Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-08-05
TIE ROmbarsled CitY.

by Alexander the Great 1872 b. c. but
the island of Pharos was from an
early period refuge Of Greek aud
Phmnician sea roYer5, fact com
memorated in the name Pirates
Bay" given to deep indentation
I on the north side Of the island, and
on the mainland was the little town
of Rhacotis, subsequently incorpo-
rated in the quarter Of that name.
The modern city stands partly on
what was the island of Pharos, now
a peninsula, but mostly on the is
thmus by which it is connected
with the mainland
In the Turkish quarters the streets
are narrow, irregular and filthy, and
the houses mean and ill-built. The
Frank quarter, on the other hand,
! presents the appearance Of a Euro
pean town, having handsome streets
and squares and excellent shops.
! The streets have been very much
improved lately, by being all paved
The principal hotels, shops and Of
fees are situated in the Great Square,
| the centre Of which forms a very
agreeable promenade, being planted
With trees and well provided with
seats. 1t has also a fountain at each
end. In the suburbs are numerous
handsome villas, with pleasant gar
dens. Among the principal public
buildings are the palace of the pasha,
the naval arsenal, custom house, the
naval and military hospitals, b0urse,
! two theatres, several mosques, con-
vents, churches, etc. There is an
| important naval school, and num-
| Der of educational institutions.
Alexandria has two ports, an east
ern and western. The latter, call
ed also the Old Port, is by far the
! larger and better Of the two. 1t eX
| tends from the town westward TO
Marabout, nearly six miles, and is
about Il mile and half in width.
1t has three principal entrances.
| The first, or that nearest the city,
has about seventeen feet Of water,
| but is narrow and difficult of access,
and only used by small vessels and
boats. The second or middle, which
| is also the principal entrance, is
about quarter OF mile wide, and
has where shalloweSt, tWenty-SeVen
feet of water. The eastern side of
this entrance is marked by buoys,
and there are landmarks for guild
ing to the channel. The third, or
western boundary about three Fights
of mile from Marabout Island, is
about "a half mile wide, and las
from twenty-five to twenty.seVen
feet of water where shallOWeSt.
Within the harbor ships may anchor
close to the town IN from twenty to
forty feet of water Further I'm.
prOVemeuts, in course of cOustruc.
| ton by a firm OF English contractors
| lat cost to the Egyptian Govern
ment of little short of two million
sterlings) Will eventually render this
one of The finest and largest bar
bors in the Mediterranean. Among
! these are the formation Of breakWat-
er, extending in Il s0uthWesternly
! direction parallel to the shore for
1850 yards southwest of the Cape
Eunostos light house; mole spring.
ing in a northernly direction Tor -
100 yards, and having a width OF leo
| feet: and the construction OF nearly
three miles Of quays and Wharyes,
for vessels of the largest size, ana
with railway connections The tOun-
| datiOn stone Of the breakWater was
| laid by the Yiceroy on May Is, 1871.
The area of deep water, thirty feet
and upward, Enclosed within the
outer 6reakWater is 400 acres; the
area of twenty eight feet OF water,
iuclOsed by the haIbor mole will be
III acres The workshops of the
| company are at the quarries OF Mex,
/ about three miles west Of the town.
/ In the harboC is a magnificent float
| ing dock, nearly 500 feet long and
100 feet broad. The old lighthouse,
on the sight of the ancient PharOs,
| having been found insufficient, a
new lighthouse has been erected ON
/ Ba5-ci-teen, bearing one minute
/ revolving light, visible al distance
of twenty miles The eastern, or
new port, formerly the only port
opened to Christians, is now little
used, being exposed to the northern
gales, and having very limited space
for anchorage.
The population of Alexandria is
of a very mixed character,consistin
besides the native Arabs and Turks,
of Armenians, Greeks, Syriaus, En-
glish, French, Germans, Italians,
etc. At one time the ancient city
is believed to have contained 600
! 0-0 inhab tants, but at the begun
ming of this century the number
probably did not exceed 8 O00 In
1925 this had increased TO 10000; i'm
/ 1910 to 10000 and in 1871 to PIG, SOP,
% - "a g. t.s,. .rt