The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-11-20
SIGHT SEEING AT WASHINGTON.
Historical Points of Interest at the Ma
tiOnal CAPITAL

1t was the good fortune of the writer
to Join party of seventy-fve Wisconsin
press representatives in recent excur-
sion to Washington. The trip was at
tended with so much pleasure and en-,
joyment that brief mention of some of
the points of national interest visited
may stimulate in our readers desire to
also visit the National capital. Gather
ing at Chicago on Sunday, October 18th,
the party had arranged to be conveyed
by special train over the b. q 0. route,
leaving shortly before the noon hour,
but slight accident in the yards that
disabled the locomotive occasioned some
delay in getting away. 1t was most
congenial party that filled the two Pull
mans and the utmost good fellowship
prevailed throughout the journey of just
week. A short stop was made for
supper at Tifin, fourishing town in
the oil belt Of Ohio and Monday morn:
ing found US in the mountains OF West
Virginia, where the earth yieldsits wealth
of coal and the scenery appeals to all
who love the beautiful. The heavy
grades of the Blue Ridge had all been
surmounted when halt for breakfast
was made at Cumberland, Md, whore
the head waters of the Potomac we're
met. From here on to Washington the.
B. & 0. follows down the valley of the
Potomac, every mile of which was his
toric during the rebellion when the
Union and Confederate armies pushed
and struggled for supremacy. At Har-
per's Ferry, where the rugged mountains
shut in the valley to narrow confines,
halt was made to take hurried view of
the little town. clinging to the sides Of
the hills, made famous by John Brown.
Several tablets have been erected on the
depot grounds commemorating the
events that took place there on the site
of his old fort. The ruins of the old
forts on the opposite sides of the valley,
occupied by opposing armies in war
times, are also discernible. A further
ride Of an hour and half brings us in
sight of the great white dome of the
capitol in Washington, thus making the
trip from Chicago in rs hours. Consid-
ering that the B. & o. railway runs
through mountainous country for sew
eral hundred miles, the time is excep
tionally fast. Their equipment and train
service is first class and the line is a
picturesque one to travel over.
1t is doubtful if there is another city
10 the country so interesting to visit as
Washington. We know of none where
week or ten days can be more pleasantly
spent. The department and public
buildings of the capital of great nation
contains so much that interests tourists
that Washington is always filled with
strangers. The city is growing fast
both in population and wealth and will
soon be numbered among the large cities
of the country Wealthy people are con-
tinually buying homes there and it is
becoming more and more millionaire's
town. Real estate is nearly as expensive
as in the better localities of New York
and fortune is required there now to
secure a moderate sized place in the
aristocratic sections of the city. The
Admiral Dewey home, which his admir-
ers paid quite fabulous sum for, is no
more pretentious than can be bought in
almost any other city for from $l5,O 900 to
$4,000.
The city is often called one of magni-
fcent distances, for the government
buildings are scattered about and some
times long ways apart without much re-
gard to system or the convenience OF de-
partment business. For instance the
Capitol and White House are. at either
end of Pennsylvania Ave-, mile and
quarter apart-located very similar as
regards topography as the Capitol and
University at Madison. Then again it is
at least two miles between the Bureau
of Engraving and Printing and the new
Government Printing Objective de-
partments one might think we're closely
allied. A good way to get the location
of the many public buildings impressed
on ones mind is to take trip about the
city on one Of the Seeing Washington
Observation Cars'-a 25 mile ride that
consumes two hours time. A guide &C.
companies the party each trip who ex-
plains the points Of interest enroute.
Washington has such an excellent sys-
tenn of electric car lines-all underground
trolley-that the observation car is able.
to take you on every important part of
the town. The entertainment furnished
by the lecturer in pointing out the his.
torical points, replete with standard
jokes and witticisms is we'll worth the
price asked for the ride which is SOC.
Until the new Congressional Library
was erected the Capitol building was
the biggest thing Washington had to
show it's visitors. Now however, they
pOluC W Vie lIUEdIy as VIE ulOSU ldSISulI
expensive building 10 the country on
which the people spent millions of dol
lars. The interior decorations are ex-
amples of rare artistic effects that are
nowhere else to be found on this CONT
nent and in this particular as we'll as the
modern means of convenience and utility
of the library itself, it stands at the head
of the public buildings of the country.
OF course the big marble structure on
Capitol Hill is still the largest building
in the United States Being the place
where the legislative and judicial de-
partments of great government is ad-
ministered, it has historical associations
of great interest. Two hours spent here
in the hands of guide one will gain
very fair idea of its great paintings,
statuary and the uses of this building as
part of the government machinery.
There is much for the tourist to see in
any one of the many departments. where
visitors are welcome and guides are pro-
vided to show people the ways the gov
eminent is being run. It is not our pur-
nose to 90 into details for one could