St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-12
LONDON.
Area, Population and Wealth of
the Worlds Greatest N1etropO-

Area, Population and Wealth of
the Worlds Greatest Metropo-
| lis.
New York World.
In area, population and wealth Lon
don ranks first among the cities of the
world. 1t covers 1,032 square miles, and
stretches for thirteen miles along the
rolling ground of the Thames valley. Its
population is about five millions, or over
three times The size of New York. AS
the city has been growing since the
| days of ancient Rome. it has come to in
| clude many places that were once out
| lying towns. That partof the city lying
| north of the river Is the most important
| part, and contains the mOnty-maklng
city and West end, with its homes and
parks, while between the two is that
celebrated old law quarter. the Temple.
The river. whose banks are walled in
by massive granite dykes. is lined with
'WharVeS and warehouses. and crowded
with all kinds of vessels in which nearly
every nation of the world is represented.
Even though this commerce is confined
to vessels of 500 tons or under, yet one
half OF England's customs revenues
and one-fourth of its whole ship tonnage
are centcred in this busy scene.
AS Ole goes up the river from the
docks he comes to London bridge, the
oldest and most used of the many
bridges that span the Thames. as it runs
through London.
The early history Of London, like
. that of Rome, is shrouded III obscurity.
The first authentic account OF it is that
OF the Ro'uan Gen. Tacitus. who nearly
two centuries after CesaT's Invasion
described it as the chief residence OF
merchants and great mart Of trade and
commerce. In the year 65S it was raw
aged and nearly deporuIated by ter
rible plague. Nearly POO years later it
was taken by the terrible Danish sea-
kings, who burned il and put the larger
number Of the inhabitants to the sword.
Alfred the Great defeated the Danes,
and shortly afterward rebuilt the city
92l the Abbey of Westminster having
been burned by the Daues. was rebuilt
by King Edgar under the influence or
that renowned puller of the devils nose,
st. Dunstan. A stout resistance was
given to William the ConQueror in 1866,
and he was not admitted until he had
promised not to injure the city or in
habltantS Ill any way. 1t is needless
to say that they soon experienced the
usual coartesies of the Normahs. In
1866 one of the worst fires in the history
of the world burned nearly fiye-siXths
CT the city, making the country for ten
miles around as light as day.
From this time until the present day
London has been comparatively free
from fire, plaques and the dangers of
war
Probably no building or buildings IN
the city have more historic associations
than the Tower of London. The ancient
fortress was begun by William the
Conqueror, though Henry III. built the
larger part of if. 1t covers nearly thir
teen acres of ground and is completely
surrounded by mOat. Nearly every
tower, gate and corridor has its story,
which generally dates back to the dark
days OF the Middle Ages.
Up Fleet street and Ludgate hill
stands the Cathedral or st. Paul. This
handsome edifce was planned by Sir
Christopher Wren, who also designed
many of England's most famous build
ings. This grand church is 500 feet
long, and, being in the shape of a cross,
has arms half as wide. 1t is a massive
structure crowned by one of the grand
est dOmeS IN the world.
Far up old Cheapside, one of the great
shoD-ined streets OF the city, stands
the most important bank of the world
the bank of England. This is, taken,
as a whole, very plain looking build
ing, considering the vast amount
of money which passes through it. for
it manages not only its own immense
business, but the debt of the govern
ment also.
One of the most magnificent of Lon
don's buildings is Westminster abbey.
This grand old edifice is built in the
form of a cross. in the Gothic style. 1t
is over 500 feet long, and, excluding
the grand nave, choir and transept,
contains nine chapels, cOnsecrated to
different saints. Standing at the west
ern end of the great nave an excellent
view Of the interior of this ancient edi-
flee car be obtaieed. On every side are
choir, transepts, chapels and cloisters
filled with sculptures, keeping alive the
distinguished names of England's dead.