Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-18
.CONSTANTINOPLE
HAS HAD A BOOM
City Has Grown Far Beyond
Walls Of Ancient Capital
MANY IMPROVEMENTS NOTED

Germans Soon to Have Express Trains
Running Between Berlin and Turkish
City Via Vienna and sofia--Thsir
Efficiency In Conducting War Strik-
insly illustrated.
Nothing better illustrates the Ger
man system Of conducting the war
than the manner in which their rail
ways are operated. In couple OF days
after the fall Of Warsaw the Germans
had through express trains In opera.
tion between Brussels and the Russian
city, going through Berlin. Now, since
they have opened the way to Turkey,
the German railroad officials are ready
to establish through service between
Berlin and Constantinople via Vienna
and Sofa. A glance at the map Illus
trates the magnitude of this achieve
ment, az the distance is approximate
ly 1900 miles.
Interest in the war Is now centered
around the Turkish capital and In
Greece, and many close observers are
of the opinion that the result depends
on the outcome IN the Balkans. Thus
Constanthople is one Of the most in
teresting cities in all Europe at this
time.
Constantinople extends far beyond
the ancient walled city Of the emper-
/ MI toh h1
tory known today as Stamboul. This
promontOry, bounded on the north by
the poetic Golden Horn, which, extend.
ing some miles inland, forms perhaps
the most magnificent harbor in the
world, and on the south by the blue
waters Of the Marmora, is indeed the
most enchanting part of the city, but
the present population, estimated at
about q. million and quarter could
not be housed within its borders. Fac
Ing the eastern side of Stamboul, on
the Asiatlc shores of the Bosporus and
Marmora, stand the ancient cities of
Calcedon Kadikewy) and Chrysopolis
(ScutarD. These now form part of
Constantinople. Across the Golden
Horn to the north, up the slopes of the
hill crowned by Galata tower, built by
the Genoese, houses upon houses are
so crowded together that, looked at
from the sea, It would seem as though
there were no streets to separate them,
Many vhlaass on Shores.
The shores OF the Bosporus- are
strewn with villages, some insignif-
cant, some fairly considerable, all OF
them part OF the city. TO the west,
beyond the Ieyen towers and the mag
niftcent marble gate through which the
emperors rode In splendor, numerous
other villages have sprung up, and to.
day Constantlnople may be said to ex.
tend to o length Of some twenty miles.
The coast running south from Kadi-
kewy and the Princes islands IL also
Included in the city, 20 that in width,
too, there ia very great difference
since the days Of the Turkish conquest
Constantine founded his capital In
S2S and for 1,l00 years 1t was
Christian city. Walking the narrow
streets today one comes across here
a mosque which was once a Christian
church, there Greek Inscription, here |
a column with beautiful capital, there |
the foundation of once cleaning |
bronze column. But most wonderful |
Of all stands that noble edlnce. the
church, now mosque, Of St Sophia. |
Built on the top OF the first hill, i'm
mediately behind the site of the en-.
peror's palace, 1t dominates the city.
Its dome, outlined against the horizon,
catches the eye from every point Of
view.
What has at. Sophia not seen? The
crowning OF emperors With all the
pomp and ceremony, empresses riding
In state into the spacious ladies' gal
lery. QuarrelS, intrlgues and, lastly, a !
conquered emperor fleeing TO II for
refuge from tho invading Turk. All
these form a succession OF events
whose narrative holds one In spell.
The conQuerlng Turk did not In any
way lessen the romance OF the life In
the city, and today the charm Is stu
there. Who, having once threaded his
way through the fascinating bazaars,
does not picture again the quaint shops
with venders sitting cross legged on
the floor, the curious old arches, the
oriental crowds In their gay colorsl
Since the revolution and counter.
revolution OF 1909 much has been done
to improve tho general aspect of the
city, and also to facilitate communi-
cation. A splendid new bridge has
been thrown across the Golden Horn,
streets have been wldcned and paved,
electric trans have taken the place OF
horse trans, public parks have been
opened IN various parts OF the city,
the Turkish postofllce has been re.
organized, and last, but not least, a
telephone system has been established.
The Turk Is polite TO a fault He IL
often shocked by the brusqueness OF
the westcrner His sense OF humor is
large. His inimitablc way OF story
telling is provcrbial. Those who have
known him intimately have found him
, generous host, a kindly nelghbor and
A good rOmrn1e hut ns n riilpr ouite