Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-21
Al.EA ANDhIA.
Something About the City.

Modern Alexandria is built largely on
peninsula, once the island of Pharos and
now connected with the mainland by what
was formerly an artificial dyke. The old city,
founded by Alexander in 1872 b. c., became
early in its history one of the wealthicst
capitals of the East and the centre of learn
ing of the age. Its public works. palaces,
theatres. baths and gardens were unsur-
passed in number and elegance by any city
OF the time. Conquest, civil strife, fire, and
pestilence from its capture by the Romans
in AZ B. G., swept away its palaces, de-
stroyed its commerce and reduced its popu-
lation until at the opening of the present
century the naughty city of half million
controlling the commerce of the world had
become sleepy mass OF ruins occupied by
at most 5000 people.
When IN the early part of the century Me-
hemet ALI became practically master of
Egypt he saw the advantages of the old
town as port of entry, and when leisure
gave him the opportunity bent his energies
to resuscitating her. This work he left I'M
finished, but during the reign of the father
of the present khedive vast sums of money
were laid out in embellishing the city and
improving its sanitary condition. The
streets have been widened fine drives laid
out, gas introduced new palaces built, and
expensive works for harbor defence con-
structed.
The modern harbor of Alexandria lies
within the upper curve OF n bay formed by
the two projecting headlands of Ras-el-tin
on the northeast. and Cape Adjemi and
Marabout island on the southwest and
measuring six miles in length by an average
of two in width. 1t is land-lockcd on every
side except one--the southwest. To remedy
this the khedive, Ismal, began the construc-
ton of a great breakwater, an inner harbor
mole and u line of quays, which, beginning
ut point so miles southwest of the Ras-el-tin
| lighthouse, extend in this latter direction
| for nearly 1000 meters, and then, curving to
southwest, runs in straight line 1850 fur
Their, or in all about two miles across the
mouth of the harbor, enclosing an area of
more than 400 acres of still water deep
enough for vessels of the largest class.
On either eide of the peninsula upon which
the new city is partially built arc the new
and old harbors The distance to Cairo is
about 1870 miles by railway, but 1t is jour
new of five hours. The khediye's palace Of
Ras- el-tln is situated on the island, next the
modern light house and fort The arsenal
is at the inner harbor; the ancient cata-
combs on the southern shore, marking the
site of the ancient city. The interior OF the
town itself presents no features OF interest.
There are the quays, with old-fashioned,
rather squalid houses on the shore of the old
port the Arab quarter, to the south, con
sisting of mud novels; the cotton market,
the canal wharves, the railway station and
barracks, on the same side to the east, fac
ing the new port beyond Fort Napoleon, is
the Grand square, the place des consus, or
Frank square, formerly called the place
Mehemet Ali, which has, with several ada
cent streets, come to be chiefly inhabited by
European residents. 1t was in the rues DIES
Seurs In this quarter of the city that the
frightful riots of Sunday, June II, began,
and simultaneously In two other places ana
along the Marina. These parts of Alexan-
dra seem to have been quite out of sight, as
well as out of reach of the British naval
squadron lying in the harbor or in the outer
roadstead.