The Washington critic., 1888-06-25

the north porch. The vaults are under tho
Cash Room and can be seen on 2 written ritter
ted States, whose office is in the northeast
angle ON the first floor. This permit must
be shown the cashier. who will detail
guides to take the visitor into the great
bullion chests OF the country. The old State
Department used to be on the site occupied
by the northeast corner OF the Treasury.
The Rogues' Gallery and Museum of the Sc
cret Service Bureau are on the second floor
and open TO the public, and this and the
v1ilts, including. the new steel vaults for
the storage Of silver dollars are the points
Of most interest. About $500 people are EN-.
ployed In this building.
Department OF Justice.
Immediately north of the Treasury Building
and just across the street is the Department
OF Justice. This building was originally
erected as the Freedman's Bank. The square
In which it is erected is historic one. on
the same street, at the east corner, stands
Riggs Bank, which was built for the accom-.
mediation Of tho Washington branch of the
old United States Bank, The greater part
Surgeon Generals Office. Around the corner
to the VESTS the Commissary- Generals
Office, formerly the, old Washington Club
Key was shot by siekies. The tree, under
which the dead mans body lay, Is still stand
ing, although It's bark had been completely
removed by relic hunters, At the northwest
corner OF the square, above the Commits
sary-General's Office, Is the house made IA
NOUS by the ownership of Commodore De.
catur, and where dolly Madison lived and
reigned so long a social queen after her
husbands term as President expired. sixty
people are employed IN the Department Of
Justice.
War, Navy and state Departments
This edfce. once named by a Washington
journalist the "Triune Building" occupies
the west side of the Presidents reservation,
Immediately west of the White House. The
State Department occupies the south part,
the Navy Is located north of tho State,
while the War Department occupies the
handsome structure. The most beautiful
room In the whole building Is conceded to
be the library of the State Department, with
south front, from whose windows the eye
can sweep uninterruptedly down the Poto-
mac to Mt. Vernon and TAR over the Vir
ginia hills. The building ls In the Italian
Renaissance. IL Is 561feet long and 3i3 feet
wide. Its greatest height is 1913 feet. and the
flag floating over the central portion, faunts
in the breeze higher up than any other flag
In the city. not excepting those above the
Senate and House of Representatives. The
cost of the building was five millions of dol
lars, about three times as much as the
White House. The old Winder Building,
across Seventeenth street from, the west
front OF this building, Is occupied by part
of the War Department, and In IL is the
Ordnance Museum, containing relies of the
late war, especially interesting TO soldiers.
der the Secretary Of state, SoS under the
Secretary Of War and 800 under the secre-
tary OF the Navy.
COrcOran Art Gallery.
The Corcoran Art Gallery Is at the corner OF
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth st
opposite the War, Navy and state Depart,
ment. 1t is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays free; on other days lexcept Sun:
days. n small admission fee Is charged. This
gallery, although. not to be compared with
the great Old World. galleries, Is nevertheless
xrnR oh ~ tfrft fnsc nnxryA
country as the United States. II contains
among other original objects Powers great
statue of the "Greek Slave"
The weather Bureau.
The Signal Service, or Weather Bureau, is
about one hundred yards west of the state,
Wal and Navy Departments, on g street. 1t
is one of the most interesting places in Wash
ington to. visit. The observers in charge,
when at leisure, always take pleasure in
weather"
Davy Burns Cottage.
One OF the curiosities OF Washington Is old
Davy Burns Cottage, 'on Seventeenth street,
near the river. II may be reached by the
drive south of the Presidents House or by
the Metropolitan or Avenue line of cars.
Next door to. 1t is General Van Ness, once
stately mansion, where he brought his bride,
Marcia Burns, one Of the original heiresses
OF Washington.
The Naval Observatory.
To the West of the Washington Monument,
on the highest elevation that borders the
north bank of the river, between st. Eliza
beth's Heights and Georgetown. College,
stands the Naval Observatory. The hill on
which, IL stands is famous for having been
the, camping groundof Washington Brad
dock, and the latter's army, when on their
march to the fatal field, where the English
General fell n victim to his self-conceit and
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill as
the decisive battle ground between the
District Indians and the mysterious Susque-
hannas. This observatory contains thelargest
refracting telescope In the world, nextto the
new equatorial Just built for the Lick
Observatory. BY its aid that most interest
Ing, II not greatest, astronomical discovery
of the country was made, the moons OF
Mars. The entrance to the observatory Is al
Z and Twenty third streets northwest. The
herdic cabs go to Twenty-second and
street.
The Agricultural Department.
This building is situated east of the Monu.
ment. II is inclosed by the most beautiful
and glowing flower garden In the country
and the grounds contain the most complete
arboretum probably IN the United States
Attached to this Department are the Exper
mental Gardens, whose Offices are imme-
diately west of the main building The Belt
Line cars go right western wing Is the libra
ry and the second past the grounds. Or
the first floor Of the floor OF the centre of the
building devoted to an extensive agricultu
raj museum.
The Printing and Engraving Bureau
The great money mill OF the Government IL
located at the corner of Fourteenth and
streets southwest, southeast from the Monu
ment and southwest from the Agriculture
Bureau. II is reached by theBelt Line Cars
and is opened to visitors on Saturdays only
Here are engraved and print ted the paper
money, bonds, postage and revenuestamps
etc., used by the Government.
The Smithsonian.
Across Twelfth street, Immediately east from
the Agricultural Department, are the Smith
sonian Institution and the Smithsonian
Grounds. The former Is specimen OF the
most graceful architecture In the city, and
the latter form the most beautiful Landscape
garden in the country. These grounds Of
themselves are worth a visit to Washington
to see; They contain the memorial urn te
the artist who designed the park, Andrew
j. Downing, and the bronze statue of Pro
fessor Henry, the first secretary Of the in
corner Of the building; the Downing Urr
is In the centre OF the grounds two hundred
yards north Of the east wing. The Smith
sonian isflled with the most varied and in
The building was finished 80 years ago at q
cost of nearly half million of dollars. This
sum was beQueathed by James Smithson
an English scientist, to. form an establish
ment for the Increase and diffusion of knowl.
edge among men. The current expenses
are betrayed by the interest on the original
donation. The Museum is open from till 4
and Is reached by the Seventh Street, the
Ninth Street and the Belt Line OF street
cars.
The National Museum.
The National Museum is in the Smithsonian
grounds,a few yards east of the Smithsonian
building. 1t contains thousands of the mos
in terestlng curlosties, samples of the life
customs and history of all nations. It Il
open daily to the public from a. m, to
y. IN.
Medical Museum.
The Army and Navy Medical Museum is OF
the corner Of Seventh and streets south
west, ad Joining the NationalMuseum. ThI
building was finished this year, and Is II
part occupied by clerks of the Surgeon. Gen
erals office and the hospital records of the
late war. The Museum Is on the seconC
floor and Is full of interesting surgical rel