The Benton weekly record., 1882-08-03
THE RUINED CITY.
A Sketch OF AHexandria-Tts An-
cient RenoWn and Modern
Importance.

Alexander the Great sought 10 found a
city after the destruction of Tyre, and in
1872 B. G. selected the site Of Alexandria
because of its excellent position for trade.
1t is twelve miles west Of the western Nile
and between the Mediterranean Sea and
Lake Mareotis. The city grew rapidly,
and soon became the great centre Of East
ern commerce. The Ptolemies succeeded
Alexander, ana under them the city con-
tained 300, 900 free inhabitants and rs many
slaves. It became the centre Of learning.
aud schools Of Grecian philosophy -four
ished there. Magnificent monuments
were erected, among them the Pharos, the
Museum, and the Temple of Serapis, and
there were many gorgeous palaces and
public buildings.
Julius Caesar tesciged and took the city
in As 3. c., and eighteen years later Au-
gustus made 1t an imperial city. It now
began Fl new season Of prosperity, continu~
ing till the establishment OF the seat Of en-
pire at ConsfanCinopie. The eatacoEabs,
public baths, and Pompey'a pillar, with
the Reman city wall were erected during
this period. In the year 2l5 the Roman
Emperor Caracal!a visited rl1c city and
ordered q general massacre, and under the
rule Of Galiienus = famine swept off half
Of the population. in 273 all insurrection
resulted in the destruction Of the great H.
brary Of the museum. In 226 another re-
volt ended IN 3 general slaughter, and in
365 IN earthquake destroyed $4,000 per-
sons. The Persians captured the oigy in
6l6, and yialGed it to the Arabs in Gal. 1t
then contained 400 palaces, 400 theatres,
1000 public baths, and IL, 600 gardens.
From this time on II rapidly docayed,
and its population and trade diminished,
Cairo took its place as the chief city In
Egypt. 1t finally sank so low that in 1777
its population was only 5000. Since then
the city had been rebuilt and raised to i'm
portaRee again, 1t resensbled Ill Italian
city and had large streets, well paved,
lighted with gas, and abounding with fine
residences. The great promenade Of the
Mehemet Ali or Franks square, where the
massacre Of June Ii began, was the CEN
trail point Of the city. Railways connected
the city with Cairo $50 miles distant, and
with the Sueg Canal. The city was
great central station for passengers, ss the
steamers to and from India, the Mediter~
ranean and the Levant all stopped there
Among the prominent buildings were the
palace Of the Khedive at RaB-eI-Tin, the
large naval arsenal, the naval aud military
hospitals, the Custom House, Tribunal OF
Commerce, Italian college, and various
schools. The Turkish quarter had many
good streets and tine buildings. The city
has two harbors, one east and one west of
Pharos. The former has breakwater, |
mole, and quays. The city was supplied |
with water from the Nile, and was the |
seat of several large Government and other
manufactures. The principal exports |
were corn, cotton, wool, gums, rice, dates,
sugar, cotton seed, wheat, beans, senns,
and hides. The principal imports were
woolen and silk goods, hardware and ma
chinery, with timber, coal, petroleum.
drugs, aud other products. In 1872 the
population was 212,O34, of WHOM ~, ,s1e
were foreigners.