The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-07
THH VISITORS GUIDE,
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens, and
Other Points OF Attraction.

TO the visitor than any other on the continent
and brief directory of It's prominent points
sons who annually resort to the political
metropolis For II Is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay visit every
81 interest which 50 thickly stud the historic
'Ton Miles Square"
The System of Wandering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over tho entrances
to all houses, and the decimal system; as
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hundred
numbers being allotted TO each square or
block--commencing at First street west, rum
ming west. First street east running east, A
running south. The odd numbers are always
on the right-haud side going from the Capitol,
and the even numbers on the left-haud side.
oo s city ydsa n9 snS
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordingly; those running north and south nu-
lnerIcally, and those running cast and west by
being North and southCapit streets, running
on O line duo north and south from the Capitol
and East Capitol street, and the continuation
on the same west OF the Capitol, running due
The Capitol
This great building is the central point OF
the original District, and Is the largest edIfice
rda as S0Vpry IL c'n FSs m msFfs ss %
Immediately under the dome, Is the part first
built, II was partially destroyed by the
British IN 1914. but was completely restored
romans Of Washington were intended to DO
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
REPRESENTATIVE Hall, now the Gallery OF
ia nad the ola SENATE H. c ha Sow
Courtroom, In the first story, Is now occupied
by the Law Branch Of the Library. The
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension..-the
1887 daniel ' WEBSTER asvcsns a he grafton
81 the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the House
re ne s aDa sq a M
guished for Its. historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto reliefs,
and for Brumidi's frescoings; In the Hall Of
marble, representing faces Of certain Amerij
can statesmen-a picturesque freak OF nature.
From the little rotunda, Immediately north OF
the dome begins IL winding way. From the
top Of the dome, or ns far as the visitor can
ascend, the yiewQf the surrounding country
sers Mas Gapafg gSI1ds Which
ance, have been transformed into o beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beautiful.
The east base Of the Capitol Is S0]S feet
total height from east. base to the top Of the
statute Of the Goddess Of Liberty, 1917 fe ~,
she total height to the Gre q the
s97 feet above low tide IN the Potomac, o. Sis
feet lower than the apex Of the Washington
badins i 7Si feet long By saz wide VIDE ana
covers ~ acres. 1t Is the finest and largest
public building in the world. and In many re-
spects the costlisst ana handsomes II Is
q fact which adds to its beauty and interest.
The original Capitol, or centre building, Is mn
Imitation. though not siavish one, OF the
west portlco at night when the lamps are lit
In the public grounds and the lights of the
city illuminate the darkness. rs one Of the
world and Is well worth a Journey Of a thou.
sand miles TO SEQ.
Tie White House
From the west balcony Of the Capitol, look
Ing down PennsylyaniA avenue, the White
above the dense mass Of foliage that en-.
bowers Il. like gigantic Gala lily springing
mp amid us enfolding groen blades. We're It
building tho View Of the White House from The
Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House is the center Of "UPtown," as
y shs Ssater o.
south windows covering the whole southern
front OF the city, us the view from the north
up sixteenth street west exhibits the best
The White House Is copy Of the palace Of
the Duke of Leinster at Dublin, with the
addition OF large porch on the north front,
administrator. The reservation T in WHICH, Which il
stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The main
entrance is on the north, reached by the
Pennsylvania avenue cars. It's two stories
I70 feet long BY 80 wide. 1t contsins on the
first floor the famous Green, Red. Blue and
East rooms, the State Dining Room and the
Presidents official reception room and the
drawing room OF the ladies OF his family. The
East Room, originally designed for banquet
hal, and SO used as late as 1887, and In the
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams, Is
building. u is % feet high, so feet long and
day except Sundays. Upstairs are the
Cabinet room, the private Offices the Presi-
dents Office, the library and family apart
are open to visitors, by special permission, at
uitable hours.
Lafayette Square.
Due north from thewhite Houseis Lafayette
SQUARE, the first public reservation in Wash
ington that was improved. II contains the
equestrian statue Of Andrew jackson, By
Clark Mills. Many Of It's trees are old
forest monarchs, hundreds Of years old. 1t Is
gardening SO fashionable in England two
Hundred years ago, style that was Imported
into this country. Lafayette Square was, one
hundred years ago part Of yhrayeya Y that
Church Is built, and the square east on which
are situated the Attorney. Generals ofioe
formerly the Freedman's Bank). the Surgeon
building formerly used is the United States
Bank), Commodore Decatur's house, corner
Fifteenth and a-half and II streets. and the old
Club House, near which Philip Barton Key
nj
Congress from New York. The last bodies
i i,S5 TINS s'"'s'"'a "s'' A0' ''n'0'sa un'''
81. Johns p. 70. Church.
ST. Johns p. e. Church. which has often
been called the State Church because moro
Presidents have worshlpped there than at
sseets ~ sse bSt IN g ana
enlarged In 1920. In 1t have worshipped
Presidents Madison, Monroe. John Quincy
Adams Though the latter was a Congrega-
tlonalisD Martin Van Buren, Though he be-
longed to the Dutch Reformed church, Har-
rison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore Though
the latter was Unitar'anl. Pierce. Buchanan
Grant have also attended Divine serevices,
one very forcibly OF the old, dim English
country Episcopal churches.
The Treasury Department.
The Treasury Department is east OF the
White House and extends the whole length Of
tho front between Pennsylvania ana New
York avenues. II is $50 long by 800 feet wide
The central east portion Is built of freestone,
rebuilt in is30.4i, while the other parts were
commenced In 1865 and built of granite, The
Cash Room In this building Is beau
tiful apartment IN. the. north wing,
the entrance TO which Is from the north
porch. The vaults are under the Cash Room
aud can be seen on written permit given by
the Treasurer of the United States, whose
Office 10 In the northeast angle on the first
door, This permit mnst be shown the 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 edihee, once named by a Washington
journalist the "Triune Building" occupies
tho west side OF the Presidents reservation.