The Washington critic., 1888-06-19
THE VISITORS GUIDE
Objects Of Interest In and About the
National Capital.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens
and Other Points of Attraction.

Washington has already become the
most attractive city of the country. As
the Capital of the Nation 1t 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.
litical 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
dred numbers being allotted to each square
OF block-commencing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north, aud
street south, running south. The odd num-
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 and
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 tho alphabet, the dividing lines being
ne and due nerb d S eo Sn rSnnns
itol and East Capitol street, and 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 ediffce
in the country. It's centre marks the Me-
ridan OF Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part
first built. 1t was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914. but was completely restored
by 1897. IL incloses the "crypt''-where tho
remains of Washington were Intended to be
handsome G new cdice Is being built liz lust ea east
of the Capitol, across First st. east, tho Ro-
tunda,t the old Representatives Hal, l,now the
Gallery 81 ststuary and the oldsenateCham nm
preme Courtroom, In the first story, Is now
occupied by the Law Branch OF the Library.
The cornerstone Of the Capitol extension
the north and southiwings--was laid July 4,
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
wing the Senate Chamber The rotunda is dis
tinguished for Its. ts.historiopaintings, for the
famous bronze doors. with their bas
reliefs, and for Brumidi's frescongs. In the
Hall of Statuary the are natural pictures Of
Potomac marble, representing faces of GER
tain tAmerican statesmen--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
az ihr as tnS yst9r can ascend e the view
The Capitol grounds, which formerly were
homely and formalin appearance, have been
transformed into beautiful park and are
the Capitol Is S9h feet above ordinary low
tide In the Potomac. The total height from
east base to the top Of the temple covering
dess of Liberty, 1914 feet, making the total
height to the crest of the statue SO7I6 feet.
This crest is 800 feet higher than tine west
gate Of the grounds, and 997 feet above low
tide in the Potomac, or 248 feet lower than
the. apex of the Washington Monument,
which. is Immediately west. The building
acres. It is the finest and largest public
building In the world. and In many respects
the costliest and handsomest. IL is more
over the growth Of less than q oentury-a
fact which adds to its beauty and interest.
The original Capitol, or centre building,
is an imitation, though not slayish one,
rom the west sS porco at % night, when y'Hw tSe
lamps are lit In the PUBLIC grounds and
the lights Of the city illuminate the dark
ness 10 one Of the most beautiful and pic
journey Of a tho usand miles to see. The
new western facade and grand stair case
CONNIE nced this year has added greatly to
the appearance of that front Of the Capitol,
and Is one OF the finest II not the finest
work of the kind In this country. The cars
and herdes ,SS running % on pennsyyana ave
and the F.street cars all pass the Capitol.
The white House.
From the west paicony oil the Capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania ave, the White House
is seen rearing its snowy-hued walls above
the dense mass Of foliage that embowers It,
as asans sa lily rnng ~ amid mid
its partly Intervening Treasury building the
view of the White House from the Capitol
would be full and complete. The White
Capitol is the center Of Down town" Il
Is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole south
ern front of the city, as the view from the
north up Sixteenth street west exhibits
ME best part OF the Northwest section to
the gaze. The White House is a copy OF
the palace of the Duke of Lenster at Dub
lin, with the addition OF large, porch on the
north front, which was added during An
drew Jackson's administration. The reser-
walton In which II stands embraces nearly
81 acres. The main entrance is on the
north, reached by the Pennsylvania avenue
cars. II is two stories high on the north.
is built Of white free;;stone, 10 feet long
by Sc wide. IL contains on the first floor
the famous Green, Red, Blue and East
rooms, the State Dining Room and the great
conservatories. The Blue Room Is the Presi-
dents official reception room and the draw
ingroom OF the ladies of his family. The East
Room, originally designed for q banquet
hall and so used as late as 1887, and In the
sssr part S he Sy century M@y ssd S Ssg
is the largest and most noted room In the
building II is. 22 feet high, 80 feet long
and 40 wide. II Is open TO visitors every
Cabinet room, the private Offices, the Presi-
dents Office, the library and the family
apartments. All these rooms except the
latter are open TO visitors, by special permis-
sion, at suitable hours.
The washington Monument.
Immediately south OF the white House stands
WASHINGTON ha of
structure erected by man, and the most
imposing obellsk ever constructed It Is
built Of marble, mi oS5 feet high above Us
cornerstone was laid July7, 1913, and the
oap-stone, forming the apex, was placed In
position December 0, 1884. In It are 1871
from various countries and societies. The
nated In what will ultimately be beau
hydraulic elevator, used to raise the blocks
of stone during its erection. When an ap-
Precipitation Is made, which will probably be
done by the Fiftieth Congress, this elevator
will be fitted for passenger use, and the In
terior of the Monument lighted by electric
ity and opened 10 the public. In the apex
by marble shutters, affording an unsur-
passed view OF the city and surrounding
country. AT present no one Is admitted TO
the Monument.
Lafayette square.
Immediately north OF the White House is
Lafayette Square, the first public reserva-
tion In Washington that was Improved. II
contains the equestrian statue of Andrew
jackson, by Clark Mills. Many of It's trees
are old forest monarchs, hundreds OF years
old. II is In part O specimen Of the old for
NAL landscape gardening so fashionable In
England two hundred years ago, q style
that was Jmportedinto this country. Lag.
ayette Square was one hundred years ago,
part Of a graveyard that inolosed the
square north, on which st. Johns Church
IS built, and the square east, on which are
situated the Attorney Generals office (for-
merly the Freedman's Bank), the Surgeon
Generals Office and Riggs Bank (both In
the building formerly used as the United
States Bank) /. Commodore Decaturs house