Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 01.djvu/390

ALEXANDRIA. city entered upon a new era of prosperity under the wise rule of Mehemet Ali. During the disturbances in connection with the rebellion of Arabi Pasha (q.v.), Alexandria was bombarded by the English fleet under Admiral Seymour, July 11-12, 1882.

Modern Alexandria is divided into two parts. The peninsula between the eastern and western harbors is inhabited chiefly by Mohammedans. It has crooked and narrow streets, a large number of mosques, and with the exception of the palaces of the wealthy Turks, few buildings worthy of notice. The European quarter is situated on the mainland south of the eastern harbor. It is well built, and has many of the improvements essential to a modern city. The centre of the European city is the Mehemet Ali Square, containing the statue of Mehemet Ali and surrounded by the official buildings and the finest residences of the Europeans. There are three theatres, a number of churches of different denominations, and the museum of Græco-Roman antiquities. Alexandria has two harbors. The eastern is accessible only for vessels of very light draught, and is used mostly by fishing vessels. The western harbor is the chief shipping centre, and is visited annually by over 2800 vessels, with a total tonnage of about 2,500,000. There is, besides, the outer harbor, protected by a mole nearly two miles long. Alexandria is at present one of the chief commercial ports on the Mediterranean and the principal port of Egypt. The chief articles of export are grain, cotton, beans, sugar, and rice. With Cairo, Alexandria is connected by rail since 1855 and by the Mahmudieh Canal. Along the latter are situated the summer residences of the Europeans. It is also connected by cable lines with Malta, Cyprus, Crete, and Port Said. The population was 320,000 in 1897. It consists chiefly of Mohammedans, with about 50,000 Europeans, mostly Greeks and Italians. Consult: Sharpe, Alexandrian Chronology (London, 1857); Kingsley, Historical Lectures and Essays (New York, 1889). See.

ALEXANDRIA, ilTeks-an'dre-a. The principal town of the district of the same name in the government of Kherson, Russia, situated at the confluence of the Berezovka and Ingulets rivers, 216 miles from the city of Kherson, and about 950 miles from St. Petersburg. The principal occupations of its inhabitants are farming and cattle-raising, and much activity is displayed in its tanning, soap, and candle-making industries. Population, in 1885, 17,400; in 1897, 14,000.

AL'EXAN'DRIA. A magnificent villa and country seat in Peterhoff, one of the summer residences of the imperial family of Russia. Planned at the initiative of Alexander I., the noble structure was finished and the splendid grounds laid out only in 1830, during the reign of Nicholas I.

ALEXANDRIA. A city in Madison Co., Indiana, 48 miles northeast of Indianapolis, on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis, and Lake Erie and Western railroads (Map: Indiana, D 2). It has extensive manufactures of glass, paper mills, and iron and steel works. The city owns and operates its own water works. Alexandria was first settled in 1834, and is governed under a charter of 1893, which provides for a city council of six members, and places the mayor's term at four years. Pop., 1890, 715; 1900, 7221.

ALEXANDRIA. A city and county seat of Rapides Parish, La., 196 miles northwest of New Orleans, on the Red River, and on the Southern Pacific, the Texas and Pacific, the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf, the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern, and other railroads (Map: Louisiana, C 2). It has fine government, high school, and bank buildings, and is across the river from a national cemetery which contains 1308 graves. Until the Civil War the State University was situated two miles north of the city. Alexandria is the seat of important commercial and manufacturing interests, principally in cotton, cottonseed oil and cake, sugar, molasses, etc. Settled in 1820, Alexandria was incorporated twenty years later. Under a charter of 1898 the government is vested in a mayor, elected biennially, and a city council, which controls appointments of the majority of administrative officials. The water works and electric light plant are owned and operated by the municipality. Pop., 1890, 2861; 1900, 5648.

ALEXANDRIA. A city and port of entry in Alexandria County, Va., on the Potomac River, about six miles below Washington, and on the Southern, the Pennsylvania, the Baltimore and Ohio, and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroads (Map: Virginia, G 3). Alexandria is 100 miles from the mouth of the Potomac, but the stream which forms its harbor is a mile wide. The city is accessible to large vessels, and, therefore, is able to control an extensive and increasing trade. It has several shoe factories, flour mills, machine shops, planing mills, fertilizer plants, glass works, chemical works, brick works, and breweries. The city owns and operates its gas and electric light plants, and has a public library, and notably good schools. Alexandria was first incorporated in 1749, and is now governed by a charter of 1879, as revised in 1895. The mayor is elected biennially, and the city council is a bicameral body. The people elect all the important officers, such as treasurer, auditor, tax collector, etc., the city council electing the rest; the mayor has no power of appointment. At Alexandria, originally called Belhaven, Braddock made his headquarters before marching against the French in 1755, and here, on April 13, the governors of New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia met to concert plans for the expedition. Alexandria lay within the territory ceded by Virginia to the United States in 1789, but was retroceded in 1846, and again became a part of Virginia in 1847. In 1814, the inhabitants, terrified by the approach of a British fleet, secured immunity from attack by paying the equivalent of about $100,000. During the Civil War Alexandria was occupied by Federal troops, and was the capital of that part of Virginia which adhered to the Union and recognized Pierrepont as governor. Washington was one of the first vestrymen of Old Christ Church here. Pop., 1890, 14,339; 1900, 14,528. Consult Celebration of the First Centennial of the Municipal Government of Alexandria (Alexandria, 1880).

ALEXANDRIA. A village and county seat of Douglas Co., Minnesota. 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis, on the Great Northern Railroad (Map: Minnesota, C 5). It is admirably situa-