Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1890-07-02
OUR NATIONS CAPITOL.
THE EDITORS OF MINNESOTA
IN THEIR ENTHUSIASM
TAKE IT BY STORM.
What They Saw Of Interest In
and About Our Nations
Capitol.
WASHINGTON AND ITS BEAUTY.

Capitol
WASHINGTON AND ITS BEAUTY.
Here we are in the most interesting and
beautiful city in America. Probably two
thirds of the editorial party Numbering
in all 1907 had never visited Washington
before. To them especially it was a
revelation. The beautiful streets, made
so by asphelt, shade trees, parks, statues;
the massive public buildings; so many
objects of interest we cannot attempt to
mention-were feast greedlly devoured
by everyone. The Minnesota delegation
in Congress had planned good time for
their editorial constituency and printed
program for the four days of their stay
was circulated by them on the evening
of our arrival, at which time an informal
reception at the Ebbitt House was held.
All of our Senators and Representatives
in Congress put in an appearance except
MIR. Dunnell, who was detained by busi-
ness. In addition to these were Secretary
of the Treasury William Window, Clerk
Of the Senate Charles w. johnson and
several Minnesotians who occupy posi-
tions in the departments. Mrs. Senator
Davis was present and her very cordial
greetings and easy manners made her quite
popular with the excursionists Secretary
Window still retains his good looks and
IS wonderfully we'll preserved for man
of his age-63 years. We will guarantee
that he is man Of exemplary habits.
Senator. Washburn seemed in good
health and spirits. and endeavored to
make every Mlnnesotian feel likewise.
In fact we were proud of every member
of our Congressional delegation.
About $50 Tuesday morning our folks
left the hotel for the White House to
keep an engagement with the grandson
of William Henry Harrison. Senator
Washburn and Congressman Dunnell
headed the procession. We entered the
East Room, and after wait of nearly an
hour the President exhibited himself to
the curious gaze of ye editor and their
wives and their cousins and their aunts.
He looks very much like his picture. :. is
rather short. stockY, wears full beard,
and altogether is good looking man. He
carries the evidence in his face of quiet,
Straightforward, honest man-and we
think firm enough to stand by his con-
victions. He is not great man. Great
men are not often elected Presidents.
Senator Washburn introduced the editors
to the Presldent-and all parties seemed
to enjoy the call. The East Room,
where the reception was held, is of the
Grecian style OF architecture, richly
ornamented. Full length portraits Of
George and Martha WASHINGTON and
Abraham Lincoln are hung upon the
walls. Adjoining the East Room is the
Green Room. so called from the color of
its furniture. Then comes the Blue
Room. furnished in blue and gold. The
next is the Red Room, furnished in red,
and used as family parlor. Into all of
these rooms we were shown. Every
room has its paintings of some of the
former Presidents and few of their
wives, the most prominent being that of
Lucy Hayes.
We next made our way to the State
Department to pay our respects to that
intellectual giant. James G. Blaine. He is
the man who is too great to be President.
He greeted US with warm shake of the
hand, and had something to say to nearly
everyone. The State, War and Navy
Building is magnificent structure; the
largest and finest of all the Department
buildings. The length of the building,
north to south, is 567 feet; east to west,
342 feet; greatest height, 1928 feet.
We next wended our way to the
Treasury Building to call upon Secretary
Window, and his big bank. The secre-
tary was very cordial, and gave all a
hearty welcome, and the freedom of the
building. The treasury is q busy place
and has about 5000 employees in its
different bureaus. BY the way, we met
in this building Miss Kate Wheat, q
niece of DR.. J. n. Wheat of Austin. She
has been clerk in the Treasury Depart.
ment for more than twenty years, and ha;
become an expert in the counting OF
money and detecting of counterfeits. In
the basement of the building we took q
look at the money vaults, made of mas.
slve iron and steel. In one of these
vaults we saw ninety three millions and
more of silver coin packed away In bags
and boxes; in another vault over forty
millions of gold coin.
Tuesday evening occurred the recep.
tions at the residences of Secretary WIN.
dom and Senator Davis, on Massachusetts
avenue, only four doors apart. Both
were much enjoyed-and the best of it
al, they were entirely informal.
Truly, Wednesday WAS the hottest day OF
the trip. But we must put IN the time JUS,
the same, and not mind the inconvenience
Of the weather. Well, We visited the