The Washington critic., 1888-06-25
THE VISITORS GUIDE
Objects Of Interest In and About the
National Capital
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS,
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens
and other Points of Attraction.

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 1t Is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects of In.
terest which 20 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
or block-commenoing at First street west,
running west, First street east, running
east, A street north, running north, and
street south, running south: Th2 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, tho
streets being designated accordingly; those
running north and south numerically, and
those running cast and west by the letters
North and South Capitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from the Cap
itol and East Capitol street, and n continue
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 edifice
In the country. Its centre marks the Me-
ridian, 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 1897. II incloses the "orypt'-where the
remains of Washington were intended to be
placed, the Library of Congress, for which
handsome new edihce Ia being built just east
of the Capitol, across First st. east, the Ro-
tunda, the old Representatives Hal, now the
Gallery OF Statuary, and the oldScnateCham-
er,now the SupremeCourtroom 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
1851 Daniel Webster delivering the oration
Of the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. The south wing contains the
wing the Senate Chamber. The rotunda IL dis
tinguished for lts.historic paintings, 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 HAmerican statesmen--a picturesque
freak OF nature. From the little rotunda,
Immediately north of tho great rotunda, the
staircase to the top Of the dome begins It's
winding way. From the top of.the DOME or
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
3i the surrounding country = gl magnificent;
homely and formalin appearance, have been
transformed into a beautiful park and are
most exquistely beautiful The east base of
the Capitol is S9M feet above ordinary low
tide in the Potomac. The total height from
east base to the top of the temple covering
thedome Is 2SS feet; the, statue of the God.
Seisbt to the Crest Of tSe statue s fSea fee
This crest Is 800 feet higher than the west
gate OF the grounds, and 397 feet above low
tide in the Potomac. or 2is feet lower than
fho nf nant
which Is Immediately west. The building
is 751 feet long. by 324 wide, and covers 3H
acres. 1t 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 century-a
fact which adds tc Its beauty and interest.
is an imitation, though not slaylsh 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
turesque in the world and is well worth
journey OF tho usand miles to see. The
new western facade and grand stair case
CONNIE need this year has added greatly to
the appearance Of that front of the Capitol,
and is one Of the finest If not the finest
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 Fstreet cars all pass the Capitol.
The White House.
From the west balcony oi the capitol, looking
down Pennsylvania ave, the White House
Is seen rearing its snowy-hued walls above
ike S ue gigantic s Gala al % lily sprngng % np amid
enfolding green blades. Were 1t not for the
its partly Intervening. Treasury building the
view of the White, House from the Capitol
would be full and complete. The, White
House is the center of NUp-town," as the
Capitol is the center OF. 'Down town" 1t
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 copy OF
the palace Of the Duke of Leinster at Dub
lin, with the addition of a large porch on the
north front, which was added during An
drew Jackson's administration. The reser-
vation in which It stands embraces nearly
81 acres. The main entrance is on the
north, reached by the Pennsylvania avenue
cars. 1t Is two stories high on the north,
is built OF white free-stone, 170 feet long
by SO wide. 1t 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-
ing-room 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
latter part of the century used as q drying.
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams,
Is the largest and most noted room In the
building. 1t is. 2? feet high, so feet long
anu ~ Wiut ~ lb Opou W NlSllOrS every
day except Sundays. Upstairs are the
Cabinet room, the private offices, the Presl-
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
structure erected by man, and the most
imposing obeisk ever constructed. II. is
built Of marble, b55 feet high above its
cornerstone was laid July 4, 1913, and the
cap.Istone, forming the apex, was placed in
position December ., 1884. In 1t are ls1
from various countries and societies. The
total cost will be oyer $i,350,000. IL Is sit
uated in what will ultimately be beau
tiful park. inside the Monument is large
hydraulic elevator, used TO raise the blocks
of stone during its erection. When an APP
propration Is made, which will probably be
done by the Flftieth Congress, this elevator
will be fitted for passenger use, and the in
terror of the Monument lighted by electric.
ity and opened TO the public. In the apex
OF the Monument are eight windows, closed
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. 1t is In part a specimen Of the old for
NAL landscape gardening 50 fashionable in
England two hundred years ago, style
that was imported into this country. Lag.
ayette Square was one hundred years ago,
part ef n graveyard that inclosed 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 Decatur's house,
corner Fifteenth and a-half and IL streets,
and the old Club House, near which
philin RaptOn KaV kIlla1 hv nauial