42. From Baltimore to Washington.

a. Via Baltimore & Potomac Railroad.

43 M. RAILWAY in 1-1/2 hr. ($1.20; parlor-car 25 c.). This forms part of the Pennsylvania line from New York to Washington (228 M.; express in 5-6/2 hrs., $6.50; sleeper or parlor-car $2).

The trains start from the Calvert and Union Stations (see p. 244) and pass below the N.W. quarters of the city by a tunnel 11/3 M. long. The country traversed is flat and uninteresting. 19 M. Odenton is the junction of a line to (14 M.) Annapolis (see p. 250) and (18 M.) Bay Ridge (p. 249). 4011⁄2 M. Navy Yard (p. 261). In approaching Washington we thread a tunnel 300 yds. long. Fine view of the Capitol to the right.

2

43 M. Washington, see below,

b. Via Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

40 M. RAILWAY in 3/4-1 hr. (fares as above). Express from New York in 6 hrs. (fares as above).

Baltimore, see p. 244. At (9 M.) Relay Station the train diverges from the Old Route (see p. 250) and crosses the fine Washington Viaduct over the Patapsco River. From (19 M.) Annapolis Junction a line runs to (20 M.) Annapolis (see p. 250). 34 M. Hyattsville. 40 M. Washington, see below.

43. Washington.

Railway Stations. Baltimore & Potomac (Pennsylvania) Railroad (Pl. E, 4), cor. of Sixth and B Sts., for trains in all directions; Baltimore & Ohio (Pl. F, 3), cor. of New Jersey Ave. and C St., for B. & O. trains to the N., N. W., and W. - Hotel Omnibuses meet the chief trains (25 c.). Cab into the town, each pers. 25-35 c. (see below).

Hotels ARLINGTON (Pl. a; D, 3), Vermont Ave., $4-5; SHOREHAM (Pl. b; D, 3), 15th St., $ 4-5, R. $1-3; ARNO (Pl. c; C, 3), 916 16th St., $4-5, R. from $1; NORMANDIE (Pl. d; D, 3), McPherson Sq., from $5, R. $1-3; THE COCHRAN, 14th and K Sts. (Pl. D, 3); WILLARD'S (Pl. e; D, 3), cor. of Pennsylvania Ave. and 14th St.; EBBIT Ho. (Pl. f; D, 3), F St., near 14th St.; RIGGS Ho. (Pl. g; D, 3), cor. G and 15th Sts.; WORMLEY'S (Pl. h; D, 3), cor. H and 15th Sts.; METROPOLITAN (Pl. i; E, 4), Pennsylvania Ave., 6th and 7th Sts.; these five old- established houses on the American plan, much frequented by politicians, $4; WELCKER (Pl. K: D, 3), CHAMBERLAIN (Pl. 1; D, 3), R. from $1; CONGRESSIONAL (Pl. n; F, 4), near the Capitol, $2-21/2; ST. JAMES (Pl. o; É, 4), R. from $1. Also numerous small Family Hotels and Boarding Houses ($ 10-20 a week).

Restaurants. At the hotels on the European plan, see above; Losekam, F St.; Harvey, 1016 Pennsylvania Ave. (steamed oysters, etc.); Hancock, 1234 Pennsylvania Ave., a quaint little place (men only), with a collection of relics; Capitol Restaurants, see p. 255; Shoemaker, Pennsylvania Ave., a drinking-bar frequented by politicians, journalists, etc.; Fussell, 1425 New York Ave. (ice-cream, etc.).

Tramways (horse and electric) and Omnibuses ('Herdics') traverse many of the principal streets.

Cabs (Hacks and Hansoms). For 15 squares each pers. 25 c., each addit. 5 squares 10c., at night (12.30-5 a.m.) 40 and 15 c.; per hr., 1-2 pers., 75 c., each addit. 1/4 hr. 20 c., 3-4 pers. $1 and 25 c., at night $1, 25c., $ 11/4, 35c. Two-horse Hacks, 1-4 pers., per. hr. $ 11/2, each addit. 1/4 hr. 25 c. To Arlington $5, Soldiers' Home $5, Great Falls of the Potomac $20.

Steamers ply daily from 7th St. Wharf (Pl. E, 5) to Mt. Vernon (see p. 262) and other river-landings; also, at irregular intervals (see daily papers), to Norfolk (p. 331), Old Point Comfort (p. 332), Baltimore (p. 244), Philadelphia (p. 210), New York (p. 6), Boston (p. 72), etc. Steam-Ferry hourly from 7th St. Wharf to Alexandria (p. 262; fare 15 c).

Places of Amusement. Albaugh's Opera House (Pl. D, 3), 15th St.; New National Theatre (Pl. D, 3), E St.; Academy of Music, cor. of D and 9th Sts. (Pl. D, 4); Bijou (Pl. E, 4), 9th St.; Kernan's (Pl. D, 4; varieties, etc.), cor. of C and 11th Sts.; Metzerott Music Hall. Panorama of the Battle of Gettysburg (Pl. D, 3, 4), 15th St.

Art Collections. Corcoran Gallery, see p. 260; Waggaman's Private Gallery (from Jan. to April, 11-4; fee 50 c., devoted to charity; tickets at 1003 Pennsylvania Ave.).

Clubs. Metropolitan (Pl. C, 3); United Service; Cosmos (scientific; Pl. D, 3); University; Columbia Athletic, with fine gymnasium, etc.; Gridiron Club; National Press Club.

General Post Office (Pl. E, 3), cor. of 7th and F Sts. - City Post Office (Pl. E, 3), G St., between 6th and 7th Sts., open 6-11, Sun. 8-10 and 6-7. British Embassy (Pl. C, 2), Connecticut Ave.; Sir Julian Pauncefote, G. C. M. G., K. C. B., Ambassador.

Bibliography. Visitors should procure the Congressional Directory (50 c.); a good guidebook is that of De B. Randolph Keim (25 c.).

The City of Washington, the capital of the United States, lies on the left bank of the Potomac, at the confluence of the main stream with the E. branch, 156 M. from Chesapeake Bay and 185 M. from the Atlantic Ocean. It covers an area of about 10 sq. M., and in 1890 had 188,932 inhab. (with Georgetown, 202,978). The city is in many respects one of the most beautiful in the United States, being finely laid out, with wide asphalted streets, opening up vistas of handsome public buildings, monuments, or leafy squares, with the Capitol and the Washington Monument dominating the entire view. Its plan may be described as that of a wheel laid on a gridiron, the rectangular arrangement of the streets having superimposed upon it a system of radiating avenues, lined with trees and named for the different states of the Union. The streets running N. and S. are numbered, those running E. and W. are named by the letters of the alphabet. The Circles formed by the intersection of the streets and avenues are one of the most charming features of the city. Pennsylvania Avenue, between the Capitol and the White House (a distance of 11/3 M.), is the chief thoroughfare, and other important business-streets are 7th St., 14th St., 9th St., and F St. Among the finest residence-streets are *Massachusetts Ave., Vermont Ave., Connecticut Ave., and 16th St.

The present site of the national capital of the United States was selected in 1790, mainly through the agency of George Washington; and the Federal District of Columbia, 100 sq. M. in area, was set apart for this purpose, on territory ceded by Maryland and Virginia. The Virginia portion of the district was, however, retroceded in 1846, and the present area of the District of Columbia is 65 sq. M. Its population in 1890 was 230, 392 (75,927 coloured). The district is ruled directly by the President and Congress, through a board of Commissioners appointed under an act of 1874; and its inhabitants belong to no state and have no voice either in national or local government. The plan of the city of Washington was due to Major Enfant, a French officer of engineers; and the intention was to make the Capitol (see p. 253) its centre, with streets and avenues

radiating from it in all directions. It was at first proposed to call it Federal City, but this name was changed to Washington in 1791.

The foundation - stone of the Capitol was laid in 1793; the seat of government was removed to Washington in 1800; and in 1802 the city received its charter. In 1810 the population was 8208; in 1840 it was 23,364; in 1870 it was 109,199; and in 1880 it was 147,307. In 1871 the city was still in a very backward condition; but the substitution in that year of a territorial for a municipal government inaugurated a series of reforms, which completely revolutionized the appearance of the city and left it one of the most comfortable and beautiful in the world. The commerce and manufactures of Washington are unimportant, and its prosperity depends on its position as the seat of Congress and the Government Offices. There are probably 40,000 army and navy officers and civil servants in Washington, and these with their families make a large proportion of the population. The sobriquet of 'City of Magnificent Distances', applied to Washington when its framework seemed unnecessarily large for its growth, is still deserved, perhaps, for the width of its streets and the spaciousness of its parks and squares.

The best time to visit Washington is during the sitting of Congress, which lasts from the first Mon. in Dec. to March 4th in the odd-numbered years, and till June, July, or later in the even-numbered years. The city itself is seen to greatest advantage in May or October. In summer (JulySept.) it is very hot and is deserted by many of its inhabitants. The Public Offices are all open to the public, free, between 9 or 10 and 2; and the attendants will show on application any rooms not actually occupied.

The **Capitol (Pl. F, 4), finely situated on a hill 90 ft. above the level of the Potomac, dominates the entire city with its soaring dome and ranks among the most beautiful buildings in the world. It is 751 ft. in length and 121-324 ft. wide, and consists of a main edifice of sandstone, painted white, and of two wings of white marble. It covers an area of 3/2 acres. The main building, with its original low-crowned dome, was completed in 1827; the wings and the new iron Dome, 288 ft. high, were added in 1851-65. Numerous architects have been employed on the building, of whom it may be enough to mention Mr. T. U. Walter, designer of the extensions and the dome. The general style is classic, with Corinthian details. The principal façade looks towards the E., as the city was expected to spread in that direction, and the Capitol thus turns its back upon the main part of the city and on the other government buildings. A fine marble *Terrace (view), 884 ft. long, approached by two broad flights of steps, has, however, been constructed on the W. side of the Capitol and adds great dignity to this view of the building. The dome is surmounted by a figure of Freedom, by Crawford, 191/2 ft. high (comp. p. 257). The total cost of the building up to the present time has been $16,000,000 (3,200,000.).

The Capitol stands in a park of about 50 acres in extent, laid out by Olmsted. In the plaza on the E. side, opposite the central portico, is a colossal Statue of George Washington, by Greenough.

The Front or East Façade is preceded by three porticos, the main entrance being in the centre. To the right of the central portico is the Settlement of America, a marble group by Greenough; to the left is the Discovery of America, a figure of Columbus by Persico. In the pediment above the portico is a relief of the Genius of America,