CHEMNITZ, (from OM Slay.
L-amcni, 1.ith. akmu, stone, Gk. iiKidv, akmon, anvil, Skt. a;man. stone). The foremost manu facturing town. and the third in population, in the Kingdom of Saxony, situated in a fertile valley at the base of the Erzgebirge. and at the contluenee of the river Chemnitz with three other rivers, about 50 miles west-southwest of Dres den (Map: Germany. E 3). The city consists of an older inner town. almost circular in form. intersected by narrow streets, completely sur rounded by modern suburbs. Among its numer ous square- and public places are the Haupt markt, which contains the Old Rathas, a handsome late Gothic structure: the Newmarkt the Schillerplatz, with the Church of Saint Peter and tlw Royal Teehnieal Schools: the Stadt park, and the gardens surrounding the castle pond. Its notable public buildings include the Church of Saint James, restored in ISSO; the New Ilathaus. post-office. Imperial Bank. law courts. Central Ilailway Station, the large rattle market, and the castle. The city owns its water, gas, and electric works, maintains a municipal pawnshop. and is governed by a mu nicipal council of IS members and all executive board of 25. It is the seat of government of the dist riet. Its educational inst it talons in clude, besides the Illoyal Gymnasium, two high schools and schools for all the technical branches, one being supported by the town. in addition to
some eighteen elementary schools. There is also a municipal library of over 30.000 volumes, and a theatre. Chem nitz is known for its textile products, including cotton, linen. and woolen goods, especially cotton hosiery. The manufac ture of locomotives and machinery of all kinds is another very important industry. Its position at the junction of set eral railway lines adds to its commercial importance. It is the- scat of an American consulate. Population, in IS90, 139: 000; in 19)))), 207.000.
//iNtory.—Chemnitz was originally a settle ment of the Wends: hut the present town up around a Benedictine monastery whieh Em peror Lothair founded in 1125. By 1300 it had a. fully organized communal government, and in 1494 it received municipal rights. The indus trial history of the town begins in the Thateenth Century. when it possessed extensive bleacheries. In tlw Thirty Years' War Chemnitz was laid waste: but later in the century the introduction of cotton manufacturing revived its prosperity.