LOUISVILLE (ante), the chief city in Kentucky and co. seat of Jefferson co., is situated about midway of the length of the Ohio river; 400 m. from its mouth and GOO from.its head at Pittsburg; pop. '80, 123,045. The falls or rapids of the Ohio have here a Aescent of 27 ft. iu 2+ m., affording a fine water-power, not yet much utilized. The Louisville and Portland canal, through which steamboats pass when it is low water over the falls, is 2 m. long; has 3 locks, 480 ft. long and 90 ft. wide; and has a rapacity for steamboats of 3,000 tons. It was built by the people of Louisville, the EJ. S. government contributing; and since 1874 has passed under the control of the latter, being free to commerce excepting a small charge levied for a fund for repairs. Formerly an unhealthy situation, subjected to malarial and bilious fevers, an adequate system of drainage and sewerage has remedied this; and it is now one of the healthiest of southern cities. It is laid out in broad streets, lined with shade trees in the portion devoted to private residences; the latter being built with lawns and gardens in front, making a most agreeable appearance. A number of hnportant lines of railroad connect Louisville with the northern and southern railroad systems, including the Louisville, Nashville and Great Southern ; Louisville, Paducah and Southwestern; Louisville, Cin cinnati and Lexington; and the Jeffersonville and Indianapolis, New Albany and Chicago, Ohio and Mississippi, Louisville and St. Louis, etc. A bridge of stone and
iron crosses the riVer at the head of tbe falls, having 27 spans. and a. total length of 5,218i ft., and which cest $2,016,819:63. .A n important industry it'the-sugar curing of hams, and pork-packing. This city is also one of the largest markets for leaf-tobacco in the world, exporting enormous quantities to France, Germany, England, and the Dominion of Canada. There is also a very large and growing manufacture of cigars, 86 manufactories having made. in 1874, nearly 14,000,000 cigars. The manufacture of whisky is also au enormous business in Louisville, while it is the point of distribution for the excellent and popular whiskies made in the Kentucky distilleries. Other impor tant manufactures are the Louisville cement, leather, furniture, iron pipe, etc. The city has an efficient paid fire department, with telegraph and signal system. An ade quate police force, comprehensive street railway system, and excellent system of public schools, with its other manifest advantages, combine to place Louisville on a par with the other well-constructed and well-governed cities of the world.