The Washington critic., 1886-09-18
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-
liiicol metropolis. For 1t 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" :"
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, street north, running north, and A
street south, running south. The odd num-
bers are always on the right.hand side 60.
ing from the Capitol and the even numbers
on the loft.hand side. The city is divided
into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest, the
streets being designated accordingly; those
those running east and west by the letters
of the alphabet, the dividing lines being
North and South, Capitol streets, running
on Il line due nerth aud south from the Cip.
itol and East Capitol street, and a continue
tion on the same west of tho Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point of the
original District, and Is the largest edifice
In the country. Its centre marks the Me-
rdian OF Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
by 1877. IL 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
the Supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Courtroom, in the first story, Is nov 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
wing the Senate Chamber. The rotunda is dis
tingushed for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
rellefs. and for Brumidi's frescoings. In the
Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures In
Potomac marble, representing faces of Ger
| tain American statesmen-a picturesque
| freak of nature. From the little rotunda
staircase to the top of the dome begins it,
| winding way. From the top of the dome, ol
| as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
| of the surrounding country is magnificent
The Capitol grounds. which formerly wer,
| homely and formal in appearance, hav,
| been transformed into q beautiful
| park and are now most exquistely beauti
| iul. The east base Of the Capitol Is S0l
| feet above ordinary low tide in the Potomac
| The total height from east base to the tol
| of the temple covering the dome is 2SS feet
the statue of the Goddess of Liberty, 10l
feet making the total height to the crest o
the statue 30i5 feet. This crest is 800 fee
higher than the west gate of the grounds
and 397 feet above low tide In the Potomac
or 2aS feet lower than the apex of the Wash
ington Monument, which is immedatel!
west. The building Is 75i feet long by 30
wide, and covers 3x acres. 1t is the fines
and largest public building In the world
and in many respects the costiiest ant
handsomest II Is moreover the growth o
less than n century-a fact which adds 4
its beauty and interest. The original Capi
tol, or centre building, Is an imitation
though not slavish one, Of the Maiso
CarIee at Nismes. The view from the Yves
portico at night, when the lamps are lit Il
the public grounds and the lights of the cit
illuminate the darkness Is one of the mos
beautiful and picturesque in the world ant
Is well worth journey Of thousand mile
to see.