MOBILE (ante). The city is 6 m. in length by 2 or 3 broad; pop. '80, 31,205; a decline from 1870 of 729. It is chiefly inhabited along the line of the river and to a dis tance of about a mile inland; is lighted by gas, and has an excellent water supply from a distance of 5 m.; it has also sufficient horse-railroad facilities for its local need. Mobile is connected with the general railroad system of the country by the Mobile and Ohio, Mobile and Montgomery. New Orleans, Mobile and Texas. and Alabama Grand Trunk railroads. There are also steamers to Montgomery and other river towns.—The follow lowing tables display the trade of Mobile from 1867-68 to 1874: By these tables it is to be observed that from 1870 to 1874 there was a general decline in the foreign trade of Mobile, as there was a falling off in the population between 1870 and 1880, according to the tenth decennial census. `The early history of this city displays more than the usual proportion of disturbing influences. Originally colonized by the French, it was long the most important point in the Louisiana settlement. It was attacked by famine and by epidemic; and in 1706 was the scene of that exceptional revolt known as the "petticoat insurrection," when the women of the place became dissatisfied with Indian corn as their staple article of food, mid threatened rebellion. A disastrous hurri
cane, accompanied by a flood, nearly destroyed the settlement in 1711, and necessitated its removal from the place where it then stood, supposed to have been a point some 20 in. from its present location. By the treaty of Paris in 1763, Mobile was transferred to the British government; but twenty years later it was ceded to the Spanish government, with all the rest of the British possessions on the gulf, and remained in the possession of Spain until 1813, when it was surrendered to gen. Wilkinson. In 1819 it was incor. porated as a city. From Jan. 11, 1861, to April 11, 1864, Mobile was in the hands of the confederates. On Aug. 5, in the latter year, admiral Farragot, with his fleet, passed up Mobile bay, and the memorable engagement with the forts and the confederate ships ensued, resulting in the destruction or capture of the latter, and the surrender of forts Gaines and Morgan. Early in the following spring the place was fully invested, and the remaining fortifications carried by assault.