Evening star., 1924-02-28
--. -...t CHAPTER Nv. .'r+'t
One Cent In 800 for the White House.

Ohe Cent In 500 for the White House.
Many Americans think the White
House Is typically American in style.
They are proud of 1t for that reason.
Leave 1t to the Irish The man who
built 1t was an Irtshman by. the name
of, James Hoban. Ability won. James
N. Hoban's plans were chosen by
open competition which closed July
Is, 1892. He came from Dublin.
Architect Hoban modelled the building
after the palace OF. the Duke of Lei
cester.. The duke was an Irishman,
living in Ireland. n.
|, But the site was selected by Presi-
dent George Washington and Maj.
Pierre Charles LEnfant at the time
the city OF Washington was being
laid out. That was in 1871.
The corner stone was laid October
13. 1892. by George Washington: It
was the first public building erected
at the new seat OF government. ...
The building was constructed of
Virginia freestone. which is a gray
sandstone. 1t has one hundred sew
enty feet frontage, and a depth or
width of eighty-six feet. 1t has now
a beautiful setting-placed in the
center Of broad grounds and sur
building cost. originally. about $780,
900, but this expense did not come
from the government of the United
States. The cost was betrayed out
by the states OF Maryland and Vir-
ginia. 49,
The building took eight years to
build. It was ready for occupancy In
November. 1900. However. George
Washington and his wife. it is said.
few days before his death in 1893.
That the White House Is impressive
and very becoming as the home of the
President of the United States is
spirit of simplicity about It that
seems TO command instant admira-
tion.
The. house was set fire to by the
British troops durfns~the adpinistr.-
ton Of President James Madison. in
1914. Only the four walls were left
standing. Even the President and
his wiAe had to grab the family silver
and fleet for their lives. This dis
pute with the British was soon ended.
Marks OF Smoke Painted White.
Then. in order to obliterate the
marks OF the fire. the stone was
painted white. 1t has since remained
white. in color. From that date on.
the building has been known through
out America and the world as the
White House. Before that II had
been called the executive mansion
and the Presidents house. &C.,.
Every President since John Adams
has lived there. George Washington
never lived in the White House. It
was finished In 1900. while Washing
earlier. in 1897.
Going back over the early records
we find that the first money spent by
the United States government on the
White House was on April "a, 1900.
for $4,000 for furniture. Seven years
later. March g.. 1907. 5000. was spent
on repairs. It so remained until 1919.
In that year Congress appropriated
sS137 for enlarging the Offices west
Of the Presidents house"
ished at a cost Of $4,000. while the
north portico was finished In 1926 at
a cost Of s24,769.l5-
Mrs. John Adams found the White
first winter Of 1900. 1t was hitter
cold season. Coal and wood. which
were used In the twelve CRATES and
fireplaces for heating IL, ware both
lacking IN Washington. NO wood
cutters or carriers to be had at any
TO a friend.
1t is interesting to note that the
White House was later heated by gas.
That was in -lS4s. A more modern
system. Of heating and ventilation
was installed in 1883. =
Last Lump Sum In 1902.
Then came the big expense of 1902.
A thorough overhsulins and restora-
ton was made under the direction Of
the New York architects, McKin,
Mead & White, during the admins