BONN, Germany, a city of the Prussian province of the Rhine, formerly the residence of the Electors of Cologne, on the left bank of the Rhine, over which there is a magnificent new bridge, erected at a cost of $1,000,000, with a central span of 600 feet. It is a flourishing place and has been greatly extended and im proved in recent years, though it still has many narrow, irregular streets. The town hall, com pleted 1782, is one of the handsomest of its edifices. Another important building is the cathedral, cruciform in plan and forming an imposing and picturesque example of the late Romanesque style of architecture. The greater part of it dates from the 13th century. But all other buildings and institutions are eclipsed by the celebrity of the university, the charter of which was rgiven 18 Oct. 1818, at Aix-la Chapelle by the King of Prussia, who at the same time endowed it with an annual income of about $60,000. The former residence df the Elector of Cologne was bestowed on the uni versity and was fitted up at great expense, i being surpassed in extent and beauty probably by no university building in Europe. The uni versity possesses a library of more than 275,000 volumes, 1,235 incunabula and 1,376 manu scripts; a museum of antiquities, a collection of casts of the principal ancient statues, a col lection of coins, observatory, botanic garden, etc. Thepaintings in the Academical Hall (among others, the great allegorical picture, the (Christian Church') were executed by some pupils of Cornelius. In the front of the uni versity is an extensive garden, with fine old avenues of trees, while from this quarter runs westward a broad, straight avenue, half a mile long, planted with horse-chestnuts, passing the observatory and leading to the botanic garden and natural history collections of the univer sity, and to the chemical laboratory, the anat omy building, etc. In this quarter also are
grounds and buildings for the use of the agri cultural institute. Particular advantages are afforded for the education of young men in tended for instructors. Many men distin guished in various branches of science have connected with the university, including Arndt, A. W. Schlegel and the historian Nie buhr. The exertions of the government to collect in Bonn all the means of instruction, united with the charms of the place and the beauties of the scenery, have made the place famous. In 1901 the students numbered over 2,400. The city in recent years has become very prosperous commercially. Besides having an active trade, it manufactures machinery, earthenware, chemicals, jute, pianos and or gans, porcelain wares, artificial flowers, cement and many other articles. Wessel's porcelain and stoneware factory employs 1,000 men. It dates from 1775. The means of communica tion are ample, both by the steamers which ply upon the Rhine and by the railways. Prince Albert studied at Bonn and Beethoven was born there, the house of his birth being now a museum. There are statues of Beethoven and Arndt, a monument commemorative of the war of 1870-71, a monumental fountain, etc. The antiquity of Bonn is considerable, and, as the residence of the Electors of Cologne, it is of historical importance. Pop. about 88,000.