Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-07
WASHINGTON AT A GLANCE
THE STARS SIGHTOEER'S GUIDE.
Interesting Points at the National Cap
ital and How to See Them-Goy.
eminent Buildings. Statues
and Parks.


scenic beauty Of the American capital When
he enters into the details Of inspection or study
OF its wonderful public buildings its products
OF artistic genius, and its numerous and varied
objects OF interest and instruction, he begins
to realize that the capital Of the republic is 9
reflex Of the grandeur OF its Institutions.
TIE STAR in order to facilitate sightseeing
visitors, has prepared for its thousands Of
readers this view Of Washington at glance.
TIE CITY OF WASHINGTON.
the capital OF the United States Of America, 10
situated on the eastern bank OF the Potomac
river at the confluence of the ARscostia, l0s
miles from the Chesapeake bay and 1876 IN lies
from the ocean. The area of the city proper
Is 6.l10 acres; 100 acres of which are public
reservation; l,l50 acres avenues, streets and
side walks. and 4, l70 acres squares occupied by
residences and places of business. The loca-
ton OF the federal territory under the Const-
tuition, originally 100, now 65 square miles. was
authorized by Congress IN 1870, proclaimed by
President George Washington in 1891, and was
defined by permanent lines, and the corner
stone was laid on April Is OF the same year
The federal city was uamed Was hington aud
the federal territory Columbia BY thomas JEFF
ferson. Secretary of State. The District was
occupied by the goyernmsDt in the fail of 1900
The building of the original structures, the
Presidents house executive manson), fed
ersl House 1.-THE Capitol) and southwest execu-
tive building. situated or the site OF the present
State department, and the early CITY, was prose-
cuted 17y2 to 1900
GOVERNMENT AND POPULATION.
The government, under act Of 1874, is BY two
civil and one army (engineers) municipal Com
missioners,appointed by the President and con-
frmed by the Senate and acting under laws
passed by Congress. The population OF the
District OF Columbia is estimated at SOC, 900,
Of which 100000 reside in the city. Washing
ton is the most southern Of all the great CAPT
tails OF the northern hemisphere, being three
degrees south of Rome. the eternal city capital
OF the ancient republic; two degrees south Of
Madrid. twelve degrees south OF London, and
twenty-one degrees south OF St. Petersburg.
The climate 10 unrivaled. there being fewer
inclsnent or. discomforting days than in any
other city in the Union. line capital is besuth ed
with 24S parks, circles and triangular open
spaces, embracing 100 acres The reclaimed
Potomac marshes embrace 700 acres, or making
l.49o acres, more park area to pop
ulatisn than any capital in the world.
These open spaces are adorned with
massive public edih:ss. statues and fountains
and unriyalse Horticultural and horticultural
display. There twsnty-ons avenues from
30 to lso feet ia width and S. miles in length
named after states in the Union, and l01 streets
from 10 to las feet in width and 2l4 miles in
length, or an aggregate OF 30 miles, beauti-
ned With parking, planted with 100000 trees
OF the hnest varieties, aud paved in the built
portions with the latest materials fully 100
miles being asphaltum. The avenues are laid
out with reference to q reciprocity of grand
prospects toward and from the public build
tngs and constitute the princip pal thorough
Il the principal crOss-city highway of trade
and traffic. Massachusetts, avenue, over
miles long. u the Inter den Linden" OF the
American capital Vermont Connections.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire avenues and
street contain the most fashionable resi-
dsnces. The water supply of the capital is
brought IS miles from the great falls OF the
Potomac by means OF aqueduct feet in
diameter and one Of the greatest works
OF the kind In ancient or modern tunes. The
structure known as Cabin John bridge" car
ries the acqueduct across a deep gorge BY q
single span of masonry 20 feet the greatest
work OF the kind In the word The capital is
well lighted by gas and electricity. The ex-
tensions being made will. in the near future,
make Washington one of the best-hgbted cities
In existence.
The street car and herdic facilities of the city
are exceptionally convenient, every section and
every public building being accessible by this
sver-ready method Of city transportation.
THE CAPITOL
The CAPITOL, open from 9 am. TO 430 D. m.
and accessible by street cars from all direc-
tons il the center Of the plan OF the city, lines
running north and south and east and west
interesting at the marble star in the crypt,
forming the four quarters into which the num-
SoEius
The mighty pile. COrinthian in STYLE is 75Ix
e24 feet and 2So feet high (dome). and covers
81 acres. or, with the architectural terrace
and grand stairway, component parts of the
structure. sIlx4S6 feet at the projection Of the
grand staircase, or eight acres in area. The
parliament houses, London. cover seven acres
The vast structure commenced in 1888
The cost to date, including the original build
ing, new wings, dome, marble terrace and
stairways repairs and alterations, is els 900 O00
fnfn of ma NV
surmeunting the dome, in 1914 feet high and
cost "a, Geo. On the eastern plaza is the colos-
sal classic figure Of George Washington, marble
BY Gresnough. lS4Z, cost $44,0 QUO. On the but
uesses OF the EASTERN steps Is heroic mar BILE
statue Of Columbus and q corresponding group,
the Settlement OF America. In inches on the
portieo are statues of Mars and Ceres In the
tympsnum of the central portico Is a high re-
lief. the Genius OF America. Over the senate
Porteo II q series OF statues representing the
progress OF civilization.
Opposite the central portico is East Capitol
street The foliage in the far distance marks
Lincoln park, the site Of the bronze group Of
Emancipation. The boarded enclosure on the
right across the park the site of the magnificent
hight granite CorinthAn structure for the accom-
mediation OF the library OF Congress. which will
cover four acres of ground. give ultimate space
for $500 900 books, cost t6.OOO.o0O, consume
eight Years IN building and will be by far the
Finest library structure yet erected by man.
The large building on the left across the park
was the temporary capitol, lSl4-ls, and capitol
prison for political offenders, IS6l-5
OBJECTS OF INTEREST WITHIN THE CAPITOL.
The great bronze door or main entrance
(eastern) TO the Capitol represents scenes in
the life Of Columbus and statuettes of his CO.
temporsries, companions aud historians This
opens into the rOtunla, which contain. the his
torical paintings OF discovery. colonization
and struggle for national independence. The
frieze in chIsro-oscuro, 500 feet in circumfer-
ence and nine feet high. represents events IN
American history, and the canopy in fre.co, $50
above, represents an apotheosis Of Washington
and allegorical scenes
Proceeding vest from the -rotunda Is the IL
brary OF Congress, which Contains 100000 vol
umes. Crossing the library hall and
Out upon stepping the western portico
. magnificent view Of the northwest
ern quarter or Official and fashion,
able section of the city may be had The
marble terrace, SS4 feet long in front and SO4
feet long on each side, and the grand stairway,
az feet wide and rising 40 in 100 feet; the
dness works Of the kind ever built, costing
esl5,OOO, lie below. At the foot IL the bronze
statue Of Chief Justice John Marshall, by
Story. which cost $4,000 On the right. at the
fennsyIvania avenue entrance, 10 the naval
monument by simmons. which cost cal. 600 and
On the left, At the Mar Wand avenue entrance the
statue Of Garfield by Ward, which cost S65,oOO
ON THI NALL
On the stretch Of park in front known % the
mall may be seen the botanic garden and Bar