The Washington critic., 1886-07-08

The Capitol.
This great building Is the central point of the
original District, and is the largest cdifce
in the country. Its centre marks the Me-
rdian OF Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part
first built. It was partially destroyed by the
British in 1874, but was completely restored
by 1e27. 1t incloses the "crypt'-where the
remains OF Washington were intended TO be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Hall, 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 Grafton
of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. The south wing contains the
House of Representatives., and the north
wing the Senate Chamber. The rotunda is dis
tingushed for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
reliefs, and for Brumidis frcscoings. In the
Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures In
Potomac MARBLE representing faces of Ger.
tain American statesmen-n 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
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
of the surrounding country Is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds, which formerly were
homely and formal In appearance, have
been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beauti.
ful. The east base of the Capitol Is s0la
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, 1915
feet, making the total height to the crest of
the statue 30.M feet. This crest is 800 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 397 feet above low tide in the Potomac,
or 2is feet lower than the apex of the Wash
fVn.rt Ion ht.sl IL tpnYn nnl la tn1N
west. The building is 7jt feet long by 3@i
wide, and covers 81 acres. 1t Is the finest
and largest public building In the world,
and in many respects the .costliest and
handsomest. IL Is moreover the growth of
less than century-a fact which adds to
It's beauty and interest. The original Capt.
lol, or centre buildhg, is an ation,
though not savish one of the Maison
portico at night, when the lamps are lit In
the public grounds and the lights of the city
illuminate the darkness Is one of the most
beautiful and picturesque In the world and
Is well worth journey of thousand miles
The white House.
From the west balcony oi the capitol, lookins
down Pennsylvania avenue, the Whitg
House Is seen rearing It's snOwy-hued wallc
above the dense mass of opening that en-
bowers 1t, like a gigantic Gala lily springing
up amid its enfolding green blades. Were
il not for the partly Intervening Treasury
the Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House Is the center of "uptown,n as
the Capitol Is the center of Down town.
II Is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
front ofthe city, as the view from the north
up Sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part OF the Northwest section to the gaze
The White House Is a copy of the palace of
the Duke of Leinster at Dublin, with the
addition of a large porch on the north front,
which was added during Andrew jackson 5
administration. The reservation in which
1t stands embraces nearly II acres. The
main entrance is on the north, reached by
the Pennsylvania avenue cars. IL Is two
stories high on the north Is built OF white
free.stone, 110 feet long by SO wide. II con.
tains on the first floor the famous Green,
Red, Elue and East rooms, the State Dining
Room and the great conseryatOries. The
Blue Room Is the Presidents official reCep-
tion room and the edrawing-room of the ladies
of his family The East Room, originally
designed for banquet hall and so used us
late as 1887, and in the latter part of the
century used AS drying-room for clothes
by Mrs President Adams, Is the largest and
most noted room in the building, II Is ,.
feet high, 50 feet long and 10 wide, II Is
open to visitors every day except sundays
Upstairs are the Cabinet room, the private
oiices. the Presidents office, the library
and the family apartments All these
rooms except the latter are open to visitors
by special permission, at suitable hours.