The Washington critic., 1888-01-07
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 II presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent. and
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 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 80 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
dred numbers being alotted 70 each SQUARE
running west, First street east. running
east, A street north, running north, and
street south, running south The odd NUM-
ing from the Capitol, and the even numbers
on the ieft.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 the alphabet, the dividing lines being
North and South Capitol streets, running
on q line due north aud south from the Cap
itol and East Capitol street, and 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 editice
in the country. Its centre marks the Me-
ridian of Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, is the part
first built. i was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914, but was completely restored
by 1897. 1t incloses the "crypt'--where the
remains of Washington were intended to bo
placed, the Library of Congress, for which
of the Capitol, across First ST. east the Ro-
tunda, the old Representatives Hall,no the
Gallery of Statuary, and the oldSenateCham
ber, now the eSupremeCourt.room 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 southlwings-was laid July a.,
Of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. The south wing contains the
House OF Representatives, and the north
ying the Senate Chamber. The rotunda IL dis
n, gushed for its.historio paiI4.aigs, tor the
iR.loous bronze doors. with their bas
Ms rs, and for Brumidi's frescoings. In the
>Hall Of Statuary the are natural pictures Of
Potomac marble, representing faces OF GER
tain DAmerican Statements 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
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
of the surrounding country is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds, which formerly were
transformed into beautiful park and are
most exquisitely beautiful. The east base of
the Capitol Is 500 feet above ordinary low
s Sts ss To- Fog@sS e T9s Ss q SssS rE
thedome Is 2SS feet; the statue OF the God.
dess of Liberty, 1915 feet, making the total
| height to the crest of the statue 307l6 feet
This crest is 800 feet higher than the west
gate Of the grounds, and 397 feet above low
tide in the Potomac, or 24s feet lower than
the apex of the Washington Monument
which is Immediately west. The building
acres. 1t is the finest and largest public
building In the world, and in many respects
! the costliest and handsomest. 1t Is more
fact which adds to its beauty and Interest
I The original Capitol, or centre building
| 10 an imitation, though not slayish one
| Of the Maison Carree at Nismes. 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
| Journey OF tho usand miles to see. The
| new wostern facade and grand staircase
CONNIE need this year has added greatly tc
and Is one Of the finest ii not the fines
| work of the kind In this country. The 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
the dense mass of foliage that embowers It,
like gigantic Gala n lily springing up amid ,h
its partly Intervening. Treasury building the
view of the White House from the Capito
would be full and complete The, White
House is the center OF Uptown" as the
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 exhibit!
the gaze. The White House is copy o.
the palace Of the Duke of Lenster at Dub
lin, with the addition OF large porch on th'
drew Jackson's administration. The reser
vation In which It stands embraces nearl!
81 acres. The main entrance is on thI
cars. 1t is two stories high on the north
is built of white free.stone, 40 feet lonl
by SO wide 1t contains on the first foo
the famous Green, Red, Blue and Eas
conservatorles. The Blue Room Is the Presi
dents official reception room and the draw
ing-room of the ladies of his family. The Eas
Room, originally designed for banque
hall and so used as late as 1887, and In tn
latter part of the century used as a drying
room orclothes by Mrs. President Adams
is the largest and most noted room In th
building. 1t Is 20 feet high, 80 feet lon
and 10 wide. It is open to visitors ever
day. except Sundays. Upstairs are th
Cabinet room, the private offices, the Pres
dents office, the library and the tamil
apartments. All these rooms except th
latter are open to visitors, by special permis
sion, at suitable hours.
The washington Monument.
Immediately south of the White House stand
the Washington Monument the loftles
structure erected by man, and the mos
built of marble, 555 feet high above II
base, which Is ~ feet above tide-water. II
cornerstone was laid July 4, 1913, and th
ssSneb SogSn bsSs%begg fSTeg the 3 i placed
blocks of inserted stones or copper, gift
from various countries and societies. Th
total cost will be oyer $i,s5o,0O0, II is sii
tiful park Inside the Monument Is a larg
hydraulic elevator, used 70 raise the block
Of stone during Its erection. When an al
proprstitN%n t%a is ;,,s, made ShiSh will probably
will be fitted for passenger use, and the Il
terior of the Monument lighted by electro
ity and opened 20 the public. In the ape
OF the Monument are eight windows, close
by marble shutters, affordlng an unsu
passed view OF the city aud surroundiI
country. At present no one Is admitted
the Monument,
Lafayette square.
Immediately north OF the White House
Lafayette Square, the first public reserv
tiOn In Warrington that was improved,
contains the equestrian statue of Andre
jackson, by Clark Mills. Many of It's tre
are old forest monarchs, hundreds OF yea
old. 1t Is In part a specimen OF the old fc
NAL landscape gardening so fashionable
, England two hundred years ago, u sty
that was imported into this country. la
| ayette Square was, one hundred years az
: part Of a graveyard that inclosed q