PITTSBURGH, Pa. (incorrectly spelled "Pittsburg," Pittsburgh being the true name of the city, originally given to it, used on its great seal from the date of its incorporation and legalized byjoint resolution of Congress), the metropolis of the Ohio Valley and county-seat of Allegheny County, Pa., is located at the junc tion of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers, which here unite to form the Ohio in lat. 30' N., long. 80° W. (Greenwich). The three rivers flow through deep valleys of erosion, which have been excavated by them and the high lands on their sides are broken into a great number of hills, separated by deep ravines, also caused by erosion in past ages. In its topography the city presents a marked con trast to many other cities, which are built upon comparatively level ground. Rome had her "Seven Hills"; it is no exaggeration to say that Pittsburgh has her "Seventy Hills." The most important of these eminences in the area be tween the Allegheny and the Monongahela are Grant's Hill upon the summit of which are located the Allegheny courthouse, the city and county building, and some of the great office buildings which have been erected in recent years; Boyd's Hill topped by the buildings of Duquesne University; Herron Hill, upon the summit of which is one of the great reservoirs and upon the southern face of which arc the new buildings of the University of Pittsburgh; Squirrel Hill, an irregular uplift, rising 500 feet above the level of the rivers and upon which are built some of the more beautiful residences of the city. Between the high ridge of the Squirrel Hill district, which overlooks the Monongahela River, and the equally lofty eleva tions along the Allegheny River, upon the sum mit of one of which is Highland Park, lies the East' Liberty Valley, densely populated contain ing many palatial residences and near the East Liberty station of the Pennsylvania Railroad, rapidly developing into an important business centre, beginning to be invaded by "sky-scrapers," which are so characteristic of the older part of the city. The °North Side" of Pittsburgh, formerly the city of Allegheny, occupies a com paratively level tract along the Allegheny and the Ohio rivers, broken nearly opposite "The Point," where the rivers unite, by Monument Hill, so called because it is surmounted by the Soldiers' Monument erected at the close of the Civil War. This low-level area, upon which
the city of Allegheny had its beginning, is flanked to the west of the Allegheny and to the north of the Ohio by lofty heights, rising from 500 to 750 feet above the level of the rivers, up the sides and over the tops of which the city has crawled. On these breezy hill-tops are some of the most beautiful residential neighbor hoods, and here is Riverview Park near the entrance of which stands the Allegheny As tronomical Observatory. Immediately over looking the old city and rising hundreds of feet above it is Mount Washington, from which on a clear day there is a fine panoramic view of the greater part of the older portions of the city. The wall of the canyon of the Monon gahela recedes sufficiently from the river to allow of the location upon level ground of that part of the city which once was °The Borough of Birmingham," but which is to-day commonly known as °The South Side." Back of this level ground rise a number of high, flat topped hills, rapidly becoming densely popu lated and in common parlance known as °The South Hills District." This territory is reached by rising tunnels, inclined planes, and by elec trical tramways, which wind up with many devious turns through the ravines to the level summits.
Over 30 boroughs and townships have al ready been absorbed into the city, and the names of these still in many cases cling to them. When a Pittsburgher speaks of going °into the City," he means that he is going to that part of the great municipality forming the small triangle °at the Point," where the city had its beginning. The arca outside of this is cut up into a multitude of districts, which still bear old names — Soho, Oakland, Bellefield, Shady side, East Liberty, Brushton, Lawrenceville, Manchester, Birmingham, Knoxville, etc. The stranger, visiting the place, unless he take pains to inform himself, is apt to be bewildered by these names, which are in common use, and will be as much puzzled as a visitor to London or Boston, cities also formed by a process of gradual absorption.