The daily critic., 1890-09-03

hundred thousand strangers pay a visit every
year to this city 10 behold the varied objects
OF interest which so thickly stud the historic
Ten Miles Square
TIE System Of Numbring HOUSES
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
% all houses ana the decimal system. as
adopted in Philadelphia, IS used-one hundred
block commencing az First street west, run
ming west, First street east, running east, A
street north runnlng p9rth' and street south
on the right-hand side going from the Capitol,
and the even Numbers on the left-hand side.
The city is divided into four quarters or sec.
tions, northeast and northwest, southeast and
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordinRly; those running north and south nu-
merically, and thoserunning east and west BY
the letters Of the alphabet, the dividing lines
being North and SouthCapitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from the Capitol
and East Capitol street, and the continuation
east and west.
The CAPITOL
This great building is the central point Of
the original District, and Is the largest ediaoe
in the country. Its centre marks the Me-
Tedian Of Washington. The middle portion,
Immediately under the dome, Is the part first
built, II vas partially destroyed by the
by 1927. II incloses the ''crypt"-where the
remains of Washington were Intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Han, now the GALLERY OF
statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Courtroom, in the first story is now occupied
by the Law Branch OF the Library The
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension--the
north and sonth wings-was laid July 4,
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the oration
Of the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the House
Of Representatives and the north wing the
Senate Chamber. The Rotunda Is distin-
ah.aI TO- ffas afafff
famous bronze doors, with their alto reliets,
and for Brumidrs frescoings. In the Hall OF
Statuary are the natural pictures IN Potomac
marble, representing faces of certain Ameri-
can statesmen-a picturesque freak OF nature.
From the little rotuuda, Immediately north of
the great rotunda, the staircase 20 the top OF
the dome begins Its winding way. From the
top Of the uome, OF as far as the visitor can
ascend, the viewof the surrounding country
Is magnificent. The Capitol grounds, which
formerly We're homel and formal IN appear
ance. have been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exqusitely beautiful.
The east base OF the Capitol is sg}S feet
above ordinary low tide In the Potomac. The
Otal height from east base to the top OF the
temple covering the dome Is 2SS feet; the
statute Of the Goddess Of Liberty, 1914 feet,
making the total height TO the crest Of the
higher than the west gate Of the grounds and
807 feet above low tide IN the Potomac or 2tS
feet lower than the apex OF the Washington
Monument which Is Immediately west The
building Is 751 feet long by 82i wide, and
covers ~ acres. 10 Is the finest and largest
public building In the world, and In many re-
spects the Costlest and handsomest. 10 Is
moreover the growth Of less than a century
a fact which adds 10 its beauty and Interest.
The original capitol, or centre hui ding, II an
imitation, though no not a slavish one, OF tho
Maisun Carre aL Nismcs. The view from the
west portcO az night, when the lamps are nc
IN the public grounds and the lights of the
city illuminate the darKness, ~ one Of the
most beautiful and picturesque In the
world and Is well worth lourney OF thou
sand miles 10 sec