Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-08-02
The Ruined City.

Alexander the Great sought to found
city after the destruction of Tyre,
and in 332 B. G. selected the site of
Alexandria because of its excellent po-
sition for trade. 1t is twelve miles
west of the western Nile and between
the Mediterranean Sea and Lake Mare
otis. The city grew rapidly, and soon
became the great centre of Eastern
commerce. The Ptolemies succeeded
Alexander, and under them the city
contained 800, 900 free inhabitants and
as many slaves. 1t became the centre
of learning, and schools of Grecian
philosophy fourished there. Magnif-
cent monuments were erected, among
them the Pharos, the Museum, and the
Temple of Serapis, and there were
many gorgeous places and public
buildings.
Julius Caesar beseiged and took the
city in 48 B. c., and eighteen years
later Augustus made it an imperial
city, 1t now began new season OF
prosperity, continuing till the establish
ment of the seat of empire at Constan-
tinople. The catacombs, public baths,
and Pompey's pillar, with the Roman
CITY wall were erected during this
period. In the year 2l5 the Roman
Emperor Caracalla visited the city and
ordered general massacre, and under
the rule of Gallienus q famine swept
off half Of the population. In 273 an
insurrection resulted in the destruction
of the great library Of the museum.
In 296 another revolt ended in a gen.
eral slaughter, and IN 365 an earth
quake destroyed 10000 persons. The
Persans captured the city in 6l6, and
yielded it to the Arabs GAL. 1t then
contained 400 palaces, 100 theatres,
1000 public baths, and $4,000 gar
dens.
From this time on it rapidly decay
ed, and its population and trade d.
minished. Cairo took its place rs the
chief city of Egypt. 1t fhally sank so
lew,that in l777 its population was
| only6, 900. Since then the city has
been rebuilt and raised to importance
again. 1t rescmbled an Italian city
and had large streets, well paved and
| lighted with gas, and abounding with
fine residences. The great promenade
of the Mehemet Ali or Franks square,
where the massacre of June IL began,
was the central point of the city.
Railways connected the city with
Cairo l3O miles distant, and with the
Suez Canal The city was q great
central station for passengers, as the
steamers to and from India, the Medi-
terranean and the Levant all stop there.
Among the prominent buildings were
the palace of the Khedive at Ras-el
Tin, the large naval arsenal, the naval
and military hospitals, the Custom
House, Tribunal of Commerce, Italian
college, and the various schools. The
Turkish quarter was irregular, but
the European quarter had many good
streets and fine buildings. The city
has two harbors, one east and one
west of Pharos. The former has q
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, gum, rice, dates, sugar, cotton
seed, wheat, beaps, SIENNA and hides.
The principal imports were woollep
and silk goods. hardware and machin-
cry, with timber, coal, petroleum,
drugs. and other products. In 1872
the population was 2l2,034, of whom
At, l6 were foreigners.