The Washington critic., 1888-03-03
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects tf 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 II 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-
iitical metropolis. For II 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 ofNumbering Houses.
Numbers arc displayed over the entrances to
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, A street north, running north, and A
street south, running south. Tho odd NUM-
bers are always on the right-hand side 60
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 tho letters
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 continue
ton on the same west of the Capitol, run
ming due east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point OF tho
original District, and Is the largest edlfice
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
British In 1914, but was completely restored
by 1877 IL ncloses the "crypt"-where the
remains of Washington were Intended TO be
placed, the Library of Congress, for which
handsome new edifce Is being built Just east
of the Capitol across First ST. east, the Ro-
tunda, the old Representatives Hall, now the
Gallery of Statuary, and the oldSenateCham-
ber, now the SupremeC Courtroom. The old Su-
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 d. Ms9uthlwingsmwas laid July 4.
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. historic paintings, for the
famous bronze DOORS. with their bas
relefs, and for Brumldi's trescoings In tho
Hall of statuary the are natural pictures of
Potomac marble, representing faces of cer-
tain American statesmen-a picturesque
freak Of nature. From the little rotunda,
lmmeuldtely 0OIIH OF Ine great Iuo
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 formalin appearance, have been
transformed into beautiful park and are
most exquisitely beautiful. The east base of
the Capitol is S0l6 feet above ordinary low
tide sin the Potomac. The total height from
east base to the top of the temple covering
thedome is 2sS feet; the. statue of the God
height to the crest of the statue SO7ll feet.
| This crest is 800 feet higher than the west
gate Of the grounds, and s97 @ feet above low
tide in the Potomac; or 2is feet lower than
which Is Immediately west. The building
is 7b1 feet long by 8A wide, and covers 3x
acres. 1t Is the finest and largest public
| building in the world. and in many respects
the costliest and handsomest. It Is more
over the growth of less than century-a
fact which adds tc It's beauty and interest.
Inc an oia mita,on tbon,b ~ not ia visb ons
of the Maison Carree at Nsmes. The view
from the west portico at night, when the
lamps are lit In the public grounds and
the lights of the city illuminate the dark
ness is one of the most beautiful and pic
turesque in the world and is we'll worth a
Journey OF tho usand miles TO see. The
new western facade and grand stair case
CONNIE nceu this year has added greatly to
the appearance of that front of the Capitol,
and IS cne of the finest If not the finest
| WORK OF tne RlIu Ill TINS country. ING cars
and herdics running on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., the brown cars of the BELT system,
and the F.street cars all pass the Capitol.
The White House.
From the west balcony OF the Capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania ave, the White House
is seen rearing its snowy-hued walls above
like gigantic Gala lily springing up amid
enfolding green blades. Were Ii not for the
its partly Intervening, Treasury building the
would be full and complete. The White
House is the center of uptown" as the
| Capitol is the center of Down town." II
is beautifully located, the. view from the
ern front of the city, as the view from the
north up Sixteenth street west exhibits
the best part of the Northwest section to
the gaze. The White House is a copy OF
the palace of the Duke of Leinster at Dub
lin with the addition of large porch on the
north front, which was added during An
drew Jacksons administration. The reser
walton in which II stands embraces nearly
u 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, 40 feet long
by sc wide. 1t contains on the first flooi
the famous Green, Red, Blue and Eas
rooms, the State Dining Room and the great
conservatories. The Blue Room Is the Presi.
dents ofiical reception room and the draw
ing.room of the ladies' of his family. The Eas
Room, originally designed for banquet
nail ana so uScu as late US 1851, ana IN tnt
latter part of the century used as drying
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams
is the largest and most noted room in tn,
building. It is. 22 feet high, 80 feet loni
day except Sundays. Upstairs are thi
Cabinet room, the private Offices, the Pfesi
dents Office, the library and the famll,
apartments. All these rooms except th
latter are open to visitors, by special perms
sion, at suitable hours.
The washington Monument.
Immediately south OF the White House stand
the Washington Monument, the lofties
structure erected by man, and the mos
imposing obelisk ever constructed II !