The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-09-21
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Interesting Facts About the Old
Building.
1t Has Cost Much Money! for
Furniture and Repairs.

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 to the Washing
ton correspondent of the st. Louis Re-
public:
''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
1917.
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
the money was made to hold out dur
ing the four years 6f his administra.
ton. When his successor, Jefferson,
| took up his residence there, $14, 900
was set aside for the accommodation
of the household of the President, to
be laid out at his discretion, and un-
der his direction, together with the
| proceeds from the sale of such part OF
the furniture and equippa9e belonging
to the Presidents household, as may
be decayea and outof repair. Most
of this money was devoted to re-
furnishing the house, and it was all
spent III three years.
'Four years later like sum was
| placed at the disposal of Madison and
the same amount was appropriated at
the beginning of his second term.
I The burning of the mansion while he
resided there, however, necessitated
its reconstruction, for which so, 900
was appropriated in 1917, together
with the proceeds of the sale of the
old furniture. The year following
James Monroe came into the historic
old mansion and 100000 more was
spent in finishing and refurnishing it,
"The regulation sum-$14, 600
was again allowed when John Quincy
Adams took possession, and in 1926
and 1927 So, 900 additional was appro-
priated for finishing and furnishing
the East Room. The front portico of
Ionic pillars was added in Jackson's
first term at a cost of 919, 600, and in
his second teym $26, 900 was spent for
furniture and repairs. All this time
most of the furniture was brought
from London or Paris, and nearly all
of it was of mahogany. When Will
lam H. Harrison became President
the appropriation was cut down to
$4,000, with the stipulation that the
furniture bought should be of Ameri-
can manufacture.
'Polk and Taylor were each allowed
$4,000 for the customary alterations,
but when Pierce took up his residence
there the generous sum of $25, 900 was
appropriated for furniture and $11,-
$50 for repairs and white washing the
interior.
Buchanan spent $4,000, and in
his first term Lincoln used 500, 900 on
the house. A thorough overhauling
took place when johnson was inaugu-
rated, at a cost of $76, 900, and in 1865
$50, 900 was added to complete the
work. A like amount was expended
by Grant during his first term and
$110, 600 the second, exclusive OF fuel,
which averaged IS, 900 year.
During Hayes administration
SO, 900 was spent for furniture and re-
pairs, during the Garfield-Arthur re-
gime the mansion was reftted and the
jewelled glass screen substituted for the
old wooden partition, the whole
amount expended being 100000
president Cleveland spent $71, 900
during his first term, and Harrison
$96, 900.
"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 sub
ject to under the feet of the public.