The Washington critic., 1886-10-19
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects Of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares. Statues, Gardens and
other Points of Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.


most attractive city of the country. AS
the Capital Of the Nation 1t presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and
brief directory of its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort to the DO.
litical metropolis. For IL Is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of In.
terest which so thickly stud the his.
toric "Ten Miles Square"
The System OF Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances TO
all houses, and the decimal system, as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hun
dred numbers being allotted TO each square
or block-commencing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north running north and a
street south, running south. The odd mum.
bcrs are always on the Iighthlnd side 90.
Ing from the Capitol, and the even numbers
on the left.hand side. The city Is divided
Into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accOrdingly; those
running north and south numerically. and
those running east and west by the letters
North and South Capitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from the Cap.
itol and East Capitol street, and u contnua-
ton on the same west of the Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point of the
original District, and Is the largest cdilicc
In the country: Its centre marks the Me.
ridian OF Washington, The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British in 1874, but was completely restored
by 1877. 1t incloses the crypt where the
romans of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives. Hail. now the Gallery of
Statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Courtroom, in the first story, Is now occu-
pied by the Law Branch of the Library.
The cornerstone Of the Capitol extension
the north and south wings-was laid July 4,
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the oratlon
of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. Tho south wing contains the
House of Representatives. and the north
wing the Senate Chamber. The rotunda Is dis.
tinguishcd for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors. with their alto
reliefs, and for Brumldis ircscOngs. In the
Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures in
Potomac marble, representing faces of GER
tain American statesnen-a picturesque
freak of nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north of the great rotunda, the
staircase to the top of the dome begins its
winding way. From the top of the dome, or
of the surrounding country Is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds, which formerly were
homely and formal in appearance, have
been transformed into a beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely boauti.
iul The east base of the Capitol is S915
feet above ordinary low tide in the Potomac.
The total height from east base to the top
of the temple covering the dome Is 2SS feet
the statue of the Goddess Of Liberty, 1875
feet, making the total height to the crest of
the statue 30i1I feet. This crest Is 800 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 800 feet above low tide In the Potomac,
or 24S feet lower than the apex Of the Wash
ington Monument which Is Immediately
west. The building Is 75l feet long by 32i
wide, and covers 81 acres. IL Is the finest
and largest public building In the world,
and In many respects the cOstliest and
handsomest. 1t Is moreover the growth of
less than ccntury-a fact which adds to
its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
iol, or centre building, Is an imitation,
though not slavish one, of the Maison
Carlee at Nismes. The view from the west
portico at night, when the lamps are lit In
the public grounds and the lights of tho city
illuminate the darkness is one of tho most
beautiful and picturesque in the world and
is well worth journey Of thousand miles
to see,
The White zEOuse.