LAS PALMAS, Ms piil'mhs. The capital of the island of Oran Canaria and the largest city of the Canary Islands (\lap: Africa, C 2). It is beautifully situated on the northeastern shore of the island in a fertile valley dotted with palms. It has a magnificent harbor, capacious and deep enough for the largest ships. it is a hay formed by the island or peninsula called La Isleta. connected with the mainland by a narrow bar. Enormous amounts of coal are stored here. and the number of ships annually visiting this har bor exceeds that of any other Spanish port. There is regular steamship communication with the west coast of Africa, the Cape. Australia. New Zealand, and America. besides European ports. The harbor, which bears the name of La Luz. and which is protected by two forts and several bat teries, is connected by railroad with the city it self, which lies four miles to the south. Las Palmas is built on two sides of a stream, which is crossed by two bridges. The streets in the older portion are narrow and irregular. but the new quarters are well built, mostly with two-story houses. The
cathedral, which was begun in the sixteenth cen tury and not finished till the beginning of the nineteenth, has a facade of harmonious propor tions of the Ionic order. There are also sev eral other churches, a large city hall. a college and seminary, a library, an art academy. an athenaeum and museum, and a large new theatre. seating 1400 persons. Fishing is still one of the chief occupations of the inhabitants. but ship huilding is rapidly developing. and is becoming the principal industry. There are also manufac tures of glass, leather goods, and hats, and a famous brand of wine is exported. Pop ulation. in 1337. 21.01S; in 1397, 34.770: in 1900, 43,9G0. Las Palmas is said to have been founded in 147S by Juan Ilejon at the time of his conquest of the island. Almost from the first until 1333 it was the capital of the Province of the Canaries. In that year the seat of govern ment was transferred to Santa Cruz de Tenerife.