Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-14
GUARD THE MANSION.
THE MT. VERNON BUILDING SHOULD
NOT BE ovERcRoWDeo. u
The Board Of visitors Urge the Importance
Of This Matter In Their Annual
Report-Cspitei Matters.

Colonel John Bell Bigger called upon
Governor Mckinney yesterday morning
and handed him the annual report OF the
Board OF Visitors OF Mount Vernon. The
report, which Is signed by Colonel L.
Q. Washington. Hon. Taylor Berry ex-
senatos II. Walton Moore, Colonel Big
ger and Senator George A. Mushbach'
says:
In their last, report the board called at
tention to the greatly increased faciiitles
afforded for visiting Mount vernon. anu
they anticipated very large additioh 70
the annual number of visitors. arising
from the general desire OF Americans 70
zee place OF 30 much historic anu p ~
sonal interest This expectation mas Del,
already largely reshzed. IL is understood
that In a single year some eoW perin,VvIis
have visited Mount Vernon, availlnS
themselves of the two convenient anu
excellent lines Of 1Tsns 9% Sasts Is Very
small only % cents), but the revenues
OF the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
from all sources are stated In the last
annual report OF the regent as amount
ing to S26,92S.02
INDICATIONS OF INJURY.
With this great addition TO the number
order and preserving the property from
injury Is greatly increased. IL appsaIss
from the last report Of the superlntenue!nt.
that on the occasion OF the encafnplhent
OF the Grand Army OF the RepuoIci IA
September. 1892, many of whom visited
Mount Vernon Notwithstanding the EN-,
ploymcnt OF a large SPECIAL force anu
other precautions. the building was SUD
jected to special strain and IL now ex-
hibiting indications OF weakness ana m m
jury. The mansion was not cohs,I ~
for any other purpose than 10 DC n nn
private residence OF family. IL ~ not
lifted TO gustain the burden OF very
large crowd, nor in all probability can II
be made so without radical alterations
which are not TO be thought OF. w nal,
ever rules and limitations be deemed
necessary by those In charge OIL une mar ns
sion to protect II on the occasion Oh
masses Of persons desiring 10 see ~
should be- adopted without hesitation by
them, and cordially sustained by wise
The danger OF the mansion from fite
has been considered, but that OF injury
from permitting too great a humDsI "
visit II at one time deserves to be Wateheu
with equal solicitude.
ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS.
The board note with much pleasure the
employment of additional men TO guhru
the property, and the establishment OF q
mght-watch and regular patrol Ihey
also cordially approve the poicy OF pro-
tecting the grounds from picnic or mere
~ pleasure parties. They are unanimous
in opposing the use OF me lawn avn c anu
denim the suggestion OF Sunday openings;
On the 81 OF June last the members OF
the board made their annual VISIT 10
Mount Vernon, and were srauileu 70 H., H.
Mckinney and yourself on this OCCASION.
We were most Hospitality welcomed ny
the regent, Mrs. Townsend, ana her as
sociates in this noble work, the care OF
Mount Vernon. Our official intercourse
with these indies during the past four
years has been most agreeable, ana we
have Witnessed with cordial pleasure their
patriotic energy and real In the duty with
which they are charged. There could not
be greater error than 70 suppose that
this trust involves only moderate
amount OF care and supervision The con-
ditions and environments OF this proper
~; the duty OF preserving Il intact, so
as to be as nearly as possible what II
was In the days OF Washington; the DIM
Guilty Of reconciling liberality in the ad,
care OF the property. and especially the
work of protecting and preserving the
mansion against tests and perils never
contemplated when II was erected all con-
stitute task OF the most serious re-
sponsibilty. and one that every year Will
demand additional thought and solicitude.
REWARD OFFERED.
The Governor has offered a reward OF
500 for the arrest and conviction OF
the parties who recently set fire TO and
burned the barn and other property of
C. NJ. Whillen, Of Washington county.
The clerks who have been engaged for
some time back In copying the State
records which relate to West Virginia
will suspend work about the 18th OF this
month, In order that the hall OF the
House of Delegates, which has been
occupied by them, may be renovated be-
fore the meeting of the General AS
sembly. These labors will be resumed
after the adjournment of the Legisla-
ture, and II will take several months to