GENEVA. The capital of the Swiss carton of the same name, situated at the southwestern ex tremity of the Lake of Geneva, at the outlet of the river Rhone, which divides the city into two equal parts (Map: Switzerland, A 2) ; latitude 46° 13' N., longitude 6° 10' E. It is magnificently situated, in full view of the Alps (including Mont Blanc) and the Jura. The old city, on the left bank of the river, constitutes the business and financial quarter, and is irregularly laid out, with steep, crooked streets, except for the portion along the river, which has fine quays and broad avenues. On this side of the river is the section of the city called Felix Vives. Nine bridges span the RhOne, one of which rests upon an islet called Rousseau's Island. On the right bank is the Quarter of Saint Gervais, which is chiefly resi dential, containing a great part of the laboring population. Here are also hotels for the accom modation of foreigners, who form a considerable colony in Geneva. There are numerous squares, parks, and gardens, most of them in the old city. The most notable are the Jardin Anglais, or Promenade du Lac, along the lake shore, and the Place Neuve, with the Promenade des Bastions, leading southward to the botanical gardens. The most important square in the Saint Gervais Quar ter is the Place des Alpes, with a magnificent me morial cenotaph of the Duke Charles II. of Bruns wick, who left his fortune of $4,000,000 to the city. Boulevards laid out on the site of the ancient walls extend around the city. The principal buildings are the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Peter, built in the eleventh century; the six teenth-century town hall, with the house near by in which Rousseau was born; the university (see GENEVA, UNIVERSITY OF) ; the Mils-6e Fol, with archaeological collections; and the Mus6e Rath, an immense art collection given by the Russian General Rath to the city. Also note worthy are the Anglican and American Episco pal church& and the new theatre. Besides the university, Geneva has the College de Geneve, founded by Calvin in 1559; various industrial, technical, and commercial schools; academies of art and music; and a deaf and dumb institute. There are many learned and art associations, notably the Natural Science Association, the Geographical Society, and the Society of Artists.
Geneva has long been known as a manufac turing city, and especially as a clock and watch making centre. The value of the annual output of that industry averages $4,000,000, while the output in jewelry and gold and silver ornaments rises as high as $3,000,000 yearly. Besides these industries, the most important are enameling, diamond-cutting, and the production of music boxes and scientific instruments. The town en joys a favorable position for trade with France and the Mediterranean shore, exporting its own manufactures and those of the surrounding dis tricts. It is the residence of a United States consul. The town is a railroad centre, and is traversed by horse-car lines and steam suburban railroads. The municipality's progressiveness has been particularly marked since 1847 by radi cal improvements throughout the city. Break waters, protecting the lake harbor; hydraulic works in the Rhone, supplying the city with water and furnishing power for factories; gas, electric-lighting, and power plants; markets, sav ings banks, industrial schools, theatre, opera house—all have been municipalized. The fire
brigade, however, remains a volunteer organiza tion. Population, in 1888, 52,043; in 1900, after the incorporation of various suburbs, 105, 710.
At the time of Cxsar's campaign against the Helvetii Geneva belonged to the country of the Allobroges. It Was afterwards included in the Roman Provincia Maxima Requanorum, and was a place of some importance under the Burgundian kings. In the year 536 it came under the rule of the Franks, and toward the close of the ninth century became part of the new Kingdom of Transjurance Burgundy. It had been made a bishop's seat in the fifth century, and from the twelfth century continual feuds arose between the bishops ana the counts of Savoy with regard to supremacy. The citizens profited by these dis sensions to obtain fresh liberties and privileges for themselves. In 1531 the Genevese renewed their alliance with Fribourg and Bern, and thus Geneva became a member of the Swiss Confederation. The doctrines of the Reformation, boldly and enthusi astically preached by Guillaume Farel, met with general acceptance in Geneva. In conjunction with Bern, the citizens expelled the adherents of the dukes of Savoy — the so - called Mamelukes from the town, and declared the bishopric va cant. In August, 1535, the Reformed religion was established by law, and in 1541 Calvin was invited to take up his residence permanently in Geneva as public teacher of theology. It was he who chiefly impressed the stamp of rigid morality, not unalloyed with pedantry, on the minds of .the citizens of Geneva, and awakened a taste for the exact sciences. The town, which had hitherto been merely a place of trade, thus acquired an important influence over the spiritual life of Europe, and became the centre of educa tion for the Protestant youth of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Spain. In 1602 the last attempt of the dukes of Savoy to recover the town was frustrated by the energy and resolution of the citizens. During the eighteenth century Geneva was distracted by a continued feud be tween the aristocratic and popular parties, until in 1782 Bern, Sardinia, and, in particular, France interfered in favor of the aristocracy. The French Revolution led to a new crisis; the Government was overthrown in July, 1794, equal ity in the eye of the law was established, a Na tional Convention appointed, and a Reign of Terror commenced. In 1798 Geneva with its ter ritory was annexed to France, under the name of the Departement du Leman. After the over throw of Napoleon Geneva recovered its inde pendence, and the Congress of Vienna increased its territory considerably. From 1841 to 1878 its history was one of political struggles between clerical, conservative, radical, and independent factions, which resulted in the separation of Church and State and the triumph of the pro gressive parties. Consult: Pictet de Sergy, Geneve, origine, etc. (Geneva, 1843-47), and Geneve ressuoitee (Geneva, 1869) ; Cherbuliez, Geneve, ses institutions, etc. (Geneva, 1868) ; Galiffe, Geneve historique et archeologique (Ge neva, 1869) ; Blavignac, Etudes sur Geneve (Geneva, 1872-74).