DORTMUND, deniVinunt. One of the chief towns of the Prussian Province of Westphalia, and a notable mining centre, situated near the Emscher, about 73 miles northeast of Cologne (Slap: Prussia. B 3). The city was formerly surrounded by a massive wall, but it has been removed and the site converted into handsome promenade-3. Four of its churches are worthy of notice—the Church of Saint Reinoldi, a fine speci men of the Transition period, dating from the thirteenth century; Saint Alary's, built about 1150. in the Romanesque style: Saint Peter's, completely restored and the Roman Catholic parish church. The only secular building claim. ing especial attention is the weather-beaten Rathaus, dating from the thirteenth century. Public affairs are administered by a municipal council of forty-eight members and an executive board of sixteen. The municipal activity has in every way kept pace with the great increase of population since 1S70. The educational in stitutions embrace two municipal gymnasia, an industrial school, numerous elementary schools, and a municipal theatre. The charitable institu
tions under municipal direction include the gen eral hospital, an orphan asylum, and a day nursery. Dortmund is in the most fertile part of Westphalia, and is an important railway cen tre. Owing espeeiftlIN to its situation in the midst of the Westphalia coal-mining district, it has rapidly grown as rat iron-manufacturing point, its leading industry being the manufac ture of locomotives, ears, and various kinds of heavy machinery. There are flour and saw mills, and numerous breweries. Population, in 1590, S9,66:3; in 1900, 142,41S.
The history of Dortmund goes back to 900. It became eventually a free Imperial city, and finally joined the Hanseatic League. It began to decline in the fifteenth century, and especially from the time of the Thirty Years' 'War. It has fully shared in the general modern prosperity of Prussia.