The Washington critic., 1886-08-19
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens ana
other Points of Attraction.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.

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
brief directory of its prominent points
will be OF service to the vast number OF
persons who annually resort to the po.
litical metropolis For II 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 10
all bouses, and the decimal system. as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hun
drcd numbers being allotted to each square
or block commencing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, street north, running north, and
street south, running south. The odd mum.
hers are always on the right.hand Side GO.
ing from the Capitol. and the even numbers
on the left-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 line due north aud south from the Gap.
itol and East Capitol street, and a cOntinuu-
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 cdtce
In the country. It's centre marks the Mo
ridan of Washington, The middle portion
Immediately under the dome Is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914, but was completely restored
by 1877. II inClOses the "crypt''-whcre 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
Court room, 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. Therotunda Is dis
tinguishodfor its historic paintings, for the
relefs, and for Brumidi's frescolngs In the
Hall OF Statugry are the natural pictures in
Potomac marble, representing faces OF Ger.
tain American statcsmen-a picturesque
freak of nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north Of the great rotundn, the
staircase TO the top of the dome begins It's
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 We're
homely aud formal in appcarance, have
park and are now most exquisitely beauti
tul The east base of tho Capitol is sJIG
feet above ordinary low tide In the Potomac.
The total height from east base to the top
pt the tpmulp COVERING tlp donna IL DsS o
the statue Of the Goddess of Liberty, 1915
feet, making the total height to the crest OF
the, statue 30.1G feet This crest is 800 feet
higher than the west gate Of the grounds,
and 800 feet above low tide in the Potomac
or 23S feet lower than the apex Of the Wash
ington Monument, which Is immediately
wide, and covers 3H acres. II is the finest
and largest public building IN the world,
and In many respects the coatliest and
handsomcst. II is moreover the growth OF
its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
iol, or centre building, is an imitation,
though not slavish one of the MaisOn
Carree at Nismes. The view from the west
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 q Journey OF II thousand miles
The white House.
From the west balcony oil the Capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania avenue, the White
House Is seen rearing Its snowy-hued walls
above the dense mass of foliage that en-
bowers IT, Ikea gigantic calla lily springng
up amid its enfolding green blades We're
u not for the partly intervening Treasury
building the view of the White House from
the Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House Is the center Of Uptown as
the Capitol Is the center OF Down town -
IL Is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
front of the 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 copy Of the palace of
the Duke of Lcnster at Dublin, with the
addition of Il large porch on the north front,
which was added during Andrew JucksOn's
administration. The reservation In which
II stands embraces nearly ~ acres. The
main entrance Is on the north, reached by
the Pennsylvania avenue cars. 10 is two
stories high on the north, Is built of white
freestonc, 1iO feet long by sG wide. IL con.
tains on the first floor the famous Green,
Red, Blue and East rooms, the State Dining
Room and the great ConseryatOrics. The
Blue Room Is the Presidents official recep-
tion room and the drawing-room of the ladies
of his family. The East Room, originally
designed for banquet hall and SO used as
late as 1887, aud 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, IL is 2!
feet high so feet long and 40 wide. IL il
open TO visitors every day except sundays.
Upstairs are the Cabinet room, the private
Offices, 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.
Lafayette square.
Due north from the White House Is Lafayette
Square the first public reservation in Wash
ington that was improved IL contains the
equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson by
Clark Mills, Many OF It's trees are, old forest