The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-15
Gail FOB A NEW WHITE HOUSE
Demand for Il New and larger Man
c;on for the Presidents Family,

The, growing demand upon our Chief
Executive for more lavish entertainment
and a greater number of diplomatic re-
cept,ons has started anew the spasmodic
agitation of past years for a new and
larger mansion for the Presidents fam
lily. 4#a
The subject is receiving serious consid-
GRAFTON from the national lawmakers.
Washington people hardly fancy the
proposition of an entirely new White
House, for everybody is attached TO the
old mansion. with its many associations.
The disposition is rather TO ndd a Sepa-
rate building close by for the use of the
Presidents household. The old place is
a treasure house of national and historical
relics, and it would be a pity to replace it.
In view of the talk about Il new White
House it is worth while knowing what
the present White House has cost. The
first funds for the building were not fur
nished by Uncle Sam. AS it was the first
public building in Washington, great
deal of care was exercised III getting the
best possible plans. y munificent premium
of 500 was offered for the finest design,
and this was prepared by a young Irish
man nnmed James Hoban, then OF Charles
ton. S. c., who shaped his model closely
after that Of the Duke of Leinstcr's man
sion in Dublin. His plan was for a three
story structure, but so great was the
public outcry against the proposed eXtEav-
agance that Congress refused to appro-
pirate the peoples money for 1t, and the
first Commissioners of the District were
constrained 10 reduce the design 10 TWO
stories and basement, with a frontage of
40 feet and a depth of GS feet. The ne
cessary funds were supplied by the States
of Virginia and Maryland. Virginia con-
tributed in all $4,000 and Maryland ST.
900. General Washington, however, brought
his influence to bear upon Congress and
finally induced that body TO make appro-
priations 10 finish it.
Counting these sums, the venerable
building has cost, from the beginning down
to the present the surprising sum of So
O00,000 Of this large aggregate 100000
has been spent in finishing. furnishing and
caring for the building since 1891: $4,000 in
repairing it since 1897; $4,000 in improv-
ing the grounds surrounding it since 1918,
and $4,000 in constructing and maintain
ing. since 1919 the greenhouses and con-
servatories attached to it.
The cornerstone was laid with i'm
posing Masonic ceremonies on October 49,
1892, in the presence of General Washing
ton and the District Commissioners. BY
1899, the building was fur enough edvanced
for partial occupancy, and in November,
1900 President John Adams brought his
family to it from their rented house in
Philadelphia. making things as comfort
able as could be in the unfinished rooms.
The fact that Mrs. Gusts residence in
Virginia was cnlled 1.-The White House" is
said to account for the term now applied ,
to the Executive Mansion, but she never
lived in the mansion, and the nickname
white House was not given TO it until
after the sandstone walls, smoked and
blackened by the British soldiers When
they burned it, were painted a cleaning
white in 1877. The Presidents home in
Presidents House." the Presidential !
Mansion" and the Executive Mansion"
but never the White House"
A study of the old laws under which !
the expenditures upon the White House i
were made from year to year throws
bright side-lisht on the official lie ana |
habits of its successive occupants.
In 1871 $4,000 and the proceeds OF old |
furniture were appropriated and spent at |
once on the reconstruction OF the Man
SION In the next years James Monroe
moved into 1t from the Octagon House
which is still standing at the corner OF !
New York avenue and Eighteenth Street, (
Northwest, and which he had occupied |
on succeeding Madison He proceeded to
apply $4,000 more to finishing and refur-
nishing it. The term presidents House
was employed then for the first time In /
the laws relating 10 the Executive Man
sion.
In 1875, when John Quincy Adams enter
ed, tho regulation sum Of s14.Oe was al
lowed for furniture, and IN 1857 5000
additional was given for finishing and
the East Room used previously
III, he
as a laundry and nursery.
During Iacksoo's fret terra tha GonL