The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-18
THB VISITORS GUIDE.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
PARKS, Squares, Statues. Gardens, and
Other Points OF Attraction.

Washington Is fast becoming tho most at.
tractive city Of the country. As the Capital OF
the Nation II presents more objects OF interest
to the visitor than any other on the continent,
and q brief directory OF Its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number OF pcr.
sons who annually resort to the political
metropolis. For II Is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay a visit every
year to this city to behold tho varied objects
Of interest which so thickly stud the historic
Ten Miles SQUARE "
The System of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
20 all n nd he siSsa
numbers being allotted to each square or
block-commencin ut First street west, rum
ming west, First street east. running east, A
street north running north, and A street south
running south. The odd numbers are always
on the right-hand side going from the Capitol,
and the oven numbers on the lcft-hand side.
lions, northeast and northwest, southeast and
southwest, tho streets being designated 40
cordingly; those running north and south nu-
the letters OIL Of the alphabet the dividing lines
being North and SouthCapitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from tho 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 ediace
In the country. Its centre marks the Me-
redan OF Washington. The middle portion,
immediately under the dome, Is the part first
built built. II vas partially destroyed by the
by 1927. IL incloses the 'crypt"-where the
romans Of Washington were Intended to DO
placed, the Library. the Rotunda, the old
statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the Supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
Courtroom, in the first story, Is now occupied
Cornerstone Of the Capitol eItensicn-the
north and south wings-was laid July 4,
1861, Daniel Webster delivering the Grafton
q the occasion S,,ls from the balcony cf the
Of Representatives and the north wing the
Senate Chamber. The Rotunda Is distin-
guished, for Its. historic, paintings, for. the
aud for Brumidi's frescoings In the Hall OF
Statuary are the natural pictures In Potomac
marble, representing faces OF certain Amerii
can statesmen-a picturesque freak Of nature.
From the little rotunda, Immediately north Of
the great rotunda, the staircase to the top OF
the dome begins its winding way. From the
ascend, the viewof the surrounding country
Is magnificent. The Capitol grounds, which
formerly wore homel and formal 10 appear.
ance. have been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beautiful.
The east base Of the Capitol is S0h feet
above ordinary low tide In the Potomac. The
total height from east base 10 the top OF the
temple covering the dome Is 2Ss feet: tho
statute OF the Goddess OF Liberty, 1917 feet,
making the total height to the crest of the
statue 3O7x feet. This crest Is 800 feet
higher than the west gate Of the grounds, and
397 feet above low tide in the Potomac, or 2 tS
feet lower than tho apex of tho Washington
Monument which IL Immediately west, The
building Is 15i feet long S0 BY S a24 wide; and
pubic building In the world, and In many re-
y ects the costliest and hahdsomest. IL Is
moreover the growth Of less than a century
u fact which adds to Its beauty and interest.
Tho original Capitol, or centre building, Is an
imitation. though not slavish one. OF the
Aaison Care AZ Nismes. The view from the
In the public grounds and the lights OF the
city illuminate tine GarRness, Is one of the
most beautiful and picturesque in the
world and is well worth Journey Of thou
The White House
from the west balcony OF tho Capitol, look
ing down Pennsylvania avenue the White
above tho dense mass of foliage that en-
bowers II, like gigantic Gala lily springing
mp amid It's enfoldnc green blades. We're Il
no, for the rarity in r, Treasury
Capitol would be full and complete The
White House Is tho center Of "Uptown," as
the Capitol Is the center OF "Down-town."
1t Is beautifully located, the view from the
spnth windows covering the whole southern
front OF the city. as tho view from the north
III sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part Of the Northwest section to the gaze.
The White House lisa copy of the palace Of
the Duke Of Lomster Mt Dublin. with tho
addition OF large porch IN the north front,
which was added during Andrew Jacksons
administration. The reservation In which 10
stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The main
entrance Is on the north. renched 10y the
Pennsylvania avenue cars. H. !. two stories
high on the north. is built OF white free-stono
| 10 feet long by S6 wide. Itcontsins on the
first floor the famous Green. Red, Blue and
East rooms the State Dining Room and the
| great Conservatives. The Blue Room Is the
| Presidents Official roception room and the
| drawing room OF the ladies of his family. The
East Room, originally designed for banquet
hall, and so used rs late as 1887. and IN the
| latter part Of the century used as a drying
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams, Is
| the largest and most noted room in the
building. i is ~ feet high, 80 feet long and
day. except Sundays. Upstairs arc the
| Cabinet ROOM the private offices. the Presi-
dents Office. the library and family apart
ments. All these rooms except the latter,
are open to visitors, by special permission, at
ultable hours.
Lafayette Square.
Due north from thewhite House Is Lafayette
ston thas rs Il contains the
equestrian statue Of Andrew Jackson, by
| Clark Mills. Many Of It's trees are old
forest monarchs, hundredso Of years old. II Is
In part a specimen OF the old formal landscape
| gardening 70 fashionable In England two
hundred years ago, a style that was imported
| into this country. Lafayette Square was, one
| hundred years ago, part OF graveyard that
enclosed the square north, on which st. Johns
| Church 10 built, and tho square east on which
are situated the Attorney Generals oflic o
formerly the Freedman's Bankl, the Surgeon
Generals ONCE and Riggs Bank tboth IN the
building formerly used as The United States
Bank, Commodore pecatnr's house, corner
Eiiieenth and a.half and Il streets; and the old
was killed by Daniel II. Sickles. Member OF
Congress from New York, The last bodies
from this graveyard were not removed until
1910.
81. Johns +. u. Church.
ST. Johns p. E. Church. which has often
been called tho State Church because more
any other, stands at tho corner OF II and
Sixteenth streets. II was built In 1915 and
enlarged In 1890. In 1t have worshipped
Presidents Madison, Monroe. John Quincy
tlonalistj Martin Van Buren, Though he be
longed TO the Dutch Reformed church, Har
rlson, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore thougt
and Arthur. Presidents Lincoln, johnson and
Grant have also attended Divine serevices
although not steadily. Its interior reminds
country Episcopal churches.
The Treasury Department.
Tho Treasury Department Is east OF the
White House and extends the whole length nj
tto front between Pennsylvania ana New
York avenues. II Is $50 long by 300 feet wide
The central east portion ~ built OF freestone
rebuilt In 1904, while the other parts wore
commenced in 1853 and built OF granite, The
Cash room in this. building Is q beau
the entrance 10 which Is from the nortf
porch. The vaults are under the Cash Room
and can be seen on q written permit given By
the Treasurer OF the United States, who's,
Office IL In the northeast anglo on the frs
door. This permit must be shown tho cashier
who will detail guides TO take the visitor Into
the great bullion chests OF the country. The
old State Department used to be on the site oc
cupied by the northeast corner Of the Treas
ury.
War, Nary and State Department.
This ,edilce, once named By Washington