Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/692

* BUDAPEST. 614 BUDAPEST. of the leading capitals of Europe, the changes and improvements introduced since the granting of the new Hungarian Constitution in 1868 have been highly important. One of the first great problems which confronted the authorities was to provide better sanitary conditions for the city. A huge filtering plant was established for the treatment of the Danube water, which had hitli- erto been used unfiltered for drinking purposes; and the system of sewers was largely extended and improved, although refuse is still discharged into the river. The overcrowded dwellings of the poor and the damp cellars which slieltered a great part of the working people were found also to contribute largely to the high death-rate. To remedy this, ordinances were passed proliibiting living in cellars, a great many of the crowded quarters were demolished, and in place of the one-story dwellings formerly so numerous, large airy tenements of from three to four stories have been erected. At the head of Budapest's educational institu- tions is the university, fovmded in 1G35 at Tyrnau, which was removed to Buda in 1777, and to Pest in 1783, and in 18fi7 was completely transformed from a German to a Hungarian basis. Next fol- low the Academy of Sciences, for the fostering of the Maygar language and the sciences; the Royal Polytechnic : the Royal Veterinary Col- lege; the Roman Catholic and Reformed semina- ries, and the Military Academy (Ludovica). There are some 10 gymnasia, a number of high schools, over 30 upper grammar schools, and more than 160 elementary schools, in which both Hun- garian and German are taught. In addition to these there are innumerable mercantile and trade schools of every description, music and art schools, and educational institutions for the blind and for the deaf and dumb. The charitable in- stitutions include a large general municipal hos- pital, two belonging to the Red Cross Society, two military hospitals, and a number of others run by various charitable organizations, several lunatic asylums, a blind asylum, two orphan asylums, and two poorliouses. Perhaps the most important branch of indus- try is the production of flour and bran in the model mills, which have made Budapest one of the greatest milling centres in the world. In connection with this industry the municipality built a huge grain-elevator on the Danube quay, for the purpose of demonstrating the modern methods of handling grain. The manufactures have developed within late years into gn'at prom- inence and embrace a wide variety of articles. Among the more important are machinery, agri- cnltural implements, carriages, cutlery, glass, majolica, porcelain, metal and leather wares, musical and scientific instruments, starch, ce- ment, liquors, and beer. There are also a large Government firearms factory, three Government tobacco factories and shipbuilding yards. Buda- pest is not only the largest industrial centre of Hungary, but contains tlic greater part of its modern" large industrial establislimcnts. The numljer of stock companies doing business in the citv increased from 42 in 18S!t to 140 in 1898, and their capital from $18,000,000 in the former year to .$6ii,000,000 in the latter. The trade is of jjerhaps greater importance than tlic manifac- tures, the chief articles of commerce being grain, wine, alcohol, tobacco, hemp, honey, wax, hides, feathers, and cattle, sheep, and swine. In 1880 the imports amoinlcd in metric tons to 1,566,- 238, the exports 806.41!); in 1890, 2,420,027 and 1,322,718, and in 1898, 4,606,.584 and 1,860,824 respectively. The connncrcial im|)ortance of Budapest is materially increased by the fact that it is the central point of all the Hunga- rian railways, and in consequence the greater part of the agricultural produce is exported by way of the capital. The Danube also plays a prominent part in its commercial activity, as most of the grain is brought from the interior in huge barges, often having a ca|)aeity of over 600 tons, by way of this great waterway and its tributaries. As regards its street railway facili- ties, Budapest compares favorably with any of the great capitals. It l)ears the distinction of being the first city successfully to demonstrate the entire practicability of the electric imder- ground trolley system. The first line was opened in 1889, and has proved entirely satisfactory, both from a mechanical and financial standpoint. An electric underground road opened in 1896 extends from the Giselaplatz near the river to the Stadtwilldchen ; innumerable overhead trol- ley lines and steam tramways connect the capital with its suburbs and neighboring towns, while the various hills on the Buda side of the river are ascended by cable or cog roads. Most of these lines were built and operated by private companies, but at the expiration of their char- ters are to become the pr(q)erty of the city. The growth of population is shown by the following figures: in 1780 it was 35,21.5; in 1810, 60,2.59; in 1841, 107,240; in 1880, 360,551; in 1890, 492,237; in 1900. 713,383, or an increase of more than 45 per cent, in the last decade of the cen- tury. History. It is known that in the Second Cen- tury Buda was the site of a Roman camp, Aquin- cum. Pest is first heard of in the Thirteentli Century, when it appears as a populous town inhabited mainly by Germans. In 1444 Matthias Cftrvinus fortified Buda and made it the capital of the country, but the citadel fell into the hands of the Turk>'after the liattle of Mohfics in 1526, and from 1541 remained continuously in their possession till l(i86. During this period of 160 years it stood six sieges, while the town of Pest was almost com))letely destroyed. Reoccupicd by the Hapsbvirgs in 1686, Buda became a free Im- ])crial city and [)rospered wonderfully in spite of a disastrous inundation which wiped out a large part of the town in 1838. On May 21. 1848. after a heroic defense by Hentzi, the citadel of Buda was stormed by the Hungarians under Giirgei, and Pest was for a brief time the capital of the revolutionary government. After the Aiisi/liich of 1867 Pest became the capital of the Hungarian Kingdom. In 1873 Buda and Pest were united BiBLlouuAi'uy. Szalay and Kahn, Die Ungar- isvlw Melropolc (Budapest, 1889) ; Hevest, Hudapest und Heine Umytbungen (Budapest, 1873) ; "Budapest und Fiume," in Oesterrcich- ixch-Vtigarische Monarchic in Wort und liild, ^'ol. Ili. (Vienna, 1893) ; GellC-ri, IJngarns Mil- Iciniium (1896); Kiiriisy, Ktntistisches Jahr- hiich der Unnpt- und licsidcnz-Sladt liudapest (Hudapest. 1891) : Shaw, Municipal flovem- mcnt in Continental Europe (New York, 1897) ; Lewis, "Antiquities at Buda-Pest." in Archmo- logical Journal, Vol. L. (London, 1893).
 * is Budapest.