Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/189

* COLOGNE. 155 COLOGNE. The Ringstrasse, a statelj- boulevard four n'iles long, occupies the site of the ancient wall.s, dis- mantled in lSSl-85. A new line of fiirtifioations established beyond the Eingstrasse covers 1000 acres, and has doubled the city's area. Among the public buildings the churches claim the greatest share of attention, the splendid specimens of the Komanesque period being more numerous than in any other city in the world. The oldest is the t'liurch of Saint Gereon, said to have been founded by the Em- press Helena; the choir, with its two square towers, was added in the eleventh centuiy. and the decagonal nave dates from 1219-27. Saint Maria ira Capitol, consecrated in 1409, is a cru- ciform basilica of imposing appearance. The interior is decorated with fine frescoes. The Apostles' Church, a remarkably fine basilica, presents the best specimen of the highly developed style of architecture, in which the ecclesiastical enthusiasm and civic love of splendor found ex- pression toward the end of the twelfth century; and the Church of Saint Cunibert, dating from the middle of the thirteenth century, is a |)romi- nent example of the transition style. The Church of Gross Saint Martin was consecrated in 1172; its massive eastern portion has an imposing tow- er, 270 feet high. The Jesuits' Church, erected in 1618-29, may be mentioned as an excellent speci- men of the mingled style peculiar to that order. The Church of Saint Peter is celebrated for the altar-piece of the crucifixion of Saint Peter by Rubens, and that of the Minorites for containing the tomb of the famous scholastic Duns Scotus, Saint Ursula is another church of historic inter- est. Most of these edifices underwent complete restoration during the nineteenth century. The chief object of interest in the city, how- ever, as well as its greatest ornament, is the cathedral, the noblest specimen of Gothic archi- tecture in Europe, It is said to have had its origin in a structure erected at the beginning of the ninth centuiy. by Archbishop Hildebold. This was burned in 1248. and the present cathedral was begun in the same year. The choir, the first part completed, was consecrated in 1322. The work was carried on. sometimes more actively, sometimes more slowly, till the era of the Ref- ormation, when it was suspended, and, during the subsequent centuries, not only was nothing done to advance it. but the imcompleted struc- ture was suffered to decay. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, however, attention was at- tracted to its unrivaled beauties, and it became the subject of an enthusiasm extending over all Germany, giving birth to a multitude of associa- tions for the supply of the necessary funds to re- pair and complete it according to the original de- signs. Funds were also forthcoming from other parts of Europe. On September 4, 1842, the King of Prussia, who had contributed largely to the funds, laid the foundation stone of the transept, from which time great progress was made. The naves, aisles and transepts were opened in 1848. The magnificent south portal was completed in 1859, and in 1860 the iron central spire was added. With the exception of the towers, the whole was finally completed in October, 1863. The towers were finished in 1880. and on the 1.5th of October the completion of this grand work was celebrated with great splendor in the presence of Emperor William I. and most of the sovereign princes of the German Empire The Vol. v.— 11. cathedral has a length of 443 feet and a width of 200 feet; the height of the roof is 201 feet, that of the central tower over the crossing 3.J7 feet, and of the two main towers 512 feet. The most noteworthy secular edifices arc: the Rathaus, the central and oldest ]iortion of which dates from the fourteentli century and contains the handsomely restored Hansa Saal, in which the first general meeting of the Hanseatic League was held in 1367. The graceful portico in Re- naissance style, and the splendid five-storied tower, deserve attention. South of the Rathaus rises the imposing structure of the (iiirzciiicli, erected in 1441-52 as a festive hall for the enter- tainment of distinguished guests by the City Council, and first used for that purpose at the grand festival held in honor of Emperor Fred- crick III, in 1475, Thoroughly renovated in 1856, it is now the most splendid among the old secular structures, and since 1875 was used as the Stock Exchange. The Templars' Lodge, once the residence of the Overstolzen, a distin- guished family of mediaeval Cologne, is a fine Romanesque building of the twelfth or thir- teenth century, now used by the Chamber of Commerce. Of the numerous modern public buildings the most prominent are: the palatial Government buildings (1830); the Municipal Museum' (1855-61) ; the Stadttheater (1872) ; the Court of Justice (1886-93), an extensive Re- naissance structure, with an impressive facade and handsome staircase ; the imposing new Post- Oflice (1893) ; and the Reiehsbank (1897). Cologne is administered by an Ohcrbiirger- meister, appointed for a period of twelve years and assisted by twelve assessors. The mimici- pality operates successfully its own gas and water works, as well as an electric-lighting plant. The -street railways are operated by a private company, whose franchise expires in 1916, when the lines will be turned over to the municipality without compensation. The munici- pality also owns and maintains a pawnsho]) and slaughter-houses. The educational establish- ments of Cologne include three gymnasia, one oberrealschiile, a theological and a teachers' semi- ■ nary, and a conservatory of music, supported by the municipality. The municipal library con- tains 115.000 volumes, and the museum has a number of valuable collections. Cologne has a fine municipal theatre. The zoological gar- den is one of the finest in Europe. The indus- tries of Cologne are extensive and varied. The industrial establishments include sugar refin- eries, tanneries, machine-shops, paper-mills. Hour- mills, breweries, distilleries, and several factories producing the celebrated eau de Cologne, The commerce, both by rail and by Rhine steam- boats, is very great. A fine modern harbor, with extensive quayage, has been constructed since 1897. The population of Cologne has greatly increased since 1888. when outlying districts be- gan to be annexed to the city. In that year the population numbered 144.772; it rose to 281,681 in 1890, and 372,229 in 1900, Cologne was originally a town of the German tribe of the Ubii {Oppirlum Uhiorum). It re- ceived the name of Colonia Agrippina, A.D. 50. Avhen Agrippina, the wife of the Emperor Clau- dius, planted a colony of Roman veterans on the spot, which was her native place. It grew to be an important city under the Romans, and retained its prominence under the Frankish sway. The