The Neustadt, the largest part of Prague, with its fine streets, its modern public buildings, and the general air and stir of a modern city, presents an impressive contrast to old Prague. It contains the imposing Czech National Theatre, completed in the Renaissance style in 1883; the Bohemian National Museum, with its various col lections and library: the new German theatre; the courts of justice, formerly a Rathaus; a num ber of fine banks and hospitals; an exchange, etc. Among its churches may be mentioned the Maria Schnee-Kirche and the churches of Saint Peter and the Karlshof. In the quarter of Wischehrad is situated the modern citadel built on the site of the old fortress destroyed by the Hussites.
During the latter part of the nineteenth cen tury Prague greatly improved in appearance. It also considerably extended its municipal activity, so that at present it owns the water-works, the gas and electric plants, the markets, etc. The sanitary conditions have improved, and the park area has been enlarged. The administration is in the hands of a burgomaster and two deputies, an assembly, and a council. The municipal budget exceeds $4,000,000 and the indebtedness $8,000,000. The fame of Prague as an educa tional centre dates from the Middle Ages. when its university was the leading institution of higher learning in Germany. During the latter half of the nineteenth century the struggle for supremacy between the Germans and the Czechs, and the development of a national consciousness among the latter. have given a strong stimulus to the intellectual life of the people.
This found its expression in the establishment of many national educational institutions in this, the centre of Czech culture. In 1882-83 was es
tablished the Czech university, whose attendance is nearly three times that of the German uni versity here. Many of the secondary schools have also since been duplicated, and show a steady increase in their attendance. Besides the two universities and the twelve German and six Czech secondary schools, Prague has a German and a Czech polytechnic, seminaries for teachers, a school of art, a noted conservatory of music, and many schools. The most prominent scientific organizations are the Bohemian Acad emy of Science, Literature, and Art, founded in 1890; the Royal Bohemian Scientific Associa tion, founded about 1770; and the Society for Literature in Bohemia, founded in 1891.
Situated on one of the chief waterways of Bohemia and at the junction of seven railway lines, Prague is naturally the economic centre of the crownland. Its industries are of a wide range, including the manufacture of various metal products, railway cars, leather, cotton goods, gloves, chemicals, beer, and flour. Prague is a great sugar market, and trades extensively in local manufactures and raw products. The population of Prague proper was 170.521 in 1880, 182.5:30 in 1890, and 204,478 in 1900. The last figure could have been increased to 385„238 by adding the population of the adjacent suburbs economically connected with the city. A sig nificant fact between 1890 and 1900 was the increase of the Czech element. The Czech popu lation is estimated at 87 per cent. of the total. Over DO per cent. of the population is Roman Catholic.