The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-13
THB VISITORS GUIDE.
THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
PARKS, Squares, Statues, Gardens, and
Other Points of Attraction.

Washington is fast becoming the most at
tractive city OF the country. As the Capital OF
the Nation II presents more objects Of interest
and brief directory Of It's prominent points
will be OF service to tho vast number Of per-
sons who annually resort to tho political
metropolis. For II Is estimated that over three
year to this city to behold the varied objects
OF Interest which so thickly stud the historic
Ten Miles SQUARE"
Tile System of Numbering Houses.
Numbers arc displayed over the entrances
adopted In Philadelphia, Is used-one hundred
numbers being allotted to each square or
AT 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 rght-hand side going from the Capitol,
and the even numbers on tho left.hand side.
o and snS
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordingly; those running north and south nu.
merically, and those running east and west by
being North and southCapitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from the Capitol
aud East Capitol street. and the continuation
on the same west Of the Capitol, running due
east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building Is tho central point OF
the original District, and Is the largest edlfice
In the country, Its centre marks the Me-
redlan Of WASHINGTON. The middle portion,
built, IT was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914, but was completely restored
by 1927. il incloses the ''crypt"-where the
placed, the Library. the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Hall, now the GALLERY OF
Statnary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the Supreme Courtroom. The old Supreme
by the Law Branch OF tho Library. The
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension-the
north and south wings--was laid July. 4,
1851 Daniel Webster delivering the Grafton
Library. The south wing contains the House
OF Representatives and the north wing the
Senate. Chamber. The Rotunda Is distln.
guished for Its historic paintings, for the
and for Brumidi's frescoiugs In the Hall OF
Statuary are tho natural pictures In Potomac
marble, representing faces OF certain Amerii
From the little rotunda, Immediately north Of
the great rotunda, the staircase to the top of
the dome begins Its winding way. From the
top OF the come, or as fur as the visitor can
Is magnificent. The Capitol grounds, which
formerly were homely and formal In appear
ance, have been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquisitely beautiful.
above ordinary low tide In the Potomac. The
total height from east base to the top Of the
temple covering the dome Is 288 feet; tho
statute OF the Goddess OF Liberty, 1915 feet,
making the total height to the crest OF the
statue 307f feet. This crest Is $50 feet
higher than the west gate of the grounds, and
a97 feet above low tide In tho Potomac, or 2 10
feet lower than the apex Of the Washington
Monument which Is Immediately west. The
building Is 761 feet long by 824 wide, and
covers ~ acres. II Ia the finest and largest
public building In the world, and In many re-
moreover the growth Of less than century
o fact which adds TO Its beauty and interest.
The original Capitol, or centre building, Is an
Imitation. though not a slavish one, OF the
west rortico at night, when the lamps are lit
In the public grounds and tho lights Of the
city illuminate the darkness, IS one of the
most beautiful and picturesque in the
world and Is well worth q journey Of a thou.
The White House
From the west balcony Of the Capitol, look.
Ing down Pennsylvania avenue, the White
House Is seen rearing Its snowy-hued walls
bowers II. like a gigantic Gala lily springing
mp amid It's Unfolding green blades. We're It
not for the partly Intervening Treasury
building the view Of the White House from the
White House is the center Of "Up-town," as
the Capitol Ia the center OF "DOwn-town."
1t Is beautifully located, tho view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
front OF the city, as the view from the north
up Sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part OF the Northwest section to the gaze.
The White House is copy Of the palace of
the Duke OF Leinster At Dublin, with the
which was added during Andrew Jackson's
administration. The reservation In which 1t
stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The main
on saS ears t%o 81 es
high on the north, is built of white freestOne
40 feet long by SO wide. IL contains on the
first door the famous Green, Red, Blue and
great conservatories. The Blue Room is the
Presidents official reception room and tho
drawing room OF the ladies OF his family. The
East Room, originally designed for a banquet
hal, and so used as late rs 1887, and In the
| latter part Of the century used as q. drying
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams. Is
the largest and most noted room. In the
building. y is % feet high, 80 feet long and
30 feet wide. 10 Is open to visitors ever
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
suitable hours.
Lafayette Square
que north from thewhite House is Lafayette
Square. the first public reservation In WASH
equestrian statue Of Andrew jackson, By
Clark Mills. Many of its trees are old
forest monarchs, hundreds Of years old. II IL
In part a specimen OF the old formal land scape
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
II. Ia nd tl.t<
are situated the Attorney Generals o!1ioe
formerly the Freedman's Bank. the Surgeon
Generals nice and Riggs Bank tboth In the
building formerly used as 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
was killed by Daniel Il. Sickles Member of
Congress from New York. The last bodies
1919.
81. Johns p. Il. Church.
st. Johns p. &c. Church, which has often
been called the State Church because more
Presidents have worshipped there than at
any other, stands at the corner OF II and
Sixteenth streets. II was built In 1915 and
Presidents Madison, Monroe. John Quincy
Adams, Though the latter was a Congrega-
tionalisp Martin Van Buren, Though he be.
longed to the Dutch Reformed Churchl HaI-
the latter was Unitarianl, Pierce, Buchanan
and Arthur. Presidents Lincoln. johnson and
Grant have also attended Divine serevices,
although not steadily. Its interior reminds
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 at
TIE front between Pennsylvania ana New
York avenues. IL Ii $50 long by 400 feet wide.
The central east portion IL built OF freestone,
rebuilt in ls30,1l. while the other parts were
commenced In 1855 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
and can be seen on a written permit given by
the Treasurer OF the United States, whose
office ia In the northeast angle on the first
door This permit must be shown the cashier,
who will detail guides To take the visitor Into
tho great bullion chests Of the country, The
old State Department used TO be on the site oo-
cupied by the northeast corner of the Treas
ury.
War, Nary and State Department.
This edifce, once named by Washington
Hat