The Washington critic., 1886-06-29
ELECTS Of Interest in and About the
National Capital,
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
ratks, Squares, statues. Gardens md
other Points of Attraction.
TIE WAY TO REACH THEM.

the Capital of the Nation it presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and
brief directory Of its prominent points
will bc of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort to the po-
litical metropolis. For it is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay a visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of in.
terest which so thickly stud the his
toric "Ten Miles Square" or these
objects the most conspicuous are of
course the Government buildings.
Chief among those is, first
The capitol.
This great building Is the central point of the
original District, and Is the largest cdliice
In the country. Its centre marks the Mo-
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 Is27. II inCloscs the "crypt"-where the
remains 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
Court room, in the first story, is now occu-
pied by the Law Branch of the Library.
The corner stone of the Capitol extension
the north and south wings-wus 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,, ana the north
wingthe Senate Chamber. The rutunda Is dis.
tinguishod for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
reliefs, and Tor Brumidi's frcscoings. In the
Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures In
Potomac marble, representing faces of GER
tain, American statcsmoh-n picturesque
freak OF nature. From the little rotunia,
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
homeiy and formal in appearance, have
been transformed into q beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely bcautl
ful. The east base of the Capitol Is s9I4
feet above ordinary low tide In the Potomac.
The total height from east base to the top
the statue of the Goddess Of Liberty, 1915
feet, making the total height to the crest of
the statue 30;1e feet. This crest Is 800 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 800 feet above low tide in the Potomac
or 2iS feet lower than the apex of the Wash
ington Monument, which Is Immediately
west. The building is 75l feet long by a2i
wide, and covers ~ eeIes, It is the finest
anu idlG'Sl puDIiS III Mpilh,
and In many respects the costlicst and
handsomest. 1t is moreover the growth of
less than ccntury-a fact which adds to
lis beauty and interest. The original Capt.
iOl, or Contre building, Is an imitation.
though not slavish one of the Maison
Caree at Nismes. The view from the west
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
to see.