The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-07-20
Alexandria.
ALEXANDRIA. July

Modern Alexandria occupies only part OF
the site of its predecessors, being chiefly built
on the isthmus that connects what was once
the classic island of Pharos with the mainland,
on which the old city stood. Successive al
luvial deposits have widened this mOie-the
ancient Heptastadiunl-into broad neck of
land, the seward end of which is occupied by
the palace of Ras-elTeen, the arsenal, and
several other Government buildings, after
which, mainandwards comes the modern
town. East and west of this peninsula lie the
two harbors, called the new and old ports.
The former of these. being completely exposed
t. the north winds and incumbered with rocks
and shoals, has long been disused except by
small native craft, though it was not till the
beginning Of the present century that the
much larger and safer western harbor was
thrown open to Christian vessels. This latter
is situated at the northeast end Of the bay, ad-
joining the southern aud western sides of the
city ia Il nearly semi Circular form, and e1-
tending from the palace of Ras-elteen. by the
arsenal dock, to the terminus of the Cairo
Railway at 9abari.
The old lighthouse still occupies the site of
the ancient Pharos on a rocky projection
stretching northeast into the entrance of
the new port; but in 1872 after the opening of
the old ha, Dor to Christian shipping, its dis
lance from the latter and the lowness Of its
light induced Mehemet Ali to build a new
tower on EunOstus now, called Ras-elTeem
Point ct the southwestern extremity of the
peninsula, whence a 2-second revolving light
of the first class, since erected by the Khe-
dive, flashes its friendly warning twenty miles
out to sea- Nearly a mile behind this
stands the viceregal palace built by
Mehemet Ali, to whose ambition is also
due the fine arsenal that forms the next prin-
<cipal object of interest between the peninsula
and the modern town. The development of
Il Is last has been mainly eastward, towards
the Ramleh Railway stat on, which only seven
years ago lay far outside the city, but is now
connected with it by fine rows of bouley I'd
like houses, let out in chops below and flats
above at rents little below the average
of similar buildings in Paris. In this
direction, too, an admirable road along
the Mahmoudieh Canal attracts on Fridays
and otne+ fets days crowds of private
carriages, many of which might fifty figure in
tho Bots of Hyde Park. OF the whole city. in
deed, it may be said that although still pie
bald" as Eliot Warburton found it q quarter
of century ago." one-half Europe with its
regular houses tail, and white, and stiff; the
other half Oriental, with its mud-colored
buildings and terraced roofs, varied with fat
mosques and lean minaretS"-the municipal
irnproy elnents effected by the Khediye have
in respect of lighting, paving. police and
cleanliness raised the large Frank quarter es-
pee ally to level with most second-class
French and English towns and placed it half q
century ahead of even the Christian faubourg
OF Constantinople. 81, .. -.....gs.-fs -..ss,,I
.. THE HARBoR. ri .;gsaEEa Cs 4
The modern harbor of Alexandria, in which
the trade of the port is now carried on, lies
within the upper curve Of bay formed by
the two projecting headlands of Ras-elTeen
on the northeast and Cape Adjemi and Mara
bout Island on the southwest, and measuring
six miles in length by an average of two in
width. 1t is landlocked ON every side except
one-the southwest. The wind from this di-
rection is, however, the prevailing one during
eight. or nine months of the year, and
from time immemorial the ssea" thus occa-
stoned has seriously impeded the loading and
discharge of vessels in the roadstead by stone
fighters. as the custom has hitherto been. The
importance Of remedying this great drawback
on the convenience of his chief port has been
felt by the Khedive from soon after his Access
sion, but it was not till the threatened rivalry
OF tine suez Canal had emphasized the necessi-
ty, that he finally decided on carrying out a
work of such magnitude and cost. 1
Commc ncing at a point fifty meters south
west of the aas-el-Teen Lighthouse, the outer
brea,kwater extends first in tn s latter direc- /
top for ne MY Loco IN sters, and then curving
to outh-southwests runs in straight iine2 $50
meters further, or in all above two miles across
the mouth of the 1harbof, inclosing an area of
more than LOO acres Of still water deep enough
for vessels OF the largest class. The prime pal
entrance to the port is now, therefore, round
the southwestern end of the breakwater
which is l5S0 meters from the shore,
while the narrow passagess of Has-eltTeen
affords ingress ard egress only to small craft
and shore boats. AS in the case of the great
moles at Port SAID, this outer sea-wall has
been constructed, up TO the water level, Of
huge blocks Of concrete, manufactured at the
Mex quarries of sand and Theii
liH.s and Deposited pellnaell on the seaside,