Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-14
DEPARTMENT EMBLEMs.
For Guidance Of Visitors to the State,
War and Navy Building.

war anu NAVY ADNAoAn8s
It is no uncommon thing for visitors TO the
great State, War and Navy building to lose
their bearings when they get inside and wander
around In search of information on the subject
of which department. they are In. Not
long ago q part of this problem was
solved by the introduction into the cor
ridors of the Navy department of half
a dozen models Of the new men-of-war, thus
giving to those precincts peculiar stamp, Q
sort Of local color, as it were, that eliminates
all doubts in the minds Of visitors who en-
counter the glass cases. They also serve the
double purpose Of giving the public an excel
lent idea Of the recent progress in naval
affairs.
Capt Williamson, the superintendent Of the
building, has been considering the advisability
of extending the system of distinguishing to
the War department and recently sug-
gested to Secretary Procto. a few ideas
in that line which the Secretary i'm
mediately approved and which were
partially carried into effect this morning. In
the wall space between the doors leading into
the Secretarys suite Of rooms on the second
floor. west front, are draped in graceful folds a
set OF flags, including national and an infantry
regimental standard, and three smaller flags
belonging to the cavalry arm of the service. 1t
branches-infantry, cavalry and artillery-but
the flags of the artillery that were obtainable
were so poor in quality that they were not
used.
MILITARY MODELS.
On the floor along the staircase railing stand
small models of field pieces, guns and csissons,
and in corresponding positions on the first
floor at the west entrance are other guns
and cases, showing the construction OF
the various kinds of shot and she'll There are
also two stands containing pistols. showing the
growth and development of that weapon At
the north door Of the building the large clock
is also draped in characteristic flags, and sew
eral small models stand near to give martial
tone to the atmosphere. These models are
used only temporarily, being the
REMNANTS OF THE ARMY MUSEUM
that once had its home in the winder building
on the other side of 18th street Orders have
been given to the national armories to make q
set of modern models more suitable for ex-
hibition. and also set of cases showing the
evolution Of the musket and the rifle.
Gen. Benet has promised Capt Will
hanson the loan Of a couple Of brass
guns presented by Gen. Lafayette to this
government. As these trophies have no car
riages they will be mounted on blocks and
placed on the fiat stones of the west entrance.
Capt Williamson hopes to be able to obtain
two more similar guns for use on the
stones Of the north door, thus
giving the entire War department
a mark that will distinguish it Immediately.
He also intends to try to persuade the Secre-
tary of the Navy to loan him a couple Of
anchors to be placed on the steps of the Navy
department at the east entrance.
FLAGS FOR THE FOUR DoMEs.
There was at one time a scheme on foot to
place characteristic flags on the four domes of
the building, each one bearing representa-
ton of the seal Of the department or some
other distinguishing device to indicate the
location Of the three great divisions. Over
the north door was to fly the national
emblem. This plan received the approval OF
the then Secretaries Of State, War and the
Navy and an order was sent out for a set of the
flags. When they came from the manufac-
turer. however. they were found to be so badly
made that they had to be rejected. No one
could be discovered willing to undertake to
manufacture a set to the satisfaction OF the de-
partms hts, and the plan was consequently
abandoned
THE STATE DEPARTMENTS GREAT GLOBE.
In the State department there can be no dis
tinguishing signs or landmarks used beyond
the immense globe of the world which, stand
ing at the south entrance, at once impresses
the visitor with a sense of the universally of
the business of the department