Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-31
OIL KING s RURAL HOME.
Rockefeller's Country Seat to
 Be Like Baronial Estate.
COSTLY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED
$1,OOO,OOO on His Property In Westchester County, N. Y-- His wife's Love of Picturesque Scenery Prompts vnst OutIay--Fear of Fire Shown In Precautions.


 The Standard Oil king, John D. Rockefeller, in beautifying bis vast do main in the Pocantico hills in New York state to make it equal many of the great baronial estates of the old world and surpass some of the finest country seats in America is spending: For new mansion of the colonial
 style, to be builte of brick and
 stone and fireproof throughout. $300, GOO For big reservoir to prevent in
 future any destructive fires on his
 estate ........................... 75, 600 For deer range and game preserve
 to be stocked with the choicest of
 native species ......................-. 125,00 For a hunting lodge amid the wilds
 of the mountains. s.-.................. 5000 For miles of drives, chain of arti-
 ficial lakes and French and Italian
 gardens connected by terraces..... 425, 600
 Work is to start early the coming spring to make John D. Rockefeller's vast estate of 5000 acres in the Pecan tico hills of Westchester county, N. F., the most beautiful country seat in America, says the New York American. One of the Improvements will be a new mansion, to cost no less than $500, 1000.
 Although an army of workmen is em- ployed on the Rockefeller estate all the year round, it will be re-enforced by more legions of laborers and artisans so soon as the frost is out of the earth in the spring.
 The first thing done will be the break ing of ground for colonial mansion, to be built of Philadelphia brick and trimmed with native stone. The exte- rior will correspond with the $25O,O00 stone stable recently erected by Mir. Rockefeller.
 It is the love of Mrs. Rockefeller for the wild and picturesque mountain scenery that has led the multimillion- aire to decide upon the great improve ments on his country home There he and his wife expect to spend the great CT part of their years after all is com pleted.
 The details to be provided for fight ing flames also show that John D. Rockefeller's greatest fear is of fire. Besides having the mansion made fire proof throughout, a reservoir to cost at least $75,00O is to be built in Raven Rock mountain. It will furnish high pressure service, and MT. Rockefeller will maintain company of his own. His servants and employees will be drilled in the proper manner of han ding the hose anu fighting fires so as to prevent another confagration like that which destroyed his manor house because of the lack of apparatus and drilled fighters.
 In Sleepy Hollow valley Mir Rocke- teller will lay out four artificial lakes. These will be connected with miniature canals and surrounded by shaded drives and walks.
 So far he has purchased about $50,- 900 worth of trees, shrubs and rare plants with which to beautify lis es- tate Several agents are trying to buy five farms around Buttermilk noun tain, as he proposes to make the noun tain game preserve and deer range. At the present time the mountain has been stocked with foxes, squirrels. quail and other birds, and the owner main tains game warden to keep poachers away.
 Surrounding the new mansion will be Italian and French gardens, connected with terra ces, and on the steep summit of Kykuit hill magnificent plaza will be laid out.