BLOEMFONTEIN, bloom'f6n-tin, Or ange River Colony, South Africa, the chief town and seat of government of the colony, 680 miles northeast of Cape Town, situated in an elevated and healthy region. It stands on a plain surrounded by low hills, and is reg ularly laid out, having a large market-square in the centre. It has, several fine buildings, including the Anglican cathedral, the Dutch Reformed church and other places of worship; the presidency; the town-hall; the post office; the library; the national museum.; the new Razdzaal, or council-chamber of the legisla ture; the old Raadzaal; Grey College and Saint Andrew's College for boys; the Eunice Insti tute for girls; a government hospital and a cottage hospital; a lunatic asylum, etc. It is on the main railway line of the Colony, which is continuous with the Cape Colony and Trans vaal systems. In the war between Great Britain and the South African and Orange Free State republics in 1899-1902 it was the seat of important military operations. In June
1899, a conference was held here between President Kruger of the South African repub lic and Sir Alfred Milner, the British Com missioner of Cape Colony, with a view of averting war. After the appointment of Lord Roberts to the supreme command of the Brit ish forces operating against the Boers, he led an expedition against the city and forced its surrender on 13 March 1900. Soon afterward the republic was formally placed under Brit ish administration, and it is now a part of the Union of South Africa. It is a centre of trade which consists mainly of wooL The in dustries include manufactories of aerated waters, salt, flour mills and breweries. Pop. about 15,000, half being whites.