The Republican journal., 1885-03-05

STILL SIGHTSEEING IN WASHINGTON. Wis
1T TO THE WHITE HOUSE. THE NEW STATE,
WAR AND NAVY DEPARTMENTS. THE P, O,
AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.


AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
Correspondence of the Journal
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb, 1885. In former
letters gave detailed descriptions of the two
places which are by far of the most universal
interest to tourists in Washington-the Capitol
and the Washington Monument. For fear of
occupying too much space in the columns of
the Journal with my rambling and hastily writ
ten eplstles, L will endeavor to speak briefly
of some of the other places of interest. Per-
haps the White House comes next in order
We did think of putting on a little style when
we visited the Executive Mansion; but after
consulting both the cab-man and our pocket
book decided to take the usual conveyance of
young disciples of Hippocrates-the horse cars.
1t is a beautiful day, warm and bright AS our
early spring days at home, as we ride up Penn.
Ave. We leave the car at the entrance to La
fayette Park on the north side of the Avenue
directly opposite the Presidents grounds. This
Is one of the finest parks in the city. The shade
trees are large and many of them rare and
beautiful. In the centre of the park is IA large
bronze statue of Andrew jackson. He is rep
resented on powerful war-horse ready for the
coming fray. The horse is rearing on his hind
legs and jackson is in the act of giving the mil
tary salute. 1t Is an attractive and lfe-like
piece of work and was erected at cost of 500
600. After walking through The park and gath
ering some of the magnolia leaves, &C., we
cross the Avenue and enter the spacious grounds
surrounding the Executive Mansion. The
building is of the Ionic style, Is TO feet long
and Sc feet wide and two stories high. Ii is
built of Potomac free stone and painted white
1t is not so imposing an editice we had eX-
pected to see and much resembles the low
rambling, od-fashioned plantation mansions
But as it stands some distance back from the
busy street among the large shade trees of the
well kept grounds, the place possesses an air Of
retirement and quiet comfort. This building is
SAID to be entirely inadequate to the social and
official demands of the President and it is pro-
posed to retain this as the Executive Office and
erect a suitable Executive residence In some
other part of the city. 1t is to be regretted
that this building can not be remodeled to an
sWer all purposes. not only on account Of the
historic interest attached to ii as the oldest pub
lie building in Washington and the abode of a
long list of illusrrious dead, but also on account
of the beautiful location and surroundings in
front. across the Avenue, is the beautiful La
fayette Square; on the right the Treasury
Building TO the left is a tine view of the inn
posing Eastern facade of the new State, War
and Navy Building, and to the South fine
view of the Potomac. We pass in through the
main entrance and vestibue past the official
stairway and enter the East Room which
is always open to visitors, This is the
promenading hall during receptions and en-
tertainments and occupies the whole width of
the east end Of the house. The room is 50 by
40 feet and - feet high, richly furnished and
decorated in Greek style. The only paintings
are life size portraits of General and Martha
Washington. The other rooms of interest on
this floor are the suite of parlors and the State
dining room, all in the south front The par
Tors are called, from their respective furnishing
the green room, the blue room, which is the
grandest of the three and where the President
receives on ceremonial occasions, and the red
room or private family paror. From the State
dining room passage leads into the conser-
yatories. Not having received an Invitation to
any of the State dinners we have not had the
privilege of inhaing the doubtless exquisite
perfume of the executive hot house.
There are many other places of interest in
the vicinity of the White House, the most i'm
portant of which is the new State, War ami
Navy building. This is one of the largest H.
we'll as finest public eelitices in the world. 1t
measures J2S feet from north to south and %
feet from east to west, and is l43 feet high, EN-
bracing IA sub basement, basement and four
stories on the north and south, and five storir,
on the east and west. The Pine Tree State
can boast of being the to"adation of this magni-
/ ticent building as the basement is of Maine
granite. The main structure il of Virginia
granite. The building was begun in 1871 and
is not yet completed. over seven million dol
| lars have been expended and it will require
over four millions more TO complete it, The
north, south and east fronts, however, ure
completed and are sufficient to give an det, Of
its grand magniticencc. II j., worth the TRIP
from Maine to Washington to stand in the
park across the avenue on It bright day and
view this massive granite structure As the
name indicates the building (, occupied by the
departments of the State, War and Navy Thy
State Department occupies the south W5a-.
The places of special interest in thi> wing are
the Library, the Diplomatic Reception Room
and the office of Secretary of State In the
Library may be seen many relic, of historic in
terest, including the original Declaration Of hi
dependence and the desk upon which il was
written. The Reception Room is richly finish
ed and elegantly furnished and contains fine
portraits of many former Secretaries of State,
including one of J. G. Blaine
The Navy Department occupies The east wing
The finest rooms in this wing are The Library
and the office of the Secretary of the Navy. The
walls of the Library are set with panels of mar
Bile. The books, numbering some l2.0UG vol
umes, are kept in the alcoves. In the corner,
of the room are massive bronze figures support
ing the chandeliers.
The War Department occupies the north wing
The Library is OH the third floor and contains
about $4,000 volumes. The rooms in this wing
which attract particular attention are the mag
niiCent suite of the Secretary of War, which
consists of four rooms-the Secrctarys office ,his
conference room and two private Secretaries
office and library. But the most beautiful feat
ure of the building i, the grand central stair
ways, one in each wing, which extend from the
basement to the attic. There are llOt bronzc
balusters in each and the grand ratings are of
mahogany from South America. We thought
it would be grand idea to walk to the top OF
one Of these staircases and return ON The eeva-
tor; but by the time we reached tile top we
came to the conclusion that if we We're to do
either again we would ride u" and walk ao~D.
We next visit the Treasury Department. al
immense edtice, though not by any means beau
uful in external appearance. The original
building was erected nearly fifty years ago and
the imprint of time and the work of the ele-
ments are plainly visible even OH the walls of
rugged granite The building is 80 by 2Nl feet
and consists of basement, two stories ana the
attic The original portion of the building is of
Virginia free-stone but the additions are of
Maine granite. In front Of the North Oh main
entrance to the building j, Il huge granite vase
l. feet in diameter, cut from single block OF
granite. The first point of interest is the Cash
Room which extends up through two stories
with a bronze baustraCe running around on he
second floor. The walls are paneed in foreign