The Washington critic., 1886-07-12
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.

Washington is fast becoming the
most attractive city of the country. AS
the Capital of the Nation It presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and q
brief directory of its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort TO the po-
ltical 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
drcd numbers being allotted TO each square
or block-cofnnoncing at First street west
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north, and A
street south, running south. The odd num-
bers are always on the tight-hand side GO
ing from the Capitol, aud the even numbers
on the lcft-hand side. The city is divided
into four quarters or sections, northeast aud
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly, those
running north and south numerically, and
those running east and west by the letters
of the alphabet, tho dividing lines being
North and South Capitol streets, running
on q line due north aud south from the Cap
itol and East Capitol street, and continue
tiOn 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 ediice
In the country; Its centre marks the Me-
Immediately under the dome, is the part
first built. IL was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914. but was completely restored
by 1877. 1t ncloses the "crypt''-where the
remains of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunja, 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
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the oration
of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. The south wing contains the
House of Representatives, and the north
tinguished for Its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors with their alto
relicfs, and for Drumidi's frescoings In the
Hall of statuary are the natural pictures in
Potomac marble, representing faces of cer-
tain, American statcsmon-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
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 u beautiful
park and are now most eXquisitely beauti
iul. The east base of the Capitol Is 500
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 30i1h feet This crest is 800 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds,
and 307 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 751 feet long by 35i
wide and covers 81 acies. 1t Is the finest
and largest public building In the world,
and IN many respects the costllest and
handsomest. II is moreover the growth of
less than century-a fact which adds to
| its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
iol, or centre building, Is an imitation,
though not slaysh one, of the Maison
Carree at Nsmes. 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
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