Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-15
Mount Vernon.

The Board OF Visitors for Mount Ner-
non, appointed by Governor Mckinney
ON March G, 1898, have just completed
their report to the Governor in regard
to the management of the institution
during the past year. The report is
signed by all the members of the board
namely Messrs. l.. @. Washington,
Taylor Berry, K. Walton Moore, J. Bell
Bigger and Geo. a. Mush bach. The
report contains the following state
ment : "In their last report the board
called attention to the greatly increased
facilities afforded for visiting Mount
Vernon, and they anticipated very
large addition to the annual number of
visitors, arising from the general desire
of Americans to see place of so much
historic and personal interest. This
expectation has been already realized.
1t is understood that in single year
some $4,000 persons have visited Mount
Vernon, availing themselves of the two
convenient and excellent lines Of tran
sit now established. The charge for ad
mission of adults is very small, being
only % cents, but the revenues of the
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association from
all sources are stated in the last an
nual report Of the regent as amounting
to $26, ,92S02.
with this great addition to the nun.
Der of visitors, the problem of mali
tanning order and preserving the prof.
erty from injury is greatly increaser.
1t appears from the lost report of the SUI
perintendent that on the occasion of the
encampment of the Grand Army of the
Republic, in September, 1892, many
Of whom visited Mount Vernon, not
withstanding the employment of a
large special force and proper precau
tions, the building was subjected to
special strain, and is now exhibiting in
dicalions of weakness and injury. The
| mansion was not constructed for any
purpose other than to be private resi-
dence of family 1t is not fitted to
sustain the burden of very large
crowd, nor in all probability can it be
made so without radical alterations,
which are not to be thought Of. What
ever rules aud limitations be deemed
necessary by those in charge of the
mansion to protect it on the occasion
of masses of persons desiring 10 see it,
should be adopted without hesitation
by them, and cordially sustained by
wise and patriotic public opinion.
"The danger of the mansion from
fire has been considered, but that of in
Jury from permitting too great num-
Der to visit it at one time deserves to
be watched with equal solicitude.
"The board notes with much pleasure
the employment of additional men to
guard the property, and the establish
ment of night watch and regular pa
trolls. They also cordially approve the
policy Of protecting the grounds from
picnic of merely pleasure parties.
They are unanimous in opposing the
use of the lawn and grounds. for such
objects and also condemn the sugges-
lion of Sunday openings.
'On June ID last, the members ofthe
hoard made their annual visitto Mount
Vernon and were gratified to have the
pleasure of the company ofMrs. Mckln-
ney and yourself on this occasion. We
were most Hospitality welcomed by the
regent, Mrs. Townsend, and her associ-
ates in this noble work Of the care of
Mount Vernon. Our official intercourse
with these ladies during tie past four
years has been most agreeable and we
have witnessed with cordial pleasure
their patriotic energy and zeal in the
duty with which they are charged.
There could not be greater error than
to suppose that this trust involves only
a moderate amount of care and super
vision. The conditions aud environ
ments of this property, the duty of pre-
serving it intact, so as to be as nearly as
possible what it WAS in the days of
Washington, the difficulty ofreconciling
liberality in the admission of visitors
with proper order and care of the prop
erty, and especially the work of pro-
tecling and preserving the mansion
against tests and perils, never contem-
plated when it was erected, all consti-
tute task of the most serious response
bility and one that every year will de-
mand additional thought and solici-