Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/750

 730 PORTLAND PORTO ALEGRE volumes. There are 2 daily, 1 semi-weekly, and 11 weekly (1 (German) newspapers, and 16 places of worship, viz. : 1 Baptist, 1 Chi- nese, 2 Congregational, 3 Episcopal, 2 Jewish, 3 Methodist (1 colored), 1 Presbyterian, 2 Ro- man Catholic, and 1 Unitarian. Portland was laid out in 1845, and became a city in 1851. On Aug. 2, 1873, a conflagration destroyed more than $1,000,000 worth of property, since which many brick buildings have been erected. PORTLAND, New Brunswick. See SAINT JOHN. PORTLAND, Isle of, a peninsula and parish of Dorsetshire, England, projecting into the English channel, 3 m. S. of "Weymouth, about half way between Portsmouth and Plymouth, and 50 m. S. W. of Southampton ; pop. of the parish in 1871, 9,907, including convicts, sol- diers, and non-residents employed on govern- ment works. It is nearly 4 m. long by 1 to 1-J- m. broad, and 9 m. in circumference, varies in height from 458 ft. to less than 50 ft., and is surrounded on all sides by inaccessible cliffs, excepting on the north opposite Weymouth, which is the only landing place. It is still called an island, although it has been for centuries connected with the mainland at Abbotsbury by Chesil Bank, an irregular ridge of loose shingle 10 m. long and dangerous to naviga- tion. At the S. extremity of the rocky hills is Portland Bill (anc. Vindelia Promontorium), a name occasionally given to the whole penin- sula on account of its beak-like shape. On the north stands the ponderous Portland castle, erected by Henry VIII. about 1520, which de- fends the coast and is occupied by the lieuten- ant governor of Portland. The place is espe- cially celebrated for a stupendous breakwater completed in 1872 (see BEEAKWATER), and for its freestone, called Portland stone, consisting of three kinds ; the lowest strata are the whitest and finest, and some of the stones weigh from 5 to 14 tons each. St. Paul's cathedral and many other great structures in London have been built of this stone, of which about 40,000 tons are exported annually, and the quarries are connected by a railway with the pier. As many as 700,000 tons a year were at various periods used for the breakwater. Connected with the latter are a naval station, a harbor of refuge, and batteries. A penal settlement was established here in 1848. The prison is built on elevated ground in a place called "The Grove," and has eight wings, accommodating 1,500 convicts, besides a hospital, a chapel, barracks, and cottages for the wardens. Hun- dreds of the convicts were employed on the breakwater. The fisheries are extensive, es- pecially of mackerel. The soil in the vicinity is exceedingly fertile, and sheep raised in large numbers yield the famous Portland mutton. In the neighborhood are Pennsylvania castle, built by a member of the Penn family, and the ruined Rufus or Bow and Arrow castle, built by King William Rufus. William and Henry Bentinck were respectively created earl and duke of Portland in 1G89 and 1716. PORT LOUIS, the capital of the island of Mauritius, on its N-. W. coast, at the head of a triangular bay about 10 sq. m. in area ; pop. about 40,000. It is well protected to seaward by forts which command the narrow channel opening into the bay, and by a strong citadel which commands all approaches. The town is open to the ocean on one side, and on the other sides enclosed by picturesque mountains. It is very regularly built, the streets crossing each other at right angles ; but it is badly paved and drained. The Champ de Mars is a beauti- ful semicircular plain, used as a parade ground for the garrison and a race course. There are few fine buildings, and but slight attempts at ornamentation of the town. The government house, barracks, and many other large build- ings, begun or erected by the French, are still in fair preservation, but are inconvenient and unattractive. A conspicuous structure is the large railway station, the terminus of the North- ern and Midland railways, which have been constructed within the past 12 years to connect Port Louis with Grand river, 30 m., and Mah- bourg, 35 m. distant. A dry dock was opened in 1859, capable of taking in a vessel 365 ft. long ; it is 80 ft. wide at the top and 40 at bot- tom, and has 23 ft. of water on the sill at high tide. Two lighthouses have been completed, the main light on Flat island, with a subsidiary one on Cannonier point. Mail steamers arrive monthly. There are convents, churches, and schools, a theatre, and a considerable number of large commercial houses. Of late years the prosperity of Port Louis has declined, fevers having become so prevalent that many have deserted it for other towns. PORT MAHOX, the capital of the island of Minorca, 2 m. from the mouth of a bay of the Mediterranean, in lat. 39 52' N. and Ion. 4 20' E. ; pop. about 12,000. The city is of modern construction, and contains some fine public buildings and several schools and char- itable institutions. Many of the houses are built on ledges of rock projecting over the sea. They are usually of stone, and have a neat and attractive appearance. The bay forms one of the finest harbors in the Mediterranean. It extends about 5 m. inland, having a narrow entrance between ledges of rock. It is defend- ed by batteries mounting heavy guns. Port Mahon is a naval station, and has salt works and establishments for preserving oysters ; but there are few manufactures. PORTNEUF, a county of Quebec, Canada, on the N. bank of the St. Lawrence, just above Quebec ; area, 7,256 sq. m. ; pop. in 1871, 23,- 216, of whom 20,296 were of French and 1,875 of Irish origin or descent. It is watered by the St. Maurice, Batiscan, and St. Anne rivers, and other streams. Capital, Cap-Sante. PORTO ALEGRE, a maritime city of Brazil, capital of the province of Sao Pedro or Rio Grande do Sul, on the Rio Jacuhy, near itf mouth, 710 m. S. W. of Rio de Janeiro ; pop, about- 15,000. The streets are regularly laid