Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-11-25

The pasture land is free, and 3 held
in common by unwritten and recorded
titles by those who occupy it with
their flocks and herds. The forests
have also been free unlil recently.
and anyone who chose to do so was
at liberty to cut whatever timber he
needed for his own use without pay
ment but the police exercised super
visory authority to prevent wholesale
destruction of the trees for CONNER
cial purposes. Forty-seven per cent
of the entire territory is in pasture
and sheep. goats, cattle. horses and
pigs are raised in large numbers. The
wool product of Bulgaria is the great
est source of wealth, and is sent to
Austria and Germany. The exports
of hides and skins are next in value
not lesss than 5000. 900 sheep pelts be-
ing shipped annually The principal
agricultural product is wheat. which
goes to Germany and Turkey. and a
very important and profitable industry
| is the distillation of altar of roses,
which is carried on in the provinces
bordering on the Black Sea
Sofia. the capital and commercial
center, is situated in the southwestern
corner OF Bulgaria on an elevated
plain, at the base of Mount Vitosch,
a beautiful peak 1900 feet high Its
| head is usually clothed in the clouds.
and perpetual snow lies in the wrink-
les upon its face. The cloud move
ments and other atmospheric effects
add greatly to its picturesqueness
I q.
its breast are livid with scarlet and
yellow foliage, which reaches to the
snow line and affords a striking and
lovely contrast.
The base Of the mountain is only
Few miles from the city. and eXcur-
sions to 1t are one OF the few amuse-
ments in which foreigners can indulge
in warm weather. They have very
little diversion. There are no the
aters-only one little variety show
no concerts, except occasionally by a
military band attached to the palace,
and only a limited amount of social
entertainment. The foreign colony
must therefore find its fun in driving,
riding. picnicking and playing tennis.
Golf has not been introduced. for the
natives take little interest in such
ports. The foreign colony is small.
and limited almost entirely to the
diplomatic representatives of the Eu-
ropean countries. A few Austrians
and Germans are engaged in business
affairs, several Belgian engineers run
the electric light and street car lines,
and there are one Englishman and
ttrn A t.
sionary teachers.
The city covers a considerable area.
and looks as if a building boom had
been suddenly checked, which is
true. Prince Alexander was a great
promoter Under his administration
Bulgaria made extraordinary progress,
and Sofia started upon promising
career. Stambuloff took up the work
where Alexander left it at his abdica
ton, and carried out many of his
schemes, but since the Bulgarian
Bismarck" was relieved as prime min
lister little has been done in the way
of public or private improvement.
The stagnation is said to be due in a
measure to lack of confidence in the
stability of the present government,
and to the fact that Prince Ferdinand
is interested in other things One
must infer that he takes little pride
in the appearance of his capital and
and does not encourage the expendi
ture of money upon public works.
Shortly before he retired Stambul-
off purchased an entire block of
ground opposite the palace, upon
lit l,a ;,,t- IA,l -.
ficent building for the offices of the
government. The plans were drawn
by an Austrian architect, excavations
were made for the foundation and cell
lars, and large quantity of cut stone
was delivered by the contractors. A
few days after Stambuloff's retirement
work was suspended and has never
been resumed. Several train loads 'of
granite lie scattered over the ground;
the cellar is half filled with water dur
ing the wet season and overgrown
with weeds during the dry months.
Every stranger who comes to Sofia
instinctively asks an explanation, but
Prince Ferdinand. who always has
this reproachful panorama before
him, seems to be entirely Indifferent
to 1t, The palace is fine building in
F'renchy style. surrounded by pleas
ant grounds and facing public park
that is well laid out with foliage
plants and fountains. and is a pleas
ure ground for the people.
The old city. or the Turkish quar-
ter" as ii is called, resembles patch
of Constantinople. and has the low
arohe walls, the heavy tiled roofs,
the deep windows and the narrow
streets of oriental cities, with long
blocks OF bazaars kept by Turks and
Jews. who have most of their wares
| displayed upon the sidewalks. This
is by far the most interesting section
of the town to strangers. The shops
are open so that the visitor is able to
watch the artisans at their work. The
trades seem to he grouped together
the shoemakers in one bunch, the tall
ors in another. the butchers. bakers,
brassworkers. tinsmiths and other peo-