Sc ijv «iA .'x-i, - .. ^i •^^ A^ 'V -^^ .^^ S^m- -%■ <^ ♦> .V » I 1 .0" V '..^* :'M&\..^^^' V. " « . -^ O,^ ^•^^ .%^" -'^M v^ ^^v-^,^ ^ • /\. 1 'L i J EA6LE LIBRARY HOTEL ST. GEORGE Clark Street Brooklyn Heights New York One of the largest and finest Hotels in the United States. Fifteen min- utes from City Hall, New York. European Plan, $1.00 and up American Plan, $2.50 and up Excellent table d'hote served every even- ing, $1.00 SEND FOR DESCRIPTIVE BOOKLET A HANDBOOK igational Capital EIGHTH EDITION PUBLISHED BY THE :^ROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE VOL. XXV. No. 4, Serial No. 77 ENTERED AT THE BROOKLYN-NEW YORK POST QFFICl AS SECOND CLASS MATTER April, 1910 THE ORIGINAL "SEEING" Washington Automobiles A magnificent tour through the city's business, residential and historical section, concluding with an exhilarating dash through the beautiful parks. Every Hour on the Hour Fare, $1.00 PUBLIC BUILDINGS A personally conducted tour through the interior of the Government Buildings, with guide in attend- ance. All guide fees admissions, etc., included. Three Times Daily Fare, Each Tour, 9 and 10 A.M., and IP. M. $1.50 ARLINGTON ® VIRGINIA SUBURBS A ride through historic Georgetown, into the "Old Dominion "; Forts Meyer and McPherson ; the old home of- Custis and Lee ; the National Cemetery. Three Times Daily Fare, $1.50 10 A.M., 2 and 4 P.M. Main Office and Starting Point HOME LIFE BUILDING Corner 15th and Q Streets, N. W. Opposite U S. Treasury Phone Main 3019 WashingtOIl, D. C. CAR WILL CALL AND CONVEY YOU TO STARTING POINT . . Touring Cars and Taxicabs for Hire i^evy WASHINGTON BUREAU, BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE ind:^x. A PAGE Agricultural Department . . 40 Alexandria and Vicinity... 45 Ancient Octagon House . . 22 B Bathing Beach 41 Brooklyn Eagle Information Bureau 5i-S4 Bureau of American Re- publics 23 C Capitol 34-38 Cavalry Station at Fort Meyer, Va 44 Churches 14, 15 Clubs IS, 16 Colleges and Universi- ties 15 Congressional Library ...29-33 Continental Hall of D. A. R. 22, 22 Corcoran Art Gallery ..21, 22 D Dead Letter Office 27 E Eagle Bureau at the Na- tional Capital s, 6 Eagle (The) in Washington. 6-8 Early History and Popula- tion 8, 9 F Fish Commission 39 From Washington to Bal- timore by Water ....10, 11 H Hotels 11-12 L Lincoln Museum 42 M • PAGE Marine Band Concerts.... 41 Mount Vernon by Steamer. 45 N National Museum and Smithsonian Institution. 39, 40 Naval Observatory 42 Navy Yard 41 Newspapers 16 P Parks 17 Patent Office 29 Popular Drives About Su- burbs .42-44 Potomac River and Ches- apeake Bay Resorts .44, 45 R V. Railroads to and from Washington 9, 10 Rates for Hire of Cabs, Hacks, etc 46 Rules of Admission to Public Buildings 40 S Seeing Washington Autos 18-20 State, War and Navy Building 21 T Table of References 47-49 Theatres 14 Treasury Department ..25, 26 u Uncle Sam's Money Fac- tory 24 W Washington Monument. 23, 24 Washington Speedway 18 White House 20 WASHINGTON, the nation's capital, is every year becoming more and more a Mecca for sightseers, business men and politicians. Its attractive climate, particularly during the winter months, renders it especially available as a health resort; and its being the seat of the national government attracts to it large numbers of persons who are interested in legislation, politics and af- fairs. It stands at the gateway of the various lines of railroads leading to the South, and overland pas- sengers to Florida and the West Indies pass through the city on their way to their destinations. The Wash- ington of to-day is acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and every patriotic Ameri- can makes a point of seeing it at some time or other. Its museums and public buildings, its wide and beau- tifully paved streets, its numerous churches and ex- cellent theaters and stores give to it a great advantage over other cities. It is the special delight of newly married couples and a sort of rounding-up place for American and foreign travelers. There is hardly a hotel register in this country or abroad upon which cannot be found the name of some Brooklyn visitor. Thousands of them come to Washington every year, and they all read the Eagle and want to have their home paper within reach. For this reason the Eagle, always alert in the interests of its patrons, anxious at all times to aid them in their search for pleasure and in the prosecution of their business, has established a Bureau at the National Capital, in one of the most central and available parts of the city. This Bureau is open all day and late each evening, and contains the files of • 6 A Handbook to the National Capital. the Brooklyn, Washington and New York papers, the Brooklyn, New York and Washington directories, long- distance telephone, special messenger and telegraph serv- ice, and other necessary adjuncts of a complete branch office. The Bureau is in charge of Mr. Harris M. Crist, whose long service with the Eagle has made him personally acquainted with many of its readers, and it will afford him pleasure at all times to render any service in his power to whoever may call. All Brook- lynites visiting the capital should register at the Washington Bureau of the Eagle, for their names are telegraphed to the paper daily, and their friends at home will in this way be informed of their safe arrival. Visitors are invited to make the Eagle Bureau their headquarters while in the city and to have their letters and telegrams sent in its care. THE EAGLE IN WASHINGTON. The Brooklyn Eagle is on sale every day of its pub- lication at the principal hotels in the city, and at the Eagle Bureau. The management of the Eagle, by a special arrangement with one of the large express com- panies, is able to afford to the readers of the paper visit- ing Washington an opportunity of securing the Eagle at the National Capital on the day of its issue. The paper is brought to Washington on one of the fast trains of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and reaches the city at about 9 o'clock every night. A special bicycle messenger meets the train on its arrival and distributes the Eagle to the different hotels and clubs throughout the city, so that Brooklynites attending the Washington theaters will always find the Eagle at the news stands of their re- spective hotels on their return from the play houses. Trie. ^APi i uL 8 A Handbook to the National Capital. The Sunday edition is also delivered by a special mes- senger on the day of publication, and is for sale at the different hotels by noon. EABLY HISTORY AND POPULATION. The corner-stone of the District of Columbia was laid April IS, 1 791, at Hunter's Point, just south of Alex- andria, Va. Washington City proper is about fourteen miles in circumference. It covers 6,111 acres, and con- tains about nine and a half square miles. It has over two hundred and fifty miles of streets, which are from eighty to one hundred and twenty feet wide, and sixty- five miles of avenues, which are from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and sixty feet wide, and over eighty per cent, of its streets and avenues are paved. They are also swept by machinery, so that they are kept as clean as the best sidewalk. More than 70,000 shade trees line its thoroughfares. To show the great growth and improvements made in the city since 1800 it is only necessary to state that when the seat of Gov- ernment was transferred from Philadelphia to Washing- ton in October, 1800, the whole force of clerks employed was only fifty-four, and all of the books and papers were placed in seven small boxes and five large ones, and they were all brought over in one packet sloop. Fish were hauled in seines where the Center Market now stands, on Pennsylvania avenue, between Seventh and Ninth streets, and Washington was then facetiously called "The Wilderness City ;" but it is now one of the best governed municipalities in the United States, as well as one of the grandest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world. On February 21, 1871, an Act of Congress was passed, declaring that all that part of the territory of the United States included within the limits of the District of A Handbook to the National Capital. 9 Columbia should be created into a government by the name of the said district, and that the executive power and authority in and over the same should be vested in a Governor, who should be appointed by the President; and the legislative power to be vested in a legislative as- sembly. Under this act the President appointed Henry D. Cooke, Governor, who resigned September, 1873, when Alexander R. Shepherd was appointed his suc- cessor, and remained in office until June, 1874, when the Act of February, 1871, was amended by abolishing this form of government and vesting the authority temporar- ily in three commissioners. To the great energy and good judgment of Alexander R. Shepherd this city is mainly indebted for the rapid strides and improvements which have been made since 1869. The growth of the District in population during the past thirty years has been rapid. In i860 the total population was 75,080. According to the census of 1900 it was 278,718. There is also at all times a large floating population, which, during the height of the Congres- sional or gay season, must add at least 20,000 people. RAILROADS TO AND FROM WASHINGTON. Although several weeks can be easily passed in Wash- ington in sight seeing, a great deal can be accomplished in three or four days. Both the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore & Ohio railroads run fast five-hour trains from Jersey City to the Capital every day, with dining cars attached to them, the regular rate of fare being $5.65 for a single fare and $10 for a round trip excursion ticket, good for ten days after date stamped thereon. The Congressional Limited, on the former line, is prob- ably one of the most famous special trains in the world. It is composed exclusively of Pullman cars, provided with every convenience for comfort and luxury. 10 A Handbook to the National Capital. At Washington connection can be made with the Washington-Southern and the Richmond, Fredericks- burg and Potomac Railways, through Fredericksburg and Richmond, and thence over the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard Air Line or the Southern Railway for points in the South, including the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Direct connections are also made at Wash- ington with the Southern Railway for points in Vir- ginia, North Carolina, including the "Land of the Sky" in the Sapphire Country, and thence through Charlotte, Columbia, and Savannah to Florida points ; also from Charlotte through Spartanburg, Greenville and Atlanta, continuing through Montgomery and Mobile to New Orleans ; also from Atlanta through Birmingham to Memphis. This road operates three or four fast limited trains with sleeping and dining cars, each way daily. Connections are also made here with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, operating fast trains through Char- lottesville and Staunton, Hot Springs, and other re- sorts in West Virginia and on through Cincinnati to Louisville, St. Louis and Chicago. The Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line make connections at Florida ports for Key West and Havana. Brooklynites desiring to visit the capital and wishing further infor- mation in regard to the hotels and boarding houses of the city, the railroads, government departments and the winter and summer resorts accessible to the capital, can receive all necessary information by addressing the Eagle, Washington Bureau, 608 14th Street. FROM WASHINGTON TO BALTIMORE BY WATER. A pleasant all water trip from Washington to Balti- more may be taken on the boats of the Maryland, Dela- I A Handbook to the National Capital. H ware & Virginia Railway Company. They leave Wash- ington every other day and the trips take two nights and one day of travel. The journey is along the wind- ing Potomac and the picturesque Patapsco and stops are made at river landings where interesting glimpses may be had of rural life in Maryland. Baltimore may be reached by electric cars also. Cars leave Fifteenth Street and New York Avenue, directly in front of the Treasury Building, every half hour, beginning at 5-30 A. M., until midnight. The schedule time for the trip is 90 minutes and the fare $1.50 round trip. ^ Annapolis may be reached by the same line. Cars leave the same point every half hour and the round trip is $1.50. HOTELS. The hotels of Washington compare favorably with those of any of the principal cities of the country. There are all grades of them here, and board can be obtained at almost any price. Considering the fact that the big hotels have to keep open during the dull summer months at a heavy cost, their rates may be considered moderate. Among the principal hotels of the city are the fol- lowing : Shoreham— Fifteenth and I streets;, one of the leading and fashionable hotels of the city, having a lofty, handsome, hre- proof building, with every convenience for luxurious living in a central location; especially adapted for theater parties and dinners; European plan, $2 per day and up; American plan, $4 and $5 per day. WiLLARDS— Fourteenth and Pennsylvania avenue; a new and first-class hotel; European plan. Raleigh— Pennsylvania avenue and Twelfth street; one of the new hotels; fire-proof throughout; European plan; rates: single room, $1.50 per day, or $10 per week; double rooms, ^ $3 per day, or $20 per week; rooms, with private bath, y^ $21 per week. 12 A Handbook to the National Capital. Gordon — Sixteenth and I streets; an extensive and comparatively new hotel; both European and American plan; terms, special. Arlington — Lafayette square; one of the oldest and best-known hotels in the city; rates, $5 per day. Ebbitt — F street, corner of Fourteenth; makes a specialty of entertaining Army and Navy men and their families; rates, $4 per day; $21 per week and up. La Normandie — Fifteenth and I streets; a well-established hotel; rates: European, $1.50 and up; American, $3.50. Cochran — Fourteenth and K streets; a modern hotel, oppo- site Franklin Park; rates: room and bath, $4, $4.50 and $5 per day; $28 and $31.50 per week. Dewey — L street, near Fourteenth; a good, comfortable hotel; opened in 1899; rates, special. RiGGS House — Fifteenth and G streets; one of the best of the old-fashioned hotels in the city; rates, $3 per day and up. Metropolitan — Pennsylvania, near Sixth street; popular with politicians and southern members of Congress; American plan, $2.5o to $4 per day; $17.50 to $21 per week; Euro- pean, $1 to $3 per day. Hamilton — Fourteenth and K streets; long established and well known as a family hotel; rates, $2.50 per day up; American plan only; special by the week. Cairo — Q, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets; well appointed, quiet, but good hotel; rates, $3.50 per day and up; American plan only. Driscoll — First and B streets; modest and comfortable; small hotel, near Capitol; rates: American plan, $3 a day; European, $1.50. Highlands — Connecticut and California avenues; handsome hotel, in northwest residence section; rates: American plan, $5 a day; European, $3, apartment. Stoneleigh Court — Connecticut Avenue and L street; hand- some apartment house, built by John Hay. Rates: Euro- pean, $6 a day, two-room apartment. Grafton — Connecticut avenue, near M street; good and quiet small hotel; rates: American plan, $3 a day and up. National — Pennsylvania avenue, near Sixth street; patronized especially by Southern politicians; terms: European, $1 and up; American, $2.50. Johnson — Patronized almost entirely by men; European plan, $1. Richmond — Seventeenth and H streets; rates, American, $3 a day and up; European, $1.50 a day and up. The following may be termed quiet, family hotels, where the accommodations and rates are reasonable; Bancroft — Eighteenth and H streets; rates, $3. Fredonia — H street, near Thirteenth; $2.50 and up. Buckingham — 918 Fifteenth street; $2.50 and up. 14 A Handbook to the National Capital. THEATEKS. Theatergoers will find four good houses at Washing- ton worthy of their patronage. The principal theater at the Capital is the New National, of which Mr. William H. Rapley has been for many years the proprietor and manager. It is a large and commodious playhouse, and is visited regularly during the season by the best attrac- tions of the country. This theater presents foreign and native stars during each season. The Columbia is a modern, fire-proof theater, located on F street, the main business thoroughfare of the city. It plays high-class attractions and stands well with local theater- goers. David Belasco has purchased the Lafayette Square Opera House, and here presents his stars to Washington theatergoers. This theater is located on the grounds formerly occupied by the residence of the late James G. Blaine. The New Grand Theater is de- voted exclusively to vaudeville. CHURCHES. The following are the representative places of wor- ship. The hours of service are usually ii A.M. and 7.30 P. M. Baptist — (Calvary) — H and Eighth streets. Christian — (Disciples of Christ) — Vermont avenue, between N and O streets. Congregational — (First) — G and Tenth streets. Episcopal, Protestant — (Epiphany) — G, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. St. John's — Sixteenth and H streets. Friends' Society (Hicksite) — Meeting house, I, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets. German Reformed— (First)— Sixth and N Streets. German —Sunday morning. Grace — (The President's Church) — Fifteenth and O streets. Hebrew — (Washington Congregation) — Eighth, between H and I streets. Fridays, sundown, Sabbath (Saturdays), 9 A. M. Independent — (The Tabernacle) — Ninth, between B and C streets, S. W. A Handbook to the National Capital. 15 Lutheran— (Concordia)— Twentieth and G Streets. The oldest congregation in Washing^ton; organized in Funkstown, 1768. Memorial — Fourteenth street and Vermont avenue. Methodist Episcopal — Foundry, Sixteenth, near Q street. Metropolitan — C and Four-and-a-half streets. Mount Vernon Place (South) — K and Ninth streets. Methodist Protestant — Twelfth and M streets. Presbyterian — (Covenant) — Connecticut avenue, N and Eight- eenth streets. First — Four-and-a-half, between C and D streets. New York Avenue — H, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets. Roman Catholic— (St. Aloysius) — N, Capitol and I streets. St. Matthew's — Rhode Island and Connecticut avenues. Swedenborgian — (New Jerusalem) — Sixteenth and Corcoran streets. Unitarian — (Church of All Souls) — L and Fourteenth streets, Universalist — (Church of Our Father) — L and Thirteenth streets. COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Washington is rapidly becoming the great educational center of the United States, as the following list of its principal universities and colleges will show : Catholic University of America — Corner Lincoln avenue and Fourth street, east-extended. Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb— Kendall Green, M street and Boundary, N. E. George Washington University — Fifteenth and H streets, N. W. Georgetown University — Head of O street, N. W. Howard University — Seventh street, above Florida avenue. National College of Pharmacy — 808 I street, N. W. National University — Thirteenth, between H and I streets, N. W. Nurses' Directory — 1448 Rhode Island avenue. St. John's College — Vermont avenue and Thomas Circle. Gonzaga College — 47 I street, N. W. National University Dental College — Eighth street, corner K, N. W. CLUBS. There are many excellent clubs in Washington, and club life is seen here at its best. Among the principal ones may be mentioned the Metropolitan, the Army and Navy, the Cosmos, where the scientists and men of 16 A Handbook to the National Capital. learning make their headquarters ; the Country Club, the Century Club, and the Chevy Chase Hunt Club. This latter is a flourishing organization, whose mem- bership is made up of fashionable people who are fond of sports. The Hunt Club owns a well-appointed house at its extensive grounds in Chevy Chase, just beyond the city limits. Every spring and fall elaborate fox and paper chases are given, in which residents of this city, New York and Philadelphia participate. The Dumbarton Country Club, with a very comfortable club house in Georgetown, is a new and popular organi- zation. There are a great many Golf Clubs in Washing- ton including the Columbia, Chevy Chase, Washington ind Bannockburn. NEWSPAPERS. The newspapers of the Capital have kept pace with its marvelous growth and prosperity. To-day it boasts of several papers that rank with the best in the country. On Pennsylvania avenue, near Fourteenth street, may be seen the big white stone building occupied by the Washington Post, a. daily morning paper, with a large and growing circulation. The Washington Times owns a large building almost immediately adjoining that of' the Post, and publishes a wide-awake evening paper. The Washington Evening Star, one of the most valu- able newspaper properties in America, occupies a fine building on Pennsylvania avenue at the corner of Eleventh street. The latest daily paper to be established here is the Herald, under capable management. Its home of publication is on 15th Street, between Penn- sylvania avenue and F street. In addition to these a number of bright weekly papers are published, devoted to society, finance and the drama. A Handbook to the National Capital. I'J' THE FABES. Washington has previously been called a city of parks, and it well deserves the name, for these beautiful breath- ing spots are scattered all over the city and greatly add to its attractiveness. Among the principal ones are the following : Armory Square — Sixth to Seventh streets, between B street, N. W., and B street, S. W. Botanical Garden — From First to Third streets, between Penn- sylvania avenue, N. W., and Maryland avenue, S. W. DupoNT Circle — Nineteenth and P streets, and Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues, N. W. Executive Mansion Grounds — From Pennsylvania avenue to B street, between Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets, N. W. Farragut Square — Seventeenth street, between I and K streets, N. W. Folger Square — D street, between Second and Third streets, S. E. Franklin Square — Between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets and I and K streets. N. W. Garfield Park — From S. Capitol to Third, below E street, S. E. lowA Circle — Thirteenth and P streets and Vermont and Rhode Island avenues, N. W. Judiciary Square — From Indiana and Louisiana avenues to G street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, N. W. Lafayette Square — Between Pennsylvania avenue and H street and Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets, N. W. Lincoln Square — E. Capitol, between Eleventh and Thirteenth streets. McPherson Square — Fifteenth, between I and K streets, N. W. Marion Park — South Carolina avenue, between Fourth and Sixth streets. S. E. Mount Vernon Place — K, between Seventh and Ninth streets, N. W. Rawlings Square — East and North Seventh avenue, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets, N. W. Scott Circle — Sixteenth and N streets and Massachusetts and Rhode Island avenues. Seaton Park — From Third to Sixth streets, between Missouri and Maine avenues, N. W. Seward Place — Pennsylvania and North Carolina avenues, be- tween Fourth and Sixth streets, S. E. Smithsonian Park — From Seventh to Twelfth streets, between B street, N. W., and B street, S. W. Stanton Place — Maryland and Massachusetts avenues, from Fourth to Sixth streets, N. E. The Mall — From Seventh to Fourteenth streets, between B street, N. W. and S. W. Thomas Circle — Fourteenth and M streets and Vermont and Massachusetts avenues, N. W. 18 A Handbook to the National Capital. WASHINGTON SPEEDWAY. A speedway winding along the banks of the Potomac for a distance of three or four miles, west from the Washington Monument, affords splendid opportunity for driving, riding and motoring. During the warm months open air concerts are given Wednesday and Saturday afternoons when the speedway is filled with carriages and automobiles with the leading folks of gay society. SEEING WASHINGTON AUTOS. A quick and convenient method of seeing Washington is provided in the Seeing Washington Automobiles. A station is maintained at the corner of Fifteenth and G streets, two blocks from the Eagle Bureau and di- rectly in front of the Treasury Building. Automobile cars, equipped with well-informed guides, leave this point for tours around the city every hour from lo a. m. to 4 p. m. Fare, $i. The same company runs sightseeing autos to Arling- ton, in Virginia. Fare, $1.50. Still another trip takes in the sights of the city with a guide to conduct parties through the public buildings. Fare, $1.50. For the convenience of those visiting Washington, the Eagle gives a list, in this little hand-book, of the principal sights worth seeing. Starting from the Eagle Bureau, at 608 Fourteenth street, situated near the corner of this thoroughfare and F street, the tourists, following the instructions of the Hand-Book, will, in three minutes' walk, find them- selves at the President's Square. This is a good starting 30 A Handbook to the National Capital. point, with the Treasury Building on the east side, the White House in the center, Lafayette Square on the north, the new State, War and Navy Building on the west, and the Washington Monument and the Corcoran Art Gallery on the south. THE WHITE HOUSE. " First of all we will inspect the White House. This structure was thoroughly overhauled during the fall and winter of 1902, half a million dollars being spent in im- provements. All changes were made to conform to the original plans of the building, so that it was more of a restoration than remodeling. All the office force was re- moved from the White House, so that the main structure is now used exclusively as the living home of the Presi- dent and his family. Two wings were built, one each on the east and the west. The eastern approach is for visitors and the public generally. It leads into what may be termed a basement, with steps leading up to the East Room, which is always open to inspection and is the only part of the White House that may be freely visited by strangers. This long hall in the basement is virtually made up of dressing rooms for the use of guests at official functions, accommodations being provided for 3,000. The business offices of the White House are in the one-story structure at the end of the western extension. This magnificent East Room was used as a storeroom during the administration of John Quincy Adams, being littered up with meal barrels and wash tubs, and a clothes line was stretched from one end to the other. On this floor also are the private dining room, the state dining room, and the Red and Blue reception rooms. A Handbook to the National Capital. 31 THE STATE, WAR AND NAVY BUILDING. "We will now cross through the White House grounds to the west and enter the State, War and Navy Building. On the first and second floors in the Navy Department branch you will notice many models of our new battleships and cruisers. These miniature ships are perfect in every detail, and give a splendid idea of the genuine war vessels. They are made at the Washington Navy Yard, and cost from $5,000 to $7,000 apiece. En- tering the reception room of the Secretary of the Navy, on the second floor, we see on the walls oil portraits of previous Secretaries of the Navy, including a good likeness of ex-Secretary Benjamin F. Tracy, of Brook- lyn. Similar pictures will be found in the offices of the Secretaries of War and of State, all on this floor. Pass- ing around to the State Department we now enter the State reception room. Here is where the Secretary of State formally receives foreign diplomats and where all important State papers are signed. On the floor above this room we find the most interesting exhibit of the State Department. It is the facsimile of the Declara- tion of Independence. It is enclosed, as you notice, in a glass case. The original document was removed some time ago, and is kept under lock and key. It was rapidly fading and the authorities were forced to take it away in order to preserve the precious relic. Here around the room we see various curios. In this large glass case in the center of the room are a number of testimonials presented to this Government by foreign powers, THE CORCORAN ART GALLERY. "We will now visit the new Corcoran Art Gallery, southwest of the building we have just inspected. Ad- mission is free on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays ; 23 A Handbook to the National Capital. on other days a fee of 25 cents is charged. Here in the main salon will be found a magnificent collection of oil paintings, while in the four_ small rooms on the sides are seen numerous water .colors. The long gal- lery is called Statuary Hail, and contains many historic and celebrated works of art. This building is the gift of W. W. Corcoran, one of the old citizens of Washing- ton. A modern lecture hall is attached to the building on the north. THE ANCIENT OCTAGON HOUSE. "Just across the street, at the corner of Eighteenth street and New York avenue, is the famous Octagon House, built by Ogle Taylor about one hundred years ago. In this house President Madison lived after the White House was burned by the British in 1814. Note the curious old-fashioned architecture. There is not another house like it in this neighborhood, and prob- ably not another one in the whole country. The won- derful mantelpiece in this room, to the right of the main entrance, has been sought after by many public men, who want to secure it as a curio. Fabulous prices have been offered for it. Upstairs, in the Octagon Room, Presi- dent Madison signed the Treaty of Peace. These old halls and quaintly constructed rooms -could tell some interesting tales had they the power of speech. Here it was that Dolly Madison, surrounded by the brilliant scholars, statesmen and heroes of the war, held her famous drawing-rooms. The building is now occupied by the Society of Washington Architects, which recently restored parts of the structure that had fallen into decay. CONTINENTAL HALL OF D. A. R. "This large marble structure directly south of the Corcoran Art Gallery is the Continental Hall of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It cost more A Handbook to the National Capital. . 23 than $500,000, every dollar of which was raised by women descendants of the patriots of the Revolutionary War. BUREAU OF AMERICAN REPUBLICS. "The third great marble structure in the same row is occupied by the Bureau of American Republics. The building was erected by Andrew Carnegie as a con- tribution to world peace. It is the headquarters of the various South American governments represented at Washington. Jointly they support the institution. THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. "We will next visit the Wa-^hington Monument, which you can easily see pointing skyward, just southeast of us. On the way to this big marble shaft we pass the Executive Grounds and the lakes of the Fish Commis- sion. The latter are just inside the expansive Monument Grounds. Here the Fish Commission conducts experi- ments in the culture of various species of fish. This road which we are now passing, just before reaching the Monument, is part of a magnificent drive, which starts at the grounds just south of the White House, extends through the Monument grounds, and east to the Capitol Building, as well as along the river front for a mile or more. "The Washington Monument towers to a height of 555 feet. The site was chosen by Washington himself, and in 1848 the corner-stone was laid. Work was stopped in 1855 for lack of funds, and in 1876 the Gov- ernment took charge of its completion. The cap-stone was set December 6, 1884. The crowning apex is a conical block of American aluminum, nine and one-half inches square at the base, and weighs 100 ounces. You can eifher reach the top by way of the steps, of which 34 A Handbook to the National Capital. there are 900, or an elevator will convey you there. The trip is well worth taking, as from the four lookouts at the top a wonderful view of the city and the sur-- rounding country can be had. The hills of Virginia, the winding Potomac and the big city are spread out as a map before your eyes. UNCLE SAM'S MONEY FACTORY. "That large brick building which you see off to the south is where Uncle Sam makes all the Government stamps and paper money. It is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and we will now inspect it. The work performed here is probably the most important done in any of the public buildings in Washington. Here the designing, engraving and printing of the Govern- ment's bonds, checks, notes, revenue and postage stamps and paper money are done. A special guide will accompany us through the various rooms, as no visitors are allowed to inspect the works unattended by one of the officials. As you will observe, the money is printed on presses, much after the faj.hion of hand bills. Four notes are made at each impression, and it takes no more time to make four one thousand dollar notes than it does four one dollar notes. From fifty to sixty thousand of these sheets are run off a day, so that Uncle Sam turns out his money at a rapid rate. These steel cages which you see on every side are only a small part of the pre- cautions taken to prevent dishonesty on the part of the employees. All the money has to be counted, recounted and registered time after time. Those women whom you see counting the stacks of bank notes are the finest experts of their kind in the country. "As it is getting rather late you had better stop at some place and get luncheon, and then start again from the Treasury Department, a few blocks north of us. A Handbook to the National Capital. 35 THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. "Standing here on the corner of Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue is the Bank of the Nation. We will enter one of the Fifteenth street entrances and proceed first to the room of the United States Treasurer who will furnish us with a guide. We are taken now to the cash room. Those clerks you see behind the counter have been in the employ of Uncle Sam for years, and handle millions of dollars every day. It is nothing unusual for a warrant for as much as $10,000,000 to be presented and cashed without a moment's delay. The pension vouchers fre- quently call for that amount. You next find yourself in the Redemption Division. Here is where the Govern- ment gives out good money for old and worn notes. Ragged, faded and mutilated bills that bear little re- semblance to genuine money can be handed in here, and if they are complete, crisp new bills will be received in return. That simple machine, which you see operated b> a steam motor, performs the first act of the process by which the money is destroyed. The old bills are done up in packages by the women whom you see seated at those tables, and after being verified are slipped under that cutting machine. The operator then starts the lever that brings down the big blade which cuts the stack of bills in two. He keeps up that work from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon. six days in a week. He destroys nearly two millions of dollars a day. Over in that corner, away from the public, is Mrs. A. E. Brown, the famous expert of the department on burnt money. Her task is to unravel the mysteries of lost and damaged money. I saw in here the other day a couple of wads of pulp that had been taken from the stomach of a calf. They were all that remained of seven $10 notes. Mrs. Brown separated the fragments, patched and matched them, and finally i^Si 26 A Handbook to the National Capital. made out the complete notes. The owner was pre- sented with $70 in brand new money. After the bills have been cut in two, they are dumped into a big macera- tor down in the cellar, where they are ground by revolv- ing knives. They are finally reduced to a watery pulp with no resemblance whatever to money. Images made of this material can be found for sale all over the city. "We will now visit the money vaults on the lower floor. This is not a grocery store, as you might imagine from the rows of boxes ranged from the floor to the ceiling. This is one of the strongholds of the treasury. Each one of those little wooden boxes contains two thousand round silver dollars. I understand that in this one vault alone there are 103,000,000 standard silver dollars. Piled up all around you are five tons of boxes, loaded with money. Notice the size and weight of this massive door guarding the entrance. It weighs six tons. This outer door is operated by a time lock. It is wound up every day at 2 o'clock, when the vault is closed, and does not run down until 11 the next day. During that interval it can only be opened by dynamite. There is another vault just alongside of this one known as Vault No. 2. It contains 48,000,000 in standard silver dollars, about $1,000,000 in fractional silver coin, and nearly $3,000,000 in gold coin. Every time a new treas- urer is appointed, all this mass of silver has to be counted. Dozens of men *ork here for weeks before the big job is completed. Before leaving this building I will show you an interesiing curio in the office of the captain of the watch, on the nia.n floor at the eastern exit. That faded and stained American flag suspended in that glass case on the wall was draped about the box of President Lincoln on the fatal evening when he was assassinated at Ford's Theater. The assassin Booth caught his foot in its folds as he jumped from the box, and made that long rent in the flag. A Handbook to the National Capital. 27 "You have now visited most of the buildings of in- terest in this section of the city. We will next inspect those on the way to the Capitol, which is located on Pennsylvania avenue, just one mile east of the Treasury Building. DEAD LETTER OFFICE. "This monster granite structure, covering the square bounded by Pennsylvania avenue and Eleventh, Twelfth and B streets, Js our new City Post Office. It also ac- commodates the working force of the Post Office De- partment, where the official business connected with the 76,000 post offices scattered all over the country is transacted. The main point of interest here is the Dead Letter office. People are often careless in ad- dressing their mail matter, for no less than 30,000 letters find their way to this office every year because they are not directed properly. It is the duty of those men and women employees to find out for whom the various letters are intended. They are wonderfully expert, and with even the slightest clue are generally able to forward the letter to its proper destinntion. Here is a large case of sample envelopes, which will give you some idea of the work of the experts. Near the Dead Letter office is the Museum, on the ground floor. Those large glass cases give a history of the stamp system of the country, samples being exhibited of every variety issued by Uncle Sam. In that case you will find a few of the articles which are found loose in the mail bags. There is a swordfish, and in that corner is a tarantula. There is a set of false teeth which went astray, and there is somebody's skull, while nearby are several dangerous looking pistols. Here is the original account book kept by Benjamin Franklin when he was Deputy Postmaster- General for the Colonies in 1753. A MAZE OF PILLARS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. A Handbook to the National Capital. 29 THE PATENT OFFICE. "I will now conduct you to the Patent Office, which is a couple of blocks north, being located in the large white building at Seventh, Ninth, F and G streets. These corridors are filled with thousands of models of curious and useful inventions. There is an involved model of an electric motor, while in this ca^e you will see some unique contrivances for making artificial dim- ples in a person's cheek. "We will next board one of the cars on the F Street Line and visit the Capitol and new Congressional Li- brary, the two finest buildings in the city. That large red brick building which we are now passing in the park at Fifth and F streets is the Pension Building. The Inaugural Balls have been held here for many years past. A large court is in the interior, while gallery rises above gallery surrounding the court. There is an Im- mense floor space, and 18,000 people can be gathered within the building. THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY. "We now find ourselves in front of what is probably the finest building in the world, certainly the best adapted to library purposes. You notice it is just op- posite to and faces the east front of the Capitol. The structure is of the Italian Renaissance style of archi- tecture and has three stories and a dome. It covers three and a half acres of ground, and has four large inner courts. Notice the great number of windows— about 2,000— making it the best lighted building in the world. That shining dome which you see glistening in the sun is covered with genuine gold leaf, put on by hand. Here on the west front you will notice a row of carved heads, representing the different races of men. In the circular windows of the portico you will observe nine colossal portrait busts, in granite, of famous au- 30 A Handbook to the National Capital. thors. We now approach the main entrance by way of the central pavilion. These massive bronze doors cost thousands of dollars. One typifies Tradition, repre- sented by a woman reciting her story to a boy. These two other bronze doors represent Printing and Writing. We are now standing in the central stair hall, pro- nounced tq,be unsurpassed by any other entrance hall in the world. The marble is Italian, highly polished. Notice the lofty columns, and the elaborate carvings and decorations. These two heroic figures at the head of the stairs are Martiny's bronze-lamp bearers. In the cor- ners of the cone of the ceiling will be found Martiny's flying half-figures supporting cartouches, upon which appear the device of the lamp and book. Ascending the grand stairway we will enter the gallery to the south. Here on the wall you will see a fine painting represent- ing Poetry, by H. O. Walker, while that panel in the east end is devoted to Lyric Poetry. In the mosaic ceiling above are found the names of poets of ancient and modern times. We now approach the south cor- ridor, where we find the decorations devoted to Greek Heroes, executed by Walter McEwen. This opening leads into the Senate Reading Room, and here is a similar room for the Members of the House. Notice how rich and harmonious are the colorings and decora- tions of these two rooms. The ceiling paintings rep- resent the seven primary colors of the spectrum inter- preted as the Lights of Civilization. "I will now conduct you to the East Hall. The six paintings which you notice on the walls tell the story of the evolution of the Book, and in the mosaic vault are emblems of the arts and sciences. Near this is the lobby of the reading room, which is located in the center of the building. As you will observe it is nearly circular in shape. Two hundred and fifty readers can be ac- commodated here, each one being provided with one of 32 A Handbook to the National Capital. those desks and chairs. The Librarian and his assistants are found at the central desks. Those tubes which you see at the Librarian's desk communicate with the Senate and House, and if a Senator or Representative wants a book all he has to do is to call for it through one of those tubes. The volume is found and immediately sent over to the Capitol by means of an automatic book carrier. "This reading room is lOO feet in diameter and 125 feet in height. Notice here the eight female figures of colossal stature, representing Religion, Commerce, His- tory, Art, Philosophy, Poetry, Law and Science. Above, you will see under the dome sixteen bronze statues characterizing the fields of Learning and Achievement. C. H. Blashfield's fresco of the Progress of Civilization fills the immense circle in the collar of the dome. That elaborate clock over the entrance is decorated with the Signs of the Zodiac, the Flight of Time, the Seasons, Night and Day. The large panels in the ends of the room portray Sciences and the Arts. "The system of shelving the books in the alcove is entirely new. The stacks and tiers provided for this purpose amount to about forty running miles, and will accommodate considerably more than 2,000,000 volumes, allowing nine to the foot. Then in addition to this, there is room in the northeast and south fronts for about 2,500,000 more volumes, making a total capacity of 4,500,000 volumes, or somewhat less than 100 miles of shelving. It is estimated that there are at present in the Congressional Library an aggregate of 1,000,000 books and 250,000 pamphlets. Returning to the lobby, we will inspect the decorations here. Five panels are devoted to the Government of the Republic. Immediately above the door leading to the Reading Room you find Govern- ment; on the right are Good Administration, Peace and Prosperity; on the left. Corrupt Legislation and An- archy are portrayed. In the north hall on this same A Handbook to the National Capital. 33 floor will be seen Charles Sprague Pearce's paintings of The Family, together with Religion, Labor, Study, Rec- reation and Rest as elements of civilization. In this north corridor you will observe the Nine Muses, by Edward Simmons. "We will now return to the entrance pavilion and ascend to the second floor. Here, in the north corridor are found paintings symbolizing the Virtues, painted by George W. Maynard. This series of female figures in the east corridor personify Literature, and in the panels above are found Mackay's Three Fates. Now, then, please follow me this way, up the corridor stairway to the balcony of the reading room. On the way up notice the marble domes and arches of the passageway, elab- orately carved. The large panel at this landing represents Elihu Vedder's mosaic of Minerva, the Goddess of Wis- dom. We will now proceed to the south corridor, where the Four Seasons are portrayed above the doors, and in the ceiling are the Graces. In the west corridor are Walter Shirlaw's paintings of a series of female figures idealizing the Sciences. In the southwest pavilion is de- picted the Discovery and Settlement of America, by George W. Maynard, and in the southeast pavilion the Four Elements, by R.L.Dodge. The Seals of the United States and the Executive Department are the decora- tions of the northwest pavilion, executed by W. B. Van Ingen and E. E. Garsney, while here in the same pa- vilion, on the wall, are seen four large panels, contain- ing paintings of Literature, Music, Art and Science. The ceiling painting is an allegory of Ambition. Rep- resentations of War and Peace are found in the north- west gallery. For the benefit of the blind, special read- ings and musical recitals are held in the reading room every afternoon. The Library is one of the few Gov- ernment buildings in Washington that is open to visitors in the evenings and on Sundays. 34 A Handbook to the National Capital. THE CAPITOL. "We will now visit the Capitol, just across from the Library. Entering the building by the central entrance on the east, you notice those two immense bronze doors, commemorating incidents in the life of Columbus. They are famous works of art, and cost the Government $28,- 000. The two doors weigh ten tons. Standing here, as we do now, in the center of the rotunda, you look above you at the ceiling of the dome and see Brumidi's mas- terpiece — the fresco representing a number of allegorical groups. That piece of art cost the Government $49,000, and the artist's eyesight was completely ruined from the strained position of his work. Just above us there, you will see another frieze extending almost around the rotunda. It is the work of Brumidi, but the artist died before completing the circle. Congress has been unable to agree on suitable subjects to fill in the vacancy. There is an unwritten law that no living man shall be represented on the frieze, which may account for some of the delay. "Observe the eight paintings encircling the walls of the rotunda. Four of them are by Trumbull, the others by Weir, Powell and Vanderlyn. Trumbull's four paint- ings cost $8,000 apiece. At the time he was given the commission, John Randolph, of Roanoke, objected to an American artist doing the work, claiming that no American was well enough advanced in art to do jus- tice to the matter. John Quincy Adams insisted that Trumbull should have it, and he finally went to work. "As you stand here in the center of the rotunda, you are on the spot where the bodies of Lincoln, Garfield and Logan and McKinley rested in their coffins, while sor- rowing multitudes passed through to pay a last tribute to the dead. We will now pass over to the Supreme Court. For forty years the Senate held its sessions in this room, and here Calhoun, Webster and Clay gained their reputations as great orators. At that time the Su- A Handbook to the National Capital. 35 preme Court met in what is now the Law Library, just below on the ground floor. "Here we are in the reception room of the Senate, one of the finest apartments in the building. The mag- nificent frescoing upon the ceiling is the work of Bru- midi. Follow me this way through the Senate lobby to the famous Marble Room. You will observe that this is a long apartment, finished entirely in the finest grades of marble. Here is where the Senators invite in their friends for a private chat. Next to this room, just outside of the lobby, is the President's room. It is only occasionally occupied by that official at the close of a session of Congress, when there is not time enough to send the bills to the White House for his signature. On the walls you will notice pictures of Washington's first cabinet. Observe the peculiar effect resulting from these two mirrors placed opposite each other. I will now conduct you to the east front of the Senate wing. Here is another set of bronze doors, representing incidents in the life of Washington and of the revo- lution. They cost $56,000, and were made in this coun- try. Passing around this corridor, we will go up stairs. There on that big landing you will observe Powell's magnificent picture of the Battle of Lake Erie, repre- senting Commodore Perry transferring his flag from one of his sinking ships to another vessel. The paint- ing cost $25,000. In this corridor to the right we find two landscapes by Moran, one representing the chasm of the Colorado and the other the Grand Canon of the Yellowstone. They cost $10,000 apiece, and are prob- ably the finest two landscapes of the kind ever placed on canvas. On the walls here you will see portraits of Webster and Clay, and on the opposite side those of Sumner and Calhoun. In this last corridor is found the only memorial of the civil war in the Capitol— the painting of the fight between the Merrimac and 36 A Handbook to the National Capital. the Monitor. Opposite is the famous painting of Mrs. Fassett of the Electoral Commission. We will now enter one of these galleries here and see the Sen- ate Chamber. That gallery just opposite the desk of the presiding officer is reserved for the diplomats and ambassadors, and the gallery to the Vice-President's left is reserved for his friends and relatives. "We will now pass around and inspect the painting of Washington, made when he was 47 years of age. Down stairs, on the ground floor, in the committee room of Military Affairs we will find some more of the elab- orate work of Brumidi, and also in the adjoining room of the Committee on the Philippines. The scenes in these two rooms are historical, representing Wash- ington at Valley Forge, the battle of Danbury, the storming of Stony Point and the battle of Lexing- ton. We will now follow this dark and rather dingy corridor until we reach the crypt, just underneath the rotunda. This little brass star which you see in this block of stone represents the geographical center of the city. Beneath us is a vault which was originally intended to contain the remains of George Washington. In it is the bier upon which rested the bodies of the nation's distinguished statesmen while their remains lay in state in the Capitol. We will now proceed to Statuary Hall, on the floor above and just beyond the rotunda. The most notable work in this room is this statue of Washington, being an exact reproduction of his face and form, according to measurements taken in life. Here is the statue of Father Marquette, which caused such a fuss a short time ago as to whether or not it should be given a place in the hall. There over the entrance is the famous $15,000 clock made by Franzoni. It represents Clio recording passing events. I am told that the Government never paid Franzoni a cent for the timepiece. A wonderful feature of this 38 A Handbook to the National Capital. room is the whispering stones. By standing on cer- tain of the flagstones echoes and whispers come in the most mysterious manner. Before the Senate wing was built this room used to be the hall of the House of Representatives. You will notice a star in the floor on the spot where John Quincy Adams was stricken with paralysis while addressing the House in 1848. Passing along we reach the House of Representatives. We will first visit the galleries. Following me to the right you will find on the landing of the stairs leading up to the gallery floor Leutze's picture, Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way. Around on the side corresponding to this is a painting representing Lincoln signing the Proclamation of Emancipation. It was purchased from the painter by Mrs. Eliza Thompson, of Stamford, Conn., who presented it to the Government. She received the thanks of Congress for the gift, and by that act was entitled to the priv- ileges of the floor of the House. We will now enter the gallery and get a view of the House itself. You will notice that the desks and chairs here are much more crowded than they are in the Senate, and things are less orderly than in the other wing of the building. On the right of the Speaker is a painting of Lafayette, and on his left is a portrait of Washington. "If you care to make the ascent to the dome you can obtain an excellent view of the city, but if not we will leave the building and take these cars for the Fish Commission, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Museum, in the big Mall just beyond Sev- enth street. On the way down Pennsylvania avenue we pass here at the foot of the Capitol the Peace Monument and the Botanical Gardens on the left. A Handbook to the National Capital, 39 THE FISH COMMISSION. "We are now in the building occupied by the Fish Commission. In this long grotto you observe in the separate aquariums many rare and curious specimens of living marine fish. Most of this water is salt, being brought from the ocean in special fish cars. On these long tables in the main room you notice hundreds of glass jars filled with eggs. Here the process of Govern- ment propagation of food fish can be seen at any time. THE NATIONAL MUSEUM AND SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. "Passing across Seventh street, we find the Smith- sonian Institution. This was established and has been maintained by the endowments of James Smithson, an Englishman. We will first visit the National Mu- seum, adjoining the Smithsonian. The collections here have been derived chiefly through Government agencies, and consist of more than 3,000,000 objects, all prop- erly classified. Here you will notice extensive speci- mens of fishes, coins, medals and paper money, musical instruments, pottery, chemical products, birds, mollusks and stuffed animals. In these cases you observe some very valuable historical relics of Washington. There i. his stained uniform, worn by him as Commander-in- Chief on the occasion of resigning his commission at Annapolis. There are two embroidered bed-curtains, made by Martha Washington, the tent used by Wash- ington during the Revolutionary War, his mess chest, knives, forks, and other campaigning utensils. "Here in these cases are a number of relics of Gen- eral Grant, including his several commissions in the army, medals presented to him at various times, his war saddle, and a long array of friendship tokens given to him on his famous tour of the world. "The w ^r with . Spain is represented here also by 40 A Handbook to the National Capital. souvenirs of the ill-fated Maine, steel plates and guns taken from the Spanish cruisers and a display of cap- tured flags. "Over here in the Smithsonian Institution you will find a most interesting exhibition of all varieties of birds, eggs, small animals, mollusks, etc. THE AGEICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. "We will now pass along and visit the Agricultural Department. Little is to be seen in the main building, but over in the annex is an interesting and instructive exhibition of all kinds of fruit. In these glass cases will be seen specimens of apples, pears, grapes, water- melons, pumpkins, etc. Here is an exhibit showing the progress of fruit diseases, such as blight, etc. Just back of the main building here is an interesting plot of ground on which are growing in separate division various types of American grasses. RULES OF ADMISSION TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS. "You have now visited nearly all the Government buildings of interest, but I will be able to give you some general facts which you will find useful in your trips about the city. The Capitol is open at 9 A. M. until the hour of adjournment of both Houses of Con- gress, or, when Congress is not in session, until 5 P. M. The East Room of the Executive Mansion is usually open every week day. Arrangements can usually be made for the President to receive visitors who call in a body for the purpose of paying their respects. The Corcoran Art Gallery is open daily from 10 to 4. Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays are free days, but on other days an admission fee of 25 cents is charged. The Library of Congress is open until 10 o'clock in the evening of every day in the week, including Sundays. The Executive Departments, as a rule, are open to visitors from 9 A. M. until 2 P. M. A Handbook to the National Capital. 41 THE BATHING BEACH. "The citizens of the city have established a free bathing beach on the Potomac at the foot of Wash- ington Monument, and during the summer months you can take advantage of the opportunity to take a re- freshing swim. MARINE BAND GONGEBTS. "During the summer season the famous Marine Band gives free concerts at the Capitol on Wednesday after- noons, and at the White House grounds on Saturday afternoons. A concert is also given at the Marine Barracks every Monday morning. These concerts have become quite a feature of Washington summer life. THE NAVY YARD. "You will also find a navy yard at the fopt of Eighth street, S. E. You will be admitted during business hours of each day, and a visit there will repay any- one for the trouble, as a good idea can be gained of the way the Government makes its guns. There is also an excellent Naval Museum at the yard, where, among other things, may be seen the sternpost of the old Kearsarge, in which is imbedded one of the shells fired into it from the rebel frigate Alabama, and which providentially failed to explode. "An experimental naval tank in which tests of models are conducted for the purpose of developing new feat- ures in ship construction will be found at the lower end of the yard, and near it will be observed a row of guns taken from the Spanish cruisers wrecked off the Cuban coast. 42 A Handbook to the National Capital. THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY. "Those of you who are interested in astronomy should visit the Naval Observatory at Georgetown Heights. It may be reached by transferring at the end of the Pennsylvania avenue cable line and taking the Tennallytown trolley. Special passes can be se- cured by applying to officials of the Observatory to view the heavens at night through the large telescopes. LINCOLN MUSEUM. "You will also find a most interesting exhibit of relics of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Museum, on Tenth street, between E and F streets. The martyr President died in this house, which is just opposite the old Ford's Theatre, in which he was shot. Here you will find hundreds of relics of Uncle Abe, from the furniture of his house at Springfield to the satin-back chair in which he was sitting when Wilkes Booth shot him. POPULAR DRIVES ABOUT SUBURBS. "No city in the country has more numerous or prettier drives into the suburbs than those found in Washing- ton. A favorite drive is out to the Soldiers' Home, and over the miles of well-kept roads inside the grounds there. The Soldiers' Home and the new Catholic Uni- versity, although some little distance from the city, are easily accessible by the cars. A line of cars starting from the corner of Fifteenth and G streets takes pas- sengers to within a short distance of both places. The drives to Arlington, Oak View, Woodley Lane, East are also popular. I might say that the best time to visit Arlington Cemetery is in the morning. Those of you who do not wish to go to the expense of hir- ing a carriage can reach the place by taking the Penn- sylvania avenue cars to the Aqueduct Bridge, at the f/'iSSmm/H^i ■ H 1 1 Vj^^Uj 1 ^^^^K '^^H ^^^^^B H M -'^^S l^^^^/fjH H h[^mH| g, . .^^ ^^ ) .jB^^^^^B 1 44 A Handbook to the National Capital. end of the route in Georgetown. On the other side of the bridges are cars which go to the cemetery and to Fort Meyer. While you are over in Georgetown it would be well to visit the Georgetown University and the Con- vent. From the old campus of the former a beautiful view of the winding Potomac and the Hills of Virginia may be obtained. Just below the University is the little cottage in which Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth, the well- known novelist, lived for many years. CAVALRY STATION AT FORT MEYEB. ' ' There is a Cavalry Station at Fort Meyer, on the other side of the Potomac above Georgetown. Nearly every morning and evening the cavalrymen at the fort give an elaborate exhibition drill, and you will be given an opportunity of seeing a display of horsemanship un- surpassed at any cavalry post in the world. There is land where those of you who ride wheels can take an enjoyable spin for twenty miles. POTOMAC RIVER AND CHESAPEAKE BAY RE- SORTS. "In the summer season steamboats leave the wharf at the foot of Seventh street for various resorts on the Potomac. The Norfolk and Washington steamboats make regular trips to Norfolk and Old Point Comfort. The same points may be reached by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, via Richmond. This road and the Pennsylvania Railroad run through an extensive, his- torical and interesting Southern country, and are es- pecially popular with tourists. "Old Point Comfort, the location of Fortress Monroe, is an all-the-year-round resort. Fortress Monroe covers about eighty acres of land and is the largest fort in America. It forms an irregular hexagon, two sides com- manding the water front, the other four, the land side. A Handbook to the National Capital. 45 The granite walls rise to a height of 35 feet and are surrounded by a moat from 75 to 100 feet wide. There is a Museum of War Relics, also the Casemate No. 3, in which Jefferson Davis was held a prisoner. Every morn- ing at 8.45 may be witnessed the Guard Mount, and every day, except Saturdays and Sundays, the Dress Parade is held at half an hour before sunset. MOUNT VERNON BY STEAMER. "Steamers leave for Mount Vernon, the tomb of Washington, from the wharf at the foot of Seventh street, daily except Sunday, at 10 A. M., and at 2.30 P. M. ; returning, reach the city at 2 and 5.15 P. M, The fare, round trip, is fifty cents, with a charge of twenty-five cents for admission to the grounds. Mount Vernon can also be reached by the Washington, Alex- andria & Mount Vernon Electric Railway, whose cars leave the station at Twelfth street and Pennsyl- vania avenue every hour ; round trip, seventy-five cents. Direct connections with Arlington may also be made on this line. ALEXANDRIA AND VICINITY. " Here you will find the old square pew in which George Washington and his family sat. Within easy driving distance of Alexandria is located the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary of Virginia. The grounds around the seminary and the adjoining high school are picturesque and beautiful. The seminary is proud of counting the late Phillips Brooks, Bishop of Massachusetts, among its alumni. Seminary Hill was occupied alternately by both armies during the war. The battle of Chantilly was fought near Fairfax Court House, a short distance from this place, and every foot of ground upon these hills overlooking the nation's capital Js historical." 46 A Handbook to the National Capital. RATES FOR HIRE OF HACKS, CABS OR OTHER VEHICLES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. (EXTRACT FROM POLICE REGULATIONS.) Between 5 A.M. and 12.30 A.M. 12.30 A.M. I and s A.M. By the Hour. For one passenger or two passengers for the first hour For each additional quarter of an hour or part thereof Provided, that for multiples of one hour the charge shall be at the rate per hour of For three or four passengers for the first hour For each additional quarter of an hour or part thereof Provided, that for multiples of one hour the charge shall be at the rate per hour of By the I rip. By the trip of fifteen squares or less for each passenger For each additional five squares or -part thereof Provided, that for multiples of fifteen squares the charge shall be at the rate for each fifteen squares $100 $1 00 25 25 I 00 I 00 I 25 I 25 30 35 I 25 Two-horse hacks, for four persons, may charge $1.50 for the first hour and 35 cents for each extra quarter hour. If dismissed outside the city 25 cents additional. In case of an overcharge complain to police station. The usual rates for special excursions in the vicinity of the city are: To Arlington, $5.00: Soldiers' Home, $5.00; Brightwood, $5.00; Insane Asylum, S5. 00; Cabin-John Bridge, $8.00; Great Falls of the Potomac, $20.00. Large excursions,;special rates by agree- ment. A Handbook to the National Capital. 47 TABLE OF REFERENCES With Schedule of the Hours in which Public Buildings are Open to Visitors. Unless otherwise noted, all are open daily except Sundays and public holidays. * Those marked with a star are open on holidays. 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Agricultural Department (Museum) — Mall, Twelfth and Fourteenth streets, S. W. All Day — Arlington Cemetery — Arlington, Va. Open also Sundays and holidays. (W. A. and F. C. Ry.,and W. A. and Mt. V. Ry. ) 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Army Medical Museum — Seventh and B streets, S. W. All Day — Arsenal — Foot of Four-and-a-half street, S. W. 8 A. M. to s P. M. — Botanical Garden— Pennsylvania avenue and First street. 9 A. M. to 2.30 P. M. — Bureau of Engraving — Fourteenth and B streets, S. W. But visitors are not conducted between 11.45 and 12.30. 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. — Capitol — Capitol Hill. Open after 5 if Congress is in session and until one-half hour after adjournment; also during a night session. The flag flies over each house while it is in session, and if at night the dome is lighted. 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Corcoran Gallery — New York avenue and Seventeenth street. From Oct. 1 to May i, 9.30 to 4. From May i to Oct. 1, 9 to 4. Also Sunday afternoons, 1.30 to 5. Holidays, 10 to 2. Admission 25 cents Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Other days free. 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Dead-Letter Museum — Pennsylvania avenue and Eleventh street. 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Fish Commission — Sixth and B streets, S. W. 48 A Handbook to the National Capital. 10 A. M. and 2 P. M. — Government Printing Office — North _ Capitol and H streets. Visitors are conducted at these hours. 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. — Library of Congress — Capitol Hill. Reading room hours 9 to 10. (On Saturday in summer building open 9 to 4, reading room 9 to i.) All Day — Marine Barracks — Eighth and G streets, S. E. 11 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Mount Vernon.* Steamboat leaves Seventh and M streets, summer, 10 A. M., 2.30 P. M. Nov. I to May 30, 10 A. M., 1.45 P. M. Mt. Vernon trains leave Thirteen-and-a-half street hourly from 10 A. M. to 2 P. M., Nov. I to April 30. From May i to Oct. 31, 10 A. M. to 3 P. M. Return hourly. 9 A. M. to 4.30 P. M. — National Museum* — Smithsonian grounds. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — Naval Museum of Hygiene — Twenty-third and E streets. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — Navy Department — Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth street. 9 A. M. to sunset — Navy Yard — Foot Eighth street, S. E. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M, — Patent Office — Seventh and F streets. 9 A. M. to 4 P. M. — Pension Bureau — F and Fourth streets. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — Post-Office Department — Pennsylvania avenue and Eleventh street. 9 A. M. to 4.30 P. M, — Smithsonian Institution* — Smith- sonian grounds. 9 A. M. to sunset — Soldier's Home* — Near Seventh street ex- tended. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — State Department — Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth street. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — Treasury — Pennsylvania avenue and Fif- teenth street. Treasury tours between 10.30 and 12, and between 1 and 2. 9 A. M. to 2 P. M. — War Department — Pennsylvania avenue and Seventeenth street. A Handbook to the National Capital. 49 9.30 A. M. to 4. 30 P, M. — Washington Monument — Washing- ton Park, near Fourteenth street. Elevator runs 9.30 to 4.30. 10 A. M. to 2 P. M. — White House, East Room — Pennsylvania avenue and Sixteenth street. All Day — Zoological Park* — Rock Creek (Open Sunday). THE EAGLE BUILDING, BROOKLYN, N. Y. A Handbook to the National Capital. 51 THE BROOKLYN EAGLE INFORMATION BUREAU. The Brooklyn Eagle maintains in its main office, corner Washington and Johnson streets, Brooklyn, a free Information Bureau, which is unique in daily jour- nalism. The Bureau was established with the express object of assisting the Eaglets hotel advertisers in securing the largest possible results from their advertisements in this paper. The free use of the Bureau is open to the public, and is for the use of those seeking recre- ation, rest and recuperation among the summer and winter resorts, and also for persons who contemplate traveling, not only in this, but in foreign countries. Large and handsome rooms on the fourth floor of the Eagle Building are the headquarters of the Bureau. In the business offices are kept, on tables and in specially constructed racks, the circulars of every hotel and boarding house which is represented in the Bureau ; also, the time tables of every railroad in the country, as well as the books, pamphlets and literature of all kinds issued by the various transportation lines. This literature is given out gratuitously to the patrons of the Bureau, who during the summer and winter seasons number into the thousands. Full particulars are given regarding hotels and boarding houses, their attractions, their locations, their rates, by the day or week. Photo- graphs of different resorts and hotels are kept on file and cheerfully shown to patrons. Branches of the Information Bureau have been es- tablished in Manhattan at 952 Broadway; also at 437 Fifth avenue, 251 1 Atlantic avenue, and Gates avenue, near Broadway, Brooklyn, where the same service is rendered as at the main Bureau. A Handbook to the National Capital. 53 It is easy to see, therefore, how a person who is in doubt as to where to spend the winter or summer sea- sons can, in a few minutes at the Bureau, obtain, free of charge, information which would otherwise take days and any amount of correspondence to procure. Ten excursions have been run under the auspices of the Bureau — one to the World's Fair, Chicago; one to Duluth in 1895; to Atlanta, 1895, which included in its membership the Mayor and Mayor-elect of Brook- lyn, and over one hundred of the city's most prominent citizens; to St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers in 1896; to Portland and Poland Springs, in June, 1897; one to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in August, 1897; a second one to Duluth via the Great Lakes in 1898; a cruise around Porto Rico and tour through that island, including a visit to St. Thomas, Danish W. L, in Feb- ruary, 1899; a 31 day grand tour of the United States, embracing California and the Pacific Coast, and a tour of the Yellowstone Park in the month of July, 1899; two tours to Paris and Europe in 1900, and party to the Adirondacks, Thousand Islands and the Pan Amer- ican Exposition at Buffalo in 1901. To an advertiser in the Eagle it offers advantages which are invaluable. There are so many points and features and attractions of a hotel and resort which it is hard to enumerate in an ordinary advertisement with- out the outlay of large sums of money. The Eagle Information Bureau solves the problem. A proprietor can place his advertisement in the Eagle, bringing out one or two of the main features of his house, and then state in it that for more complete details and for circu- lars of his house, or the inspection of photographs, the records in the Information Bureau may be consulted. Thus the Bureau acts as the Northern or Eastern agent, and becomes the headquarters for every hotel which is represented in it. When it is considered that this service 54 A Handbook to the National Capital. is all rendered free, it is no wonder that the Eagle always carries in its columns so many resort advertise- ments. In fact, the Eagle has the reputation of pub- lishing more advertisements of this class than any paper published in the United States. The Eagle would advise all hotel and boarding- house proprietors to send to the Information Bureau for its blanks, with which to list their houses, and also a pamphlet giving more complete details of the object, scope and workings, and the Eagle's rates for adver- tising. The Eagle's Foreign Branch and Bureau of Infor- mation is at 53 Rue Cambon, Paris, France. Full de- tails of European hotels and pensions can be secured there. It issues a Guide to Paris (15 cents) of the same size as this book. It can be obtained at any Eagle office, also in the United States. Chetwoode Terrace 4 lo^ra Circle Best Private A.ccoti&]nodatioi:\s \tx V^ashin^ton, D. C. RATES: $2.00 per day up. Special rates by week or month. Careful Service and Rooms Single or En Suite Unsurpassed Home Table Pool and Billiards Advertisements 55 The Dolly Madison House Mr«. A. McDONOUGH. Prop. Permanent or Transient Guests received. Just the place for ladies traveling unaccompanied. Home table. Complete system of steam heating. Rates: American Plan, $2 Per Day Up For further information, inquire of BrookljTi Eagle Information Bureau 1401 Massachusetts Ave. N. W. (Thomas Circle) Washington, D. C. '^^i i k \i i^ M^g^ i 1 b — • 1 r^mfw^ts''^'^ ' fe- .i^^Mi m^ f-^^ Advertisements 57 THE INFORMATION BUREAU OF THE BROOKLYN EAGLE ASK US= Where to Go — Where to Send Your Children We make a specialty of answering knotty questions Circulars of Resorts for all Seasons of the Year. Outlines Trips in Every Direction. Steamship Folders. Automobile Information. Time Tables of Railroads. Useful Guides. Catalogues of Schools. Eagle Almanac. ITS SERVICES ARE FREE MAIN OFFICES IN NEW YORK : Eagle Build'g, Brooklyn. 26 East 23d St., Manhattan And all Eagle Branch Offices VICTOR H. JACOBSON Official Ticket Agent in Brooklyn, N. Y., for the Anchor, Allan, Cunard, American, Scand- American, White Star, Clyde, Bermuda, Quebec, Savannah, Old Dominion, Mallory. Southern Pacific Steamship Lines. Choice Berths Secured. Open Evenings. Baggage Express 226 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y, Telephone SliO Prospect 58 Advertisements The New Varnum Hotel Highest. Elevation in the City. One Square from United States Capitol and Congressional Library. Five Minutes from the New Union Station. Convenient to all Car Lines. All outside Rooms, Fifty Private Baths ; Public Bath on Every Floor. Excellent Table and Cafe Service. Capacity, One Hundred and Fifty. Nev^ Management. E. A. BENNETT, Proprietor New Jersey Ave. and C St., S. E. WASHINGTON, D. C. Advertisements 59 Why the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Is the Best Real Estate Medium It publishes the most accurate and complete News of the Realty Market and is the accepted au- thority on Brooklyn and Long Island Real Estate matters. Investors, Home Buyers and Rent Payers everywhere read the EAGLE when considering a Home or Investment in any part of Long Island. Its circulation is among people with purchasing power, and its advertising rates are the lowest — Results considered. It is the Representative Daily Newspaper of all Long Island 60 Advertisements The Mt. Vernon and Marshall Hall Steam- boat Company, Limited INCORPORATED — DOCK AND OFFICE FOOT OF SEVENTH STREET, WASHINGTON, D. C. FARE 75 Cents - - Round Trip INCLUDING ADMISSION TO GROUNDS THE ROUTE FAMOUS ^Do not fail to visit Mt. Vernon on your visit to Washington, via the Steamer 'Charles Macalester," capacity 1700 passengers, with every modern convenience and accommodation, having been built expressly for this service. Will leave her dock in Washington daily, except Sundays, at 10 a.m. and 2.30 p.m., arriving in Washington at 2.15 and 6.15 p. m., from May 30th to November 1st; aLd from November 1st to May 30th. will leave at 10 a. m. and 1.45 p. m. arriving in Washington at 1.30 and 5.15 p. m. Advertisements 61 r K TOURISTS WHO VISIT WASHINGTON SHOULD NOT FAIL to TAKE A TRIP on the "CLASSIC POTOMAC" The steamers of the Maryland, Delaware & Virginia Company leave foot of Seventh Street for BALTIMORE, MD. This gives you two nights and one day on the water, and takes you through the most his- toric section of Maryland — Fort Washington, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, St. Mary's City and then out in the broad waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is only 40 miles by rail from Washington, but 250 miles by water. We have other water trips leaving Balti- more daily. lUujIraled Mailer upon Applicalion STEPHENSON & BROTH ER.Washington Agents Foot of Seventh Street T. MURDOCH, General Passenger Agent Pier 1, Pratt Street Baltimore, Md 63 Advertisemen ts Accept the Eagle's Invitation to come and visit its INFOR- MATION Bureaus in Brooklyn or New York. Particulars glad- ly given regarding any resort. The most splendid system in the world. Branches at 608 14th Street, Washington, D. C; 53 Rue Cambon, Paris, France, and 3 Regent Street, London, England, for the traveler. GET A EUROPEAN RESORT DIRECTORY AND PARIS GUIDE NEW EDITIONS IN MAY Advertisemen ts BELVEDERE HOTEL BALTIMORE W. L. JORDON, Manager 64 Advertisements THE HOTEL DRISCOLL WASHINGTON, D. C. FACES UNITED STATES CAPITOL AND PARK A new and modern hotel conducted in a liberal manner. Near new Union Station and convenient to important places of interest. Rooms comfortably furnished; culinary department in charge of experts ; high-class service maintained. Privilege of bath with each room. Music is a feature. Special attention given to ladies unaccompanied. American Plan, $2.50 and up European Plan, $1.00 and up Booklet and Map Mailed F. P. URBELLO, Mgr. Mrs. TYLER-MILLER IMPORTER AND MANUFACTURER OF FINE HAIR GOODS 80 FLEET STREET Opposite Loeser's and New Dime Savings Bank New Method Shampooing, Bair Dressing, Manicuring SCALP AND FACIAL MASSAQB Largest Line of Hair Goods in the City LOWEST PRICES TEUrEPHOINE CAL.L.. I3IQ MAIN ^^' SKoreKaLm WASHINGTON, D. C. European Placn ABSOLUTELY FIREPROOF Within five minutes' walk of the White House, Treasury, State, WclF and Navy Departments. Absolutely modern e^nd high class in every detail. JOHN T. DEVINE. Prop. /.T' ^79 7116 ^2-ie-»00 6M ^^. -: "^^^s^ kP b ^. -0^ ^'^^f/C^^ 't^^ c^ .V^ i "f , t 'i *■ 'f :-i LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1 >* •'/•'.... ^. „ •" IbW « V. /. ,K If. -it . ft*>li,yf.!i ^'SS^; Vl< «< V ^M > f.