The Washington critic., 1890-02-03
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO nEAcH THEM.

Washington Is fast becoming tho most at
tiactivc cityof the country. As the taplial nf
the Nation It presents more objects OF interest
TO the visitor than any other on the continent,
aud brief directory of its prominent points
Will be of service To- tie vast number of per
sons who annually resort To the political
metropolis. For II Is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay n visit every
wear 10 this city 10 benold the varied objects
Of Interest which so thickly stud tho historic
'ren Mllos Square,"
Tho System Of NumJeriHg Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
to all houses, and the decimal system, as
adopted IN Philadelphia, isnse1--Une hundred
numbers being allotted to each square Or
block--commenciDg at First street west run
ming west, First street enst, running east, A
street north running north. and street south
running south. The odd numbers are always
on the right-hand side going from tho Capitol,
and the even numbers on the loft-hand side
The city Is divided into four quarters or Sec
tions northeast and northwest, southeast and
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordingly those running north and south nu-
meIically, and sctunning east and west by
the letters of the alphabet, the dividing lines
being North and SouthCapitul streets, running
on Q Inc due north and south from the Capitol
and East Capitol street, and the continuation
on the same vest OF the Capitol, running due
east and west. s-
The Cdpatol.
This great building IS the central point of
the original District, and is the largest edifice
IN the country. Its centre marks the Me-
redian OF Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part first
built. II was partially destroyed by the
Srls Sy 1s1 N 1s1a put was completely restored
remains Of Washington were intended to DO
placed, the Library, the Rotunda. the old
Representatives. Hgll, now the gallery OF
~ Ff-F1 IA nj rtaff1 M
Courtroom, In the first story is now occupied
by the Law Branch OF the Library. The
corner-stone of the Capitol extension--the
1851, Daniel Webster delivering tho Grafton
OF the occasion from the balcony of the
Library. The south wing contains the House
Of Representatives and the north wing the
guished for its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto reliefs,
and for Brumidps frescoings In the Hall OF
statnary are the natural pictures In Potomac
marble, representing faces of certain Ameri.
can statesmen-a picturesque freak ofDature
From the little rotunda, Immediately north Of
the great rotunda, the staircase to the top OF
the dome begins Its winding way. From the
topo the come, or as far as the visitor can
ascend, the view of the surrounding country
Is magnificent, The Capitol grounds, which
formerly We're home y and formal In appear
ance, have been transformed into a beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beautiful
The east base of the Capitol is S9lf feet
above ordinary low tide In the Potomac. The
total height from , east base to @ the top Of the
statute of the Goddess 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
307 feet above low tide in the Potomac, or 2 g
feet lower than the apex of the Washington
Monument Which Is Immediately west. The
building Is 751 feet long by 324 wide, and
covers So acres. II Is tho finest and largest
public building in the world. and in many re-
spCcts the costliest and hahdsomest. 1t is
moreover the growth Of less than century
a fac! which adds to its beauty and interest
The original Capitol, or centre bui ding, is M
init alton, though 10 not slayish one, OF the
MaisoD Carre at Nismes. The view from The
VT st rortico at night, when the lamps are III
In tho public grounds and the lights OF tbs
city illuminate tho darkness, Is one OF the
most beautiful and picturesque in tue
world and is well worth i)nrney OF a thou
sand miles to see. ks&Sa