Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-03

the new building was recently laid by the
imperial majesty. The main hall is very
simple, the lighting uD by no means very
brilliant, and both ventilation and acoas-
ties leave much to be wished for. Gal
leries and auditors seats are always
filed to their utmost capacity when any
thing important is being debated upon
or, especially If Prince Bismarck, Wind
horst, the great leader of the Catholic
party; Richter, the eminent leader OF
the Progressive party; Sonneman, the
exponent of very democratic principles,
and visitors must obtain their cards sew
eral days beforehand to gain
admission Ali parties, viz: Con-
seryatives. Free Conservatives, Lib
erals, Poles, Danes and AlsatIans,
have in their ranks most able men and
powerful speakers. Berlin being most
progressive city augments the ranks of
the liberal parties and elects some f the
chancellor IS most powerful political enc
mics. 1t has also put into political office
some of the Social Democrats, a party
which is daily growing in strength III
spite of the Estate of seige' to which
this city is still subjected.
The population of Berlin has increased
fourfold within the last fifty years, and
increases at the rate of 4 per cent annual
", twice as much as that of London or
Paris and comparable to that of New
York. Belgian, asphalt and wood pave
ment predominates and the cleaning of
streets is most wonderfully organized.
An army of 500 steady laborers, with
nearly as many assistants, attends to this
duty, being aided by thirty sweeping
I.
The cleaning is done between u clock
at night and a. NJ Snow and dirt is
never allowed to accumulate. In sum-
mer the streets are traversed by ninety
sprinkling carts, using nearly 400 cubic
meters of water daily.
The city is ruled by one lord mayor and
two syndici, thirteen common council
men, two school boa1d councillors, two
members of board OF public works Gall
salaried} and seventeen unsalaried COM
mon councilmen, a total of thirty-four
persons. The lord mayor, Hon. Max
yon FOrckewbeck, is q Well-known mem
Der of parliament, and is greatly appre-
ciated by the citizens of Berlin. The
aldermanic college of Berlin consists of
122 unsalaried members, one chairman
and one vice-chairman. Moreover,
there are 5000 citizens deyoting
their abilities to the welfare of the
community without pay as parish elders,
members of the poor commission, school
commissioners, orphan guardians, etc.
The 'Rathhouse city hall is an impos-
ing structure situated in the center of the
city, and comprises a festival hall,
library meeting hall, which are well
worth visit from a stranger. The cost
Of this building was 200 900 marks.
On the KongsplatZ, . public square
beautifully laid out, the column of
victory rises high into the air, being Wis
IDLE for miles. 1t was erected to COM
memOrate the victories of 1864, '66, 10
and II, and the memory Of those fallen
in the battles Of these years. The plat
form of eight steps is of Silecian granite,
the square base is trimmed with dark
Swedish granite and brass, four bronze
reliefs showing the preparation of battle,
the stOrming the heights, the capitula-
ton of Sedan, and the triumphal entry
into Paris. Upon this base rests q circu-
lar hall, opened to the outside by sixteen
mOnOlith columns. The interior OF the
rotunda is filed by an categorical paint
ing in Venetian Mosaics, the invasion OF
Germany by Gallo Cesarsm and the es-
adjustment of the German empire. From
this hall rises the column of victory, of
sandstone, thrice wound round by rows
Of standing gilt cannon barrels, slung
with laurel wreaths. Upon the top
stands ''Victoria with her eagle
crowned helmet, holding in her left hand
a lance with the iron cross. The top Is
accessible by winding stairs, from where
a most magnificent panoramic view of the
CITY may be enjoyed.
Berlin has about so 900 soldiers quar-
tered in great many barracks, scat
tered through the city, so that
hardly win pass, but the visitor
will be able to witness the march from or
to the barracks Of an entire regiment or
some companies Of soldiers, and this
never fails to throng the streets with an
excited crowd of Germans who cannot, it
seems, bear to hear the strains of the
military band and fife without joining
in the PROCESSION. Everything pertain
ing to the militia is in constant readiness,
and if it was declared to-day Germany
would have her men on the road to battle
Tomorrow such is the perfection of the
German army. DURNGER.