Evening star., 1932-02-21

Bridges Greek or Popes Greek, but since Is
Wakefield The latter acquisition. known as
Epsewasson Hunting Greek, was christened
Mount Vernon in 1743 by Lawrence Washing
ton, an elder half-brother Of George Wash
ington. ae
Washington first took up residence at Mount
Vernon as a child between and years of
age, when his father removed to the property
from the family home at Bridges Creek Th-s
resulted in establishment Of q country seat
which he gave to his eldest son, Lawrence, in
l740, with the stipulation that II he should
die without heirs, it was to 60 to George, eldest
son of his second wife. About 1899. Augustine
Washington removed his family to his third
and last residence, on the Rappahannock River
across from Fredericksburg. few years later.
the Little Hunting Greek estate became the
home of Lawrence Washington and his bride,
Anne Fairfax. commodiotH mansion mean
while had been erected there and the place was
named Mount Vernon.
The home on the Rappahannock long since
has disappeared, but, according to biographers.
there still is standing . little shed-like struc-
ture used by Washington rs q work room dur
ing his boyhood days there.
IA /ASHINGTON early in life came to under
w stand that honors in the Southern colo
nies we're won by the large landholder and.
with the earnings Of his first job surveyors
assistant. he began acquiring land. At his
fathers death he had inherited the Rappahan-
farm land, but these we're held in trust by his
mother until he became of age. BY the time
he had inherited Mount Vernon he had through
his own efforts and work laid foundation fo-
his fortune.
During his ownership Of Mount Vernon, his
Inheritance Of 2,70o acres there were increased
TO approximately 5000 acres. This brought .
broadening Of his activities IS property nan
ager and farmer.
Like other planters Of his day, Washington
endeavcred to specialize In tobacco. His &C.
counts point to a crop q Ss,07s pounds In
1763 this being apparently his best year. He
soon realized the soil was not rich. Finding
that repeated growing Of tobacco was depicting
the fertility Of the soil. he adopted . system
Of plant rotation. He appears to have been
the first large planter TO break the tobacco
routine.
Through his marriage to Martha Dandridgs
Gusts. washington came into control of for
tune considered great in that day. This added
resource aided in the enlargement Of the
Mount Vernon property.
In the service Of Gov. Dinwiddie he made .
long and dangerous trip 70 the Ohio. during
which his imagination was fred as to the pos
sibilities Of the West.
During the French and Indian War WASH
tngton was authorized to raise body OF troops.
To encourage enhstments he persuaded the
Governor to offer bonus IN Western lands to
those who would volunteer fH service. Din
widdie consented, Offering 200 900 acres on the
Ohio and It's tributaries. DinWjddie was re-
called before the allotu,ents were made but
Washington kept up the campaign until the
promise Was carried out. His share leader
OF the Virginia forces Was 10000 acres. Many
Of the soldiers, however preferred ready cash
to distant, unsettled holdings. and Washington,
still hungry for land, bought up many Of their
allotments.
The first large enterprise in which wash
ington engaged commercially was the Dismal
Swamp project, of which he was chosen man
agsr. For FIVE years he devoted his best energy
and considerable money to this enterprise. 1he
plan was to drain and make fit for cultivation
the large tract Of spongy land In Southeastern
Virginia helow the James Piver, extending
from Nansen,ond River cast and south to the
North Carolina boundary and far into that
State. Mere than 4oooo acres were included u
the original proPoaitaeu. 1rom0tsd h7 e group
-': .-+ t5sf1g1j sa3.4 t1t 81 1.2Fa
'4a . Continues ~ rwesty Third rsse