The Washington critic., 1886-07-07
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
National Capital,
TIE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares. Statues, Gardens ana
other Points OF Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.


most attractive city of the country. AS
the Capital of the Nation il presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and a
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 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" "
The system of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances to
all houses. and the decimal system. as
adopted in Philadelphia, is used-ono hun.
drcd numbers being allotted to each square
or rblock-cornmenclng at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north. and A
street south, running south. The odd mum
bers are always on the right-hand side 60
ing from the Capitol, and the even numbers
into four quarters or sections, northeast and
northwest, southeast and southwest. the
streets being designated accordingly; those
running north and south numerically, and
lllDNt Iun1llUE tdSI anu WtSI DN Illt lclteTE
of the alphabet, the dividing lines being
North and South Capitol streets, running
on a line due north aud south from the Cap
itol and East Capitol street. and a continua-
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 ediiice
In the country. Its centre marks the Me.
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 ls27. II incloses the "crypt''-where the
remains of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the Supreme Court room. 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
tnguished for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
reliefs, and for Brumidis frescoings. In the
Hall of Statuary are the natural pictures in
Potomac marble, representing faces of GER
tain American statcsmen-a picturesque
freak of nature. From the little rotunda,
lntltulultlN llbIln vi lllt great TOllllllts llt
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 boauti.
iul. The east base of the Capitol is SDlf
feet above ordinary low tide in the Potomac
The total height from east base to the tor
of the temple covering the dome is 2SS feet
the statue of the Goddess of Liberty, 101f
feet, making the total height to the crest OF
the statue 30i11 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 39
| wide, and covers 3H acres. IL is the fines
and largest public building In the world
and in many respects the costliest and
handsomest. II Is moreover the growth OF
less than century--a fact which adds u
its beauty and interest. The original Capt.
iol, or centre building, Is an imitation
| though not slayish one, of the Maisor
Carree at Nismes. The yicw from the ives
portico at night, when the lamps are lit n
the public grounds and the lights of the city
illuminate the darkness Is one of the mos
beautiful and picturesque in the world and
is well worth journey of thousand mile
vI,a Nxry,sta Hn,an