The Dickinson press., 1898-08-13

promoter of appetite and sleep.
Our Washington Letter.
After a months study of our national
capital, we can exclaim 1.-THE half has not
been told" Our visit occurred during
the dull season but this only served to
impress us with its advantages as a resi-
dence city. The time to form a correct
estimate of a place is not when it puts on
a holiday garb, nor when the elements
smile propitiously, but during the hum
drum period. We came to Washington
expecting a delightful visit in a charm
ing city and Notwithstanding the heat of
midsummer we shall n leave disap-
pointed.
In some respects Washington is unique
even among the many inviting cities of
the United States. The city was laid out
by a great engineer, L'Enfant. and on a
magnificent scale, more than one-half the
entire area of the city being reserved for
public purposes such as government
buildings, parks and streets. The plan
is symmetrical. The White House and
the Capitol a mile and a half apart, are
centers from which radiate broad ave.
nues. The streets which are laid out at
right angles t each other, are cut
obliquely by the avenues. forming many
odd shaped lots and enabling architects
to make buildings picturesquely irregu-
lar in their lines. At the intersection are
small triangular pieces of ground which
are made into miniature parks. Dotting
the city are numerous circles and squares
which are either parked or used for gov
eminent buildings. These triangles,
squares and circles are also ornamented
with fountains and with statues of emf
nent men. The browning feature is the
10000 trees which beautify the city, in
many instances arching streets through
out their entire length. On some ave-
nues there are four rows. Each year
5000 trees are planted. Viewed from
the dome of the Capitol, the scene is that
of a city built in a forest. To appreciate
this feature, one has only to visit other
large cities. Baltimore is a handsome
metropolis, but on a recent visit, it seem.
ed common place. We missed the ON
nipresent shade Of Washington and were
continually contrasting the forests of the
nations capital with the struggling trees
to be seer along the streets of the "Monu
mental City,; it was not until we drove
in the shade of the majestic oaks Of
Druid Hill Park that we felt at hom,
once more.
Great ingenuity was displayed in lay
ing out the city. From most of the cir
cles 5 or & highways radiate; there are II
from Dupont Circle, three streets running
from the Capitol and known as North
East and South Capitol streets and
stretch of public gardens on the west, di
vide the city into four districts known a
North East, North West, South East AM
South West, Beginning at the Capito
the streets running north and south ar
numbered, and those running east an
west are designated by the letters of tn
alphabet. By this system it is easy t
!. find any locality Notwithstanding tn
seeming intricate net work of highway
The streets vary in width from 80 to IL
: feet and the n from 100 to l8t
There are no narrow or crooked street
: to Inconvenience the public, nor does
: ever become necessary to widen tho
j. oughfares at great expense. Most of tn
streets are made of asphalt thus insurin
a quiet unknown in other cities, an
+ making the bicycle popular. The sui
{ urbs too have the same attractive fe;
. lures, shaded avenues and beautif,
adornments.
1t would be useless to attempt a d
/ scription of the numerous public built
ings; however, they should not be passe
S unnoticed. There is the ten million do
/ lar edi6ce known as the Capitol-th
pride of every American-containin
costly frescoes and paintings, s~tatuar
, mosaics, marble halls, corridors, rotu1
das and legislative chambers, 1t is bui
: on a commanding site known as capit'
n Hill and faces the rising sun. The Sc
sions of the Senate and House of Repr
sentatives are held in the wings. In tt
E centre is a great rotunda with its 81
r piercing dome visible from all parts
l. Washington. To the east is the marb
y Congressional Library, said to be Il
. most complete building of its kind in IL
world. To the west a mile and a half
{ the White HOUSE with its charmir
5, grounds and near by are located II
IS Treasury and the Army. Navy and Sta
e buildings, each a study in itself. With
;. convenient distances to these centers, a
the remaining great public buildings al
institutions. In the suburbs are Arlin
r. ton and the Soldiers Home, and II mil
down the Potomac Mount Vernon is st
the "Mecca" of America.
e Washington is also a city of churche
= hotels and educational institutions, son
a. of which are studies in architecture al
If many of them interesting for historic
s. associations.
:, The electric car service is ifst-cla'
There are opportunities for delightful {
cursions to the sea shore, to the mou
tains, to the battle fields and to other h
tofic spots. The population is incre;
ing at such a rate that many look for t
million mark in few decades, the lin
ng for which the city was projected. Owl
I'd to the geographical situation Of Was
!" ;roton eoc;etv has a southern cast. h