Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-04
IS MINUS A GARAGE
Presidents Autos Housed by
QuartermaSter's Department.
STABLES WERE ABOLISHED
Carriages Abandoned at the White
House Several Years Ago.
KEEPERS OF THE VEHICLES
Four Men Employed to Serve as
Chauffeurs and in Other
Capacities.
KEEPERS OF THE VEHICLES

There are no White House stables now
the Presidents automobiles being allotted
space in the stables of the quartermas-
ters department of the army which are
at 10Th and B streets northwest III
former years there was a stable for the
White House vehicles situated at 18th
and e streets northwest, but this was
destroyed by order of Charles H. Norton,
who proceeded Charles D. Hilles as secre-
tary to MIR. Taft. At the time the build
ing was torn down it was understood that
new structure to house the White
House horses, carriages and automobiles
was to be built, but nothing has been
done along that line.
The equipment which has been in use
by Mr.. Taft consists of three Pierce
Arrow automobiles. One of these is a
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES touring car, another
a limousine of the same power and the
third thirty eight-horSepower landau
let All of the cars are of the siX-cylin-
der type. In addition Baker electric
runabout has been kept at the stables for
the use of Miss Helen Taft and another
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. six-cylinder Ian
dauet Pierce-Arrow machine for the use
of the Presidents secretary.
These five cars are crowded into the
general garage of the quartermaster's
department There are thirteen other
machines housed in the same part Of the
building with the White House automo
bileS.
Elimination of Carriages.
No carriages have been kept for several
years for the use of the President or his
family, with the single exception of a
coupe and team of horses for the use of
Mrs. Jaffray. who has been the house
Nrc of
Roosevelt and who is to be retained by
Mrs. Wilson in the same capacity. This
coupe and the horses are kept in another
part Of the same building which houses
the machines.
Until recently both Mr.. Taft and Miss
Helen Taft kept saddle horses at this
stable. Miss TdftS horse, Chinkapin,
died as a result of collision with
street car While the horse was being
ridden by Miss Martha Bowers, daughter
of the late Lloyd w. Bowers. former
United States solicitor general. The acct
dent occurred at 18th and L streets north
west January %, Miss Bowers being
painfully injured. Mr.. Taft sold his own
horse, Reciprocity, about week later to
a United States senator. The horse was
named by attendants at tine stable when
it was purchased, which was during the
time reciprocity with Canada was being
discussed
Abel f. Long is the chauffeur in charge
of the stable. He was selected from
among 5000 employees of the Pierce fac
tory in Buffalo. N Y, Is the best man
for the position, and has been employed
by the government in this capacity since
February 23, 1909. The second in CON-
mand at the garage is f. ii. Robinson,
who came here from Boston July II, 1910.
He was the driver of the steam automo-
bile formerly used by the President,
which is no longer in commission.
Next to Robinson is Richard Burlasque.
who is the chauffeur of the car used by
the Presidents secretary. He has been
employed at the garage since April IS,
1909, and has been in charge of Secretary
Hilles' automobile for the past two years.
The other member of the force of chauf-
feurs is Edward White, who has been in
his present employment since about three
months ago. when he was transferred
from the quartermaster' department Of
the army, where he held similar posi-
tiOn