The Washington critic., 1888-06-21

interior reminds one very forcibly of tho
old, dim English country Episcopal
The Treasury Department.
The Treasury Department Is Just east Of the
White HOuse and extends the whole length
Of the front on Fifteenth 81, between Penn
sylvania and New York aves. IL Is 5S2 feet
long by 800 feet wide. The central cast por.
tion is built of freestone, rebuilt in iss6.4i;
the other parts were commonwealth 1855 and
built of granite. The Cash Room in this
building IS a beautiful apartment in the
north wing, the entronoeto which Is from
the north porch. The vaults are under the
Cash Room and can be seen on written
permit, given by theTreasurer of the uni
ted States, whose Office Is I'm the northeast
angle on the first floor. This permit must
be shown the cashier, who will detail
gnides 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
the storage Of silver dollars, are the points
ofmost 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 Frecdman's Bank, The square
In which II is erected is historic one. On
the same street, at the east corner, stands
Riggs, Bank, which was built for the accom-.
mediation of the Washington branch Of the
old United States Bank. The greater part
Of II is now occupied by the clerks Of the
surgeon-General's Office. Around the corner
ONCE formerly he he old WashiGygton CUB
House, In front of which Philip Barton
Key was shot by sickles. The tree, under
which the dead mans body lay, is still stand
ing, althoughit 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.
m9ns by me q GEmm9Gore De
reigned so long q social queen after her
husbands term as President expired. sixty
people are employed in the Department OF
Justice.
War, Navy and state Departments
This edifce. once named by Washington
journalist the "Trune 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 the State
while the War Department occupies the
entire northern half. IL Is a new and very
handsome structure. The most beautiful
be the library of the State Department, with
south front, from vii se windows the eye
can sweep uninterrul edly down the Poto
mac to MI. Vernon nnd Tar over the Vir
ginia hills. The building ls In the Italar
Renaissance. IL is &c feet long and 343 feet
wide. Its greatest he .ht is 1SS feet, and the
flag hoating over the sltral portion, flaunts
IN the breeze higher ~ than any other. far
in the city. not exceeding those above tht
Senate and House Of representatives. Ths
cost OF the building WAS five millions of dol
lars, about three Times as much as The
White House. \ be old Winder Building
across Seventeenth street from the west
front of this building Is occupied by part
of the War Department, and In II is the
ordnance Museum, containing relics of the
IN xga all ,N,,Na tpsrt 30. a.II
One hundred people are employed here un-
der the Secretary of State, 500 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 oi
Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth 81
opposite the War, Navy and State Depart
ment. II Is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays free;. on other days Except Sun
days. small admission fee Is charged. This
the great Old World galleries, Is nevertheless
very creditable institution for so new q
country as the United States. 1t 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
War and Navy Departments, on g street. II
Is one of the most interesting places in Wash
ington to visit. The observers In charge
MHen dJ lelsuFt, always Idko pledSuT6 III
showing visitors how they manufacture
weather."
Davy Burns Cottage.
One Of the curiostles OF washington Is old
Davy Burns Cottage, ,'on Seventeenth street
near the river. IL 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 helresses
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 OF
which II stands is famous for having beer
the camping groundof Washington, Brad
dock, and the latter's army, when on theii
march to the fatal field, where the English
General fell a victim to his self.conceit aud
vanity. Tradition also points out this hill a:
the decisive battle ground between the