The critic., 1891-01-31
THE 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 u presents more objects OF interest
to the visitor than any other on the continent,
and brief directory of Its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number OF per:
sons who annually resort to the political
metropolis. For II Is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay visit every
OF interest which so thickly stud the historic
Ten Miles Square"
The System of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
20 all nd the ihe ss
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-hand side going from the Capitol,
and the even numbers on the left.haud side.
The city y divided into four Quarters or sec &
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordingly; those running north and south nu-
merically, and thoseIunning, east and west by
being North and SouthCapitol streets, running
on a line due north and south from tho Capitol
and East Capitol street, and the continuation
on the same west OF the Capitol, running due
east and west.
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point OF
the original District, and Is the largest edltice
In the country; It's centre marks the Me-
Immediately under the dome, Is the part first
built, It was partially destroyed by the
British In 1914, but was completely restored
remains Of washington were Intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
kepresentatlyes' Hall, now the GALLERY OF
and the old Senate chaSmsor S now
Courtroom, in the first story, Is now occupied
by the Law Branch Of the Library Tho
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension-the
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the oration
OF the occasion from tho balcony of tho
Library. The south wing contains the House
e e sS Ss Rs Rssa nogh wpg S,n Inc
guished for Its. historic. paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto reliefs,
and for Brumidi's frescoings. In the Hall Of
statuary are the natural pictures In Potomac
marble, representing faces Of certain Ameril
can statesmen-a picturesque freak of nature.
From the little rotunda, Immediately north Of
the great rotpnda, the staircase to the top Of
top Of the dome. or as far as the visitor can
ascend, the view OF the surrounding country
Is magnificent; The Capitol grounds, which
ance, have been transformed into beautiful
park and are now most exquistely beautiful.
The east base Of the Capitol Is S0H feet
above ordinary low tide In the Potomac. The
temple covering the dome Is 2SS feet; tho
statute Of the Goddess Of Liberty, 10H 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 24s
feet lower than tho apex Of the Washington
Monument which Is Immediately west. The
building is 751 feet long by 32f wide, and
covers 316 acres. II Is the finest and largest
pubic building In the world, and In many re.
spects the costliest and handsomest. It Is
q fact which adds to its beauty and interest
The original Capitol. or centre building, Is an
Imitation. though not slavish one OF the
Maison Carre at Nismes: The view from the
In the public grounds and the lights Of the
city illuminate tho darkness, Is one of the
most beautiful and picturesque In the
world and Is well worth q journey OF thou
| Tile White House
From the west balcony Of the Capitol, look
ing down Pennsylyania avenue, the White
House is seen rearing Its snowy-hued walls
| above the dense mass OF foliage that EN-
bowers It. like a gigantic Gala lily springinl
mp amid It's enfolding green blades. We're II
| not for the partly intervening Treasury
Capitol would be full and complete. The
| White House Is the center of "Up-town," as
| the Capitol IL the center OF "Down-town.' '
1t Is beautifully located, tho view from the
| south windows covering tho whole southern
front Of the city, as tho view from the north
| up Sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part Of the Northwest section TO the gaze
the Duke Of Leinsfer IptD az Dublin, i'm WITH With Tho H
addition of a large porch on the north front
which was added during Andrew Jackson,
administration. The reservation in which II
stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The mair
entrance Is on the north, reached by the
Pennsylvania avenue cars. II Is two stories
high on the north. Is built Of white free-stont
first floor the famous Green, Red, Blue ant
East rooms, the State Dining Room and thu
great conservatories. The Blue Room Is thu
Presidents official reception room and th'
East Room. originally designed for banque
hall, and SO used as late as 1887, and In tn,
latter part Of the century used as a dryinl
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams, Il
the largest and most noted room In tn
building. 1t is % feet high, 80 feet long ant
40 feet wide. It is open to. visitors ever
day. except Sundays. upstairs are tn
dents office, the library and family apart
ments. All these rooms, except the latter
are open to visitors, by special permission, a
uitable hours.
Lafayette Square
Due north from thewhte House Is Lafayett
Square, the first public reservation In Wash
ingtOn that was improved. 1t contains tn
equestrian statue OF Andrew jackson, b
forest monarohs, hundreds Of years old. It I
In part specimen Of the old formal landscap
gardening SO fashionable In England tw
hundred years ago, style that was importe
hundred years ago, part OF O graveyard tina
enclosed the square north. on which st. John
Church is built, and the square east on who
are situated the Attorney Generals ofiio
| HnrlnarlV Ernnd Rnnkl.
Generals oflce and Riggs Bank (both In th
building formerly used as the United State
Bank), Commodore Decatur's house, corne
Fifteenth and a-half and II streets, and the ol
Club House, near which Philip Barton Ke
was killed by Daniel Il. Sickles, Member c
Congress from New York. The last bodie
from this graveyard were not removed unit
81. Johns r. Il. Church.
st. Johns p. 4. Church, which has ofte
been called the State Church because NOR
any other, stands at the corner of II an
Sixteenth streets. II was built In 1916 an
enlarged In 1920. In 1t have worshippe
Presidents Madison, Monroe, John QuinG
tionallst) Martin Van Buren, Though he b.
longed to the Dutch Reformed Church) Ha
rlson, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore (thoug
and Arthur. Presidents Lincoln, johnson an
Grant have also attended Divine serevice
although not steadily. Its interior remind
one very forcibly Of the old, dim Englis
country Episcopal churches.
The Treasury Department.
Tho Treasury Department is east OF th
White House and extends the whole length
tts front between Pennsylvania and Ne
York avenues. IL IL bS2 long by 800 feet wid
The central east portion IL built of freestoni
rebuilt in 1864, while the other parts WEI
commenced In 1865 and built of granite. Th
Cash Room In this building Is beau
tiful apartment In the north win
the entrance TO which Is from the mort
porch. The vaults are under the Cash Rool
aud can be seen on written permit given b
the Treasurer of the United States, who's
Office Ia in the northeast angle on the fir