The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-15

tened 1t the "City OF washington"
An english letter writer thereupon ac-
c,ised President Washington OF van
ity. "As soon as he la def,inct," said
this critic, 1.-The city, which Is to be
the boasted monument of his greht-
ness, will also be dcfunct."
The Sixth congress adjourned IN
Philadelphia May IA. 1900, having d.
rected that a second session begin in
Washington November II, of the same
year. The executive and judicial de-
partments thereupon began prepara-
tions for Il general moving.
President Adams left the executive
mansion at Seventh and High streets,
Philadelphia. May q, 1900. within two
weeks after congress adjourned. and
made a temporary trip to the new capi-
tai. He travelled in his private carriage
by way of Lancaster. Pa, and Fred
erick. Md. A daily stage, leaving
Philadelphia at 8 a. n,.. bumped and
splashed over more direct road by
way of Baltimore and arrived in Wash
ington the next evening at o'clock
a journey OF twenty-one hours. which
the iron horse" now covers in one
seventh that time. But President Adj
ans preferred the more circuitous trip.
because promised more opportunities of
entertainment on that route.
PRESIDENT ADAMS ARRIVAL.
He arrived in Georgetown. OF which
Washington was then a scattered sub
urb, on June 3, one week after he had
started. AT the boundary line of the
District of Columbia he was met by "a
large crowd of respectable citizens on
horseback" and escorted into town,
where he was received with pleasure
and veneration."
The military of the city of WASH
ington and the marines stationed there
manifested their respect by sixteen dis
charges of musketry and artillery"
says an old chronicle.
The next day, at Union Tavern,
Georgetown. he wrote Il reply to the
committee which had welcomed him.
On June 5 he visited the unfinished
house Of representatives. On June II
he was given a reception at Alexan-
dria, and on June IA departed for Mas
sachusetts. 1t was not until autumn
that the president and Mrs. Adams
came to the new White House to live
They travelled very slowly by carriage
from Philadelphia by way of Balti-
more. and thus into Washington. Mrs.
Abigail Adams. in November, 1900.
made her informal entree as first lady
Of the land" She found the White
House unfinished. although the corner
stone had been laid eight years before
in the. presence Of George Washington.
What there was Of it stood on what
was then called "F street ridge" The
In "A fail
nence divided, part running to the
north, part to the south. The water
thus drained formed sort Of creek,
partly surroundings the presidents
grounds. The latter had no fence. The
first floor Of the mansion was untin-
ished. The principal stairs We're not
up.
WHITE HOUSE HOUSEWARMING.
Mrs. Adams first "housewarlning" in
her new home was a practical rather
than ceremoniOus function. What
wood she could get she burned to- dry
the plaster. yet damp, on the walls.
The first public reception in the White
House occurred on New Years Day.
1901, and had to be held in a room on
the second floor. in which later pres-
dents received their business callers.
The home life of the Adamses in the
White House We're very plain. The
presidents luncheons invariably con-
sisted of oat-cake and lemonade. The
family dinners We're simple Adams
was 80 unassuming in his manners
that Mistress Abigail occasionally saw
fit to remind him, when he was free
and familiar with the common people.
hat l>.t 80 1,s. :-i~
rank and dignif1ed Office.
The moving of the executive depart
ments from Philadelphia began in May.
1900. The office furnishings and records
came by water, the officials and en-
ployes by stage line or private equip
age. 1t is said that "a single packet
sloop brought all the office furniture OF
the departments. besides seven large
boxes and five small ones, containing
the archives" The presidents cabinet
then consisted of but five members.
Working under these We're but 1872 en-
ployes. Uncle Sam paid all travelling
expenses for these officials and clerks
and their families.
EARLY DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS.
These men, comprising the first civil
service regime organized for the Wash
ingtOn departments. came hither i'm
bued with the hope that the law author
fzing their removal from the gay and
bustling metropolis would, as was
rumored. be repealed. They found only
one department building erected. This
was the old treasury, on the site of the
south front Of the present edifice. 1t
was a plain, two-story brick or only
thirty rooms. Oliver Wolcott, secre
tary of the treasury, arrived June . to
occupy II.
At the southwest corner OF the white
house grounds the war Office was still
in course of erection. This was similar
to the treasury office in size and ap-
pearance. but not being ready for occu-
pancy upon the arrival of Secretary of
War Dexter, June II, he and his de-
partment went into temporary lodgings
in a three-story house on Pennsylvania
avenue, above TWenty-tirst street, and
opposite the hotel of William 'O'Neal.
father OF that Peggy O'Neal who
gained fame In Jackson's administra-
ton. But the war department officials
had barely settled down to work in
these temporary headquarters when, in
November, 1900. a fire broke out and
destroyed a large part of their records.
The following January similar fire
occurred in the treasury department.
1.-The president was in line" recalled
citizen writing of this latter conflagra-
ton, land was busy in aiding to pass
the buckets to and from the burning
building"
Rival politicians then, as now, We're
srasping at every straw Adams ad-
ministration was accused OF starting
the two fires 10 DESTROY records OF