The critic., 1891-03-07
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 tho Capital OF
the Nation II presents more objects Of interest
to the visitor than any other on the continent,
and brief director of its prominent points
sons who annually resort to the political
metropolis. For II Is estimated that over three
hundred thousand strangers pay o visit every
Of interest which SO tbickly stud the historic
Ten Miles Square"
The System of Numbering Houses.
Numbers are displayed over the entrances
70 al houses, and the decimal system, as
numbers being allotted to each square or
block-commencing at First street west, rum
ming west, First street east, running east, A
turning so Ths oGd numns are %ays
on the right-hand side going from the Capitol,
and the even numbers on the left-haud side.
The city is divided into four quarters or SEQ
southwest, the streets being designated ac-
cordiDgly; those running north and south nu-
mcrically and thoserunning east and west by
being North and Sonthc Capitol streets running
on q line due north and south from the 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 editce
redss m ns q Sogwp, E csnEs s Ss ms sSss as n
Immediately under the dome. Is the part frst
British IN 1914, but was completely restored
remains Of Washington were Intended to be
kepresentStiyes' HaIl, now the GALLERY oi
ssStstsgary sSs ana tue ola Senate CnaSSer now
Courtroom. IN the first story, Is now occupied
by the Law Branch OF the Library. The
cornerstone Of the Capitol extension--the
% 1857 daniel ami WEB %eSstsr Ssvcsns aS the Sa Grafton
Of the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the House
ne Rs RstnOa nO Sq ass sas
guished for Its historic. paintings, for tho
famous bronze doors, with their alto relefst.
and for Brumidrs fresooings. In the Hall OF
marble, representing faces Of certain Ameri,
can stRtesmen--a picturesque freak OF nature
From the little rptunda, Immediately north Of
Ss bsns m %ssn ~s 70 ns 9 tSs C
top Of the dome, or ss far as tie visitor can
ascend, the viewof the surrounding country
is magnificent; The Capitol grounds, which
ance. have been transformed into q beautiful
park and are now most exuuisitely beautiful.
The east base Of the Capitol Is s9N feet
total heiSht ron east baso iS 10 the TOP Of thS
statute oi The dod ddess Of Liberty. lB5x feet.
9shins ths ots hegSs tc the es q ths
higher than The west gate Of the grounds, and
e97 feet above low tide In the Potomac, OF g46
feet lower than the apex q the Washington
Saans aS1 fess one Sy Sa ws and ns
covers 51f acres. II is the finest and largest
public building in the world, and In many re-
pects the &c apa It. s
fact which adds to Its bssuty and interest.
The original Capitol, or centre building, Is an
imitation. though not slavish one. OF the
west portico at night, when the lamps are 1T
In the public grounds and the lights Of the
city illuminate the darkness, IS one of the
ost Wosd aDs ws woh Sa thou t
sand miles to see.
The W1its House
From the west balcony Of the Capitol, look
Ing down pennsylyania avenuo, the White
above the dense mass OF foliage that en-
bowers i: like gigantic Gala lily springing
mp amid its enfolding green blades. We're it
@ Building r the % y,sw 81 wsits House from s
Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House Is the center Of .uftown," as
IL 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
The White House Is copy OF the palace Of
the Duke Of Leinster at Dublin, with the
addition OF a large porch on the north front,
administration. The reservation in which 1t
stands embraces nearly 81 acres. The main
entrance Is on the north, reached by the
pennsylvania avenue cars, It two stories
10 feet long by 80 wide. 1tcontains on the
first floor the famous Green. Rcd. Blue and
East rooms, the state Dining Room and the
Presidents onlcial 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
latter part OF the century used as o drying
room for clothes by Mrs. President Adams, IS
building. II is % feet high, 80 feet long and
day. except Sundays. Upstairs are the
Cabinet room, the private Offices, the Presi-
dents Office. the library and family apart
ments. Al these rooms. except the latter,
suitable hours.
Lafayette Square
Due north from theWhite House Is Lafayette
SQUARE the nrst public reservation in Wash
tngton that was improved. II contains the
CLARK Mills. Many OF It's trees are old
forest monarchs, hundreds Of years old, 1t Is
gardening SO fsshionabie IL n England two
hundred years ago, q style that was imported
into this country. Lafayette Square was, one
hundred years ago. part Of graveyard that
Church ID built, and the square east on which
are situated the Attorney. Generals ofioe
Qormerly the Freedman's Bank. the Surgeon
Sans used ss g Ss usd sas
Bank), Commodore DecRtur's house. corner
Fifteenth and a-half and II streets, and the old
Club ,ta ,HCuse H. near a which Phslip Barton Key
Congress from New York. The last bodies
1919.
81. Johns r. f. Church.
st. Joints p. e. Church, which has often
been called the State Church because more
Presidepts have worshipped there than at
enlarged in 1890. In It have worshipped
Presidents Madison, Monroe. John Quincy
Adams, Though the latter was Congrega-
ionged to the Dutch Reformed Church) Har-
rIson, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore (though
the latter was Unitnrlanl, Pierce, Buchanan
and Arthur. Presidents Lincoln, johnson and
althouga 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 Of
tsA front between pennsylvania ana New
York avenues. II Is 6s2 long by 300 teet wide.
The central east portion Is built OF freestone,
rebuilt In 1s3641, while the other parts were
commenced In 1855 and built of granite, The
Cash Room In this building Is beau
tlful apartment In the north wing.
the entrance to which Is irom the the north
and can be seen on written permit given by
the Treasurer Of the United states, whose
onice Is in tho northeast angle on the first
hoor. This permit must 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. Macy and State Department.