riosity."
WAL" said Mead. ''say 81 900 an acre
That would he 1000, but no one would
pay that for it,
Just as a matter of curiosity" eid
Tweed, lets make memorandum Of 1t,
Mr. Mead'
Then he drew up few lines to the eff IT
that for S63, 900 the undersigned would Il
the farm at any time during the next e
months. Mead signed the paper, and to
his amazement Tweed gave him ch k
for the $4,000 $4,000 more than VI d
asked the next day, and the farm pas d
from the possession of the family that d
held it for so many years. The place was
at once put in good order, and has ever
since been one Of the show places of Green
wich.
More interest is nowadays shown in the
deer park and trotting track that were laid
out by William Rockefeller than in the old
Tweed place. When the Standard Oil
company decided that it would be best that
one of its founders should live in or near
New York, Mr.. Rockefeller was chosen To
come east, and Greenwich looked as good
to him as it had some years before to
Tweed. He built fine residence here, and
being fond of horses laid out the track Of
which l have spoken. Every morning be-
fore breakfast the petroleum magnate used
to devote half hour or SO to speeding his
most promising horses, and his place and
his manner of amusing himself attracted
a good deal of attention, which was doubled
when he established his deer park Mr.
Rockefeller determined year or two ago
to make his permanent home in Tarrytown,
n. Y, where be still resides but he retained
his summer home here and his deer, which
last are the admiration of the entire town
and its many visitors.
Henry o. Havemeyer, president of the
Sugar trust. is another prominent resident
of Greenwich. Mr.. Havemeyer has been
most open handed ever since he settled
down here. Mr.. Havemeyer's most muni-
fcent gift to Greenwich is the handsome
new schoolhouse that is being erected at .
cost of over 100000. The smaller taxpay-
ers of the place agree that il is mighty
fine schoolhouse, but they are worrying a
good deal about how they are going to pay
the taxes when the educational machinery
of the district is enlarged to meet the re-
qulrements OF the house, and its expenses
are correspondingly keyed up. The school
house at one time threatened to cause a
lasting rupture between Il. G. Benedict,
''tbe presidents friend" and Mr.. Have
meyer. Mr.. Benedict discovered one morn
ing TO his surprise that the roof Of the new
building when completed would shut of
his view Of the sound. There was a very
earnest conference between Mr.. Benedict
and Mr.. Havemeyer. and a compromise by
which the roof will be built SIX or eight feet
lower than was intended
+. II. Johnson, ex-president Of the Ed
ison Electric company, is also resident
here, and his house il one Of the msrvels Of
the town By reason of the numerous and
electric appliances with which it
Is fitted up. It's system OF burglar alarms
is so perfect that cracksmen are said 20
steer quite clear Of the town for fear Of be-
ing shocked TO death, and its lighting is 30
elaborate and so brilliant that il II an OBJ
lect Of rare beauty at night. II may be
seen for miles up and down the sound and
IS landmark 20 all VINO navigate these
waters. CHARLES APFaEBY.
Mysteries of the Sea-