Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 17.djvu/515

* SAINT PETEB. 465 SAINT PETERSBURG. owned and ojioratcd by (lie Muniicipality. Settled in 1854, Saint Peter was ineorporateil in ISaS and received a oity eliarter in 1S!)1. Population, in ISllO. :i(i71; ill I'.tOO, 43n-J. SAINT PETER PORT, commonly Saint Peter's. The chief town of Guernsey, Channel Islands (q.v. ), defended by Fort George, on an overhanging hill, and by the historic Castle Cor- net, built on a rocky islet now connected with the mainland b.y a breakwater (Map: France. D 2). The town rises in picturesque terraces on the cast coast, and from its central position commands line views of all the Channel Islands and the neigh- boring French coast. It carries on an important Englisli and foreign trade, es]iecially in locally grown market produce and fruit, and has com- modious harbors with floating dock and building vard. The fine parish church is called the ca- thedral of the Channel Islands. Elizabeth Col- lege is a well-known educational establishment, and there are e.xcellent markets, bathing places, parks, esplanades, and a well-equipped pul)lic li- liraiv with muscuiu, art, and technical schools. Population, about 18.000. SAINT PE'TERSBURG. A government of Russia, bounded by the (Jovernment of Olonetz, Lake Ladoga, and Finland on the north, Nov- gorod on the east, Pskov on the south, and Lake Peipus, Esthonia, and the Gulf of Finland on the west (Map: Russia, C 3). Area, 17.2.50 sijuare miles, exclusive of the water area. The surface is mostl.v low. In the south are many lakes, streams, and marshes. The region is well watered along the boundaries as well as in the interior, the principal rivers being the Narova, the Neva, and the ^'olkhov. There is also an ex- tensive canal .system. (See Ladoga.) The climate is moist and unsteady. The economic activity of the government is inlluenced greatly by the capital and the numerous summer resorts. The raising of cereals is inferior in importance to the gardening and dairying, and there are few manu- facturing industries outside of the capital and Kronstadt. Poj)ulation, in 1897, 2,107,091, in- cluding a considerable number of persons be- longing to the Finnic race, besides German col- onists. Jews, Poles, and various foreign elements. SAINT PETERSBURG. The capital of the Russian Empire, situated on the delta of the Neva and at the eastern end of the Gulf of Fin- land, 400 miles northwest of Moscow (Map: Rus- sia, D 3). The main part of the city lies on tile left bank of the river. The remaining por- tion occupies the numerous islands formed by the arms of the stream. The principal islands are the Vasilyevsky, Peterburgsky, Aptekarsky, Petrovsky, Kamenny, Yelagin, and Krestovsky. All of them are very low and steadily gaining in area owing to the gradual rising of the coast around the Gulf of Finland. The low situation of Saint Petersburg makes it liable to frequent inundations, caused usually by strong western winds, which prevent the discharge of the waters of the Neva. The construction of canals and the granite embankments have greatly alleviated the situation. The Neva and its arms and tributaries are spanned by numerous bridges, of which the most prominent are the Troit-sky, the Alexander, the Palace, and the Nicholas. The climate is very changeable, and on the whole unpleasant. The severe periods of cold during the winter are varied by warm westerly gales, which raise the mean tiMiiperatiire above that of Moscow. The sunimers are hot and short, and the autumns are usually cold and damp. The mean teiii[ierature is about 15° F. in winter and about ■)"' iu summer. The percentage of cloudiness is nearly 70. Toi'OGKAi'iiY. The main part of the city, on the left bank of the Neva, is regularly laid out iu modern European style. Along tlic river are .situated palaces and costly private resi- dences, as well as the imposing Admiralty, sur- rounded by a beautiful garden. From the Ad- miralty, which stands in the centre of the city. radiate three long avenues: the splendid and fashionable Ncvsky l^rospect. tin- 'oziiesserisky Prospect, and the (iorokhovaya Street. The prin- cipal .squares of this part of Saint Petersburg are the Senate Square, with the famous eques- trian statue of Peter the (ireat erected by Catha- rine II. in 178-2; the Palace Square, with the Alexander Column — a great monolith of red granite, surmounted by the figure of an angel; and the Field of Mars, an immense parading ground embellished with a statue of Suvarolf. The pretentious monument to Catharine II. stands in front of the Anitchkoll' Palace, and the equestrian statue of Nicholas I. in front of the Mariynsky Palace. In its architecture Saint Petersburg presents few striking features, al- though some of its palaces and churches are imposing in appearance. The impressive Cathedral of Saint Isaac (17(i8- 1858) is built in the shape of a Greek cross with gilded cupolas, magnificent peristyles, and tine columns of porphyry, malachite, and lapis-lazuli. Other prominent churches are the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan (1801-11), an imitation of Saint Peter's, with a richly ornamented interior, and the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (1712-33), in the fortress of the same name, and containing the remains of the Russian monarclis since the time of Peter the Great; and the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in the eastern ])art of the city, the burial place of many of the most prominent literary men, composers, and artists of Russia. Of the well-known palaces of Saint Petersburg (some of which contain extensive art treasures), the most notable is the Winter P;ilace — a vast structure of mixed style, facing the Neva. It dates from the reign of the lOmpress Elizabeth (I74I-G2). and was rebuilt after the fire of 1,S37. It contains a number of magnificent halls, deco- rated with war trophies, portraits of famous generals, and historical paintings. Other inter- esting ])alaces are the Anitchkoff. the residence of the heir apparent, the Mikliailovsky. tlii' .Mar- ble Palace, and the Taurida Palace, built by Catharine II. for Potemkin. Noteworthy public buildings besides the Admiralty are the General Stall', the Senate, the CJostinny Dvor, and the old Jlikhailovsky Palace (now used as a school of engineers) . Connected with the mainhind by the Troit.sky 'Bridge is a small island occupied by the re- nowned fortress of Saints Peter and Paul, the nucleus of the capital and used as a State prison. On the Vasilyevsky Island are the exchange and the most important educational in- stitutions, inolnding the university. The Peter- burgsky Island is principally a residential sec- tion. The Aptekarsky Island has magnificent