The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-28

enoy Couiu nave plenty OF room, comfort
ana privacy. In case scarlet fever or other
contagious disease attacked n member of
the family it would not be necessary to tack
health department placard on the door
which leads to the presidents office. When
public levee or reception was to be held it
would not be necessary to incur the risk of
frightful disaster for there would be
room enough in the present East room and
Blue, Green and Red parlors with the new
corridors and great apartments on the
ground floor of the addition, for all the
crowds likely to be seen in the Capital City
OF the present or future The old house
would be left standing us the center of the
enlarged and completed pile, which could
be built rs n harmonious and artistic whole
President Harrison did not follow his
predecessors example and fsd for himself
summer home in the outskirts of Wash
lngton, but have been told that in case he
had been reelected it was his intention to
do so. lie has been heard to say that he
would not attempt for another four wears
to endure the discomforts of the White
House and force his family to endure Thorn
during the parts of the year in which it is
impossible to get away from Washington.
Mir. Cleveland, if present rumors be well
founded, will do i'll his second term lust
what he did in his first-buy for himself
and family a pretty homo in the outskirts
OF the city. His first investment of this
sort was so successful that he might easily
he induced to try u second. The beautiful
wooded country in which he bought n home
eight years ago is now covered with villa
Sites and an electric railway runs for miles
beyond Red Top.
There is rumor that Mr.. Cleveland will
buy building site across the river in Vir-
gina near Fort Mycr and Arlington, and
there build n fine house. This site is one of
the most beautiful in the surroundings of
Washington. The high bluff overlooks tho
whole amphitheatcr in which the capital is
built. At it's base runs the Potomac, lust
above this point narrowing to n rocky
gorge, with clifilike banks and growth of
primeval forest. Across the river is old
Georgetown, with the famous college of
that name lifting its spires and towers high
toward the skies. Just beyond is tho
charming military post of Fort Myer, now
garrisoned by some of the veteran troops
who fought valorously in the recent In
dian wars. a little way beyond is Airing
ton National cemetery, without question
the loveliest spot in the surroundings of
the capital-a spot which appeals to the
eye in its beauty and to the soul in its white
reminders of the brave deeds of n stormy
day.
An electric railway runs through these
hills now, crossing the aqueduct bridge
where George Washington surveyed the old
canal that once tapped Alexandria, a new
bridge is wanted one which shall connect
Fort Myer directly with the CITY, and a
proposition has long been pending to erect
here by government appropriation beauti-
ful memorial bridge TO cost upward of Il
million dollars. 1t would indeed be fitting
avenue from the national capital to the
lnnq If ha oF 81
acy on the other side of the river and in
full view from the national state house and
executive mansion. At one end of this
bridge 1T is proposed to erect an equestrian
statue OF General Grant and Mt the other n
similar statue of General Lee. Thus the
north and south would be artistically and
appropriately joined-much better in every
practical and aesthetic sense than they are
now Connected not far away, by the famous
old Long bridge, over which the troops
marched by the hundreds of thousands dur
ing the war of the rebellion, and which is
now used by wagons, pedestrians and rail
roads, and which has outlived its usefulness.
Speaking of George Washington reminds
me that within the last month the all con-
quering electric railway has been extended
from Alexandria, the ancient trading town
In which Washington attended church and
sold most of the produce of his plantation,
with Mount Vernon itself. Hitherto it has
been necessary to visit Mount Vernon,
which never seems to lose it's hold upon tho
affections of the people, by steamboat And
while the steamboat trip down the Poto-
mac is very delightful one in summer, in
winter it is sometimes not so pleasant, and
at any season of the year requires more
time than some tourists like to devote to
this purpose. Now they can take the rail
way in Washington, and after passing over
Long bridge and reaching Alexandria en-
bark fifteen minutes later upon an electric
car, which will quickly carry them to the
gates of Washingtons beautiful home.
ROBERT GRAVES