Bucharest (Capital of the former)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the capital of the former principality of Wallachia and of the present kingdom of Rumania, stands 265 feet above sea-level, in the fertile but treeless plain of the small, sluggish Dambovitza. By rail it is 716 miles S. E. of Vienna, 40 N. of Giurgevo on the Danube, and 179 N. W. of Varna on the Black Sea. A strange meeting point of East and West, the town still has many narrow and crooked streets, though the latter are now mostly paved and lighted with gas and electricity. An elaborate system of fortification was undertaken in 1885. There are some handsome hotels; and the metal-plated cupolas of the innumerable churches give to the place a picturesque aspect. The royal palace was rebuilt in 1885; and the Catholic Cathedral is a fine edifice of 1875-1884. The number of cafés and gambling tables is excessive; and, altogether, Bucharest has the unenviable reputation of being the most dissolute capital pe, with all the vices but few of , in Europe the refinements of Paris. There is, however, a university, founded in 1864. The Corso, or public promenade, is a miniature Hyde Park. Bucharest is the entrepôt for the trade between Austria and the Balkan Peninsula, the chief articles of commerce being textile fabrics, petroleum, grain, hides, metal, coal, timber, and cattle. Its manufactures include refined petroleum, vegetable oils, flour, soap, candles, etc., and the workmen are chiefly Hungarians and Ger- Besides the university there are mans. a number of other educational institutions, museums, hospitals, and other charitable institutions. Bucharest has been several times besieged; and between 1793 and 1812 suffered twice from earthquakes, twice from inundations, once from fire, and twice from pestilence. Here in 1812 a treaty was concluded between Turkey and Russia, by which the former ceded Bessarabia and part of Moldavia; in 1886 the treaty between Servia and Bulgaria was made here; in 1913 the division of the capcured parts of Turkey (see BALKAN WARS) was arranged in Bucharest; and in 1918 the treaty between Rumania and the Central Powers, terminating the war between these countries, was made here. During the WORLD WAR (q. v.) Bucharest, in common with the rest of Rumania, suffered much as the result of the invasion by the Central Powers. It was captured early in December, 1916, and it was only two years later, on Dec. 3, 1918, that the King of Rumania was able to re-establish his government, which during the invasion had been moved to Jassy, in the capital of the country. Pop. about 350,000 TREATY OF, the