of learning, among which are the Texas Baptist University, St. Mary's Institute (an Episcopal college for women), Medical Department of Southwestern University, Medical Department of Baylor University and several academies and commercial colleges.
Among the important public buildings are Carnegie Library, Oriental Hotel, St. Paul's Sanitarium and the Baptist Memorial Sanitarium. Lying in a fine agricultural country, Dallas has a large trade in grain, cotton, hides, vehicles, farm and mill-machinery, saddlery and harness. It manufactures extensively cotton-gin machinery and presses, leather-goods, cotton-goods, cotton-oil products, candies, crackers, saddles, harness, buggies, furniture. It is the home of the state-fair of Texas, and has an abundant supply of good water and all modern city conveniences. Population, 92,104.
Dalles of Wisconsin, The, near Kilbourne, Columbia County, are a picturesque gorge with high vertical walls through which the Wisconsin River rushes after rains with great violence; but in dry seasons not so fast as to prevent its navigation by small steamboats. Dalles is a French name for the rocky gorges in which rivers sometimes for a portion of their course are confined, and flow at great speed.
Dalma′tia, a province of Austria, running along the Mediterranean and bounded by Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Montenegro. Its area is 4,940 square miles. The country is mountainous, with numerous small lakes and rivers. The highest mountain is Orjen, with an elevation of 6,235 feet. About one ninth of the land is arable; nearly half is in pasture; and woods occupy about one third. Cattle-rearing, seafaring and fisheries are the chief industries. Besides Dalmatians, the people are made up of Italians, Albanians, Germans and Jews. The Dalmatians are a fine race of men, bold and brave as seamen and soldiers, and formerly were the main support of the military power of Venice. The cities are almost all on the coast. Dalmatia once was a considerable kingdom; but after various attempts it was conquered by Rome in the time of Augustus. After the fall of the western empire, it passed successively into the hands of Goths, Slavonians, Venetians, French and Italians, and since 1814 it has formed part of Austria. In 1869-70 and again in 1881 Dalmatia was the scene of insurrections. The chief towns of the province are Zara, Spalato and Ragusa. Population, 593,784.
Dalton, John, an English chemist and natural philosopher, was born in 1766. He was appointed to the chair of mathematics at New College, Manchester, in 1793. He published notable essays and papers on scientific subjects, and also lectured in London. His atomic theory of chemical action, which he announced in 1808, gave him world-wide fame. Various academic honors were showered upon him, and the English government gave him a pension. He died on July 27, 1844.
Dalzell′, John (1845-), American statesman and lawyer, was born in New York and educated at Yale, where he graduated in 1865, and two years later was admitted to the bar. He has since become widely known as a corporation and railroad lawyer, in the latter capacity acting for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1887 he was elected to the 50th Congress on the Republican ticket, and he has subsequently served in that assembly, usefully acting on committees of the House as well as in general legislation.
Damaraland. See German Southwest Africa.
Damas′cus, capital of the Turkish vilayet of Syria and the largest city of western Asia, is situated about 70 miles from Beirut on the Mediterranean, in the plain of Damascus, near the mouth of the gorge through which the Barada River forces itself into the plain. The city stands at an elevation of 2,260 feet above the sea level, and to the northwest rises Anti-Libanus, to a height of 3,840 feet, crowned by the Dome of Victory. Seen from this mountain, the city presents the form of a tennis-racquet, the suburb Meidan forming the handle, and the remainder of the city being formed on the seven canals, by which water is drawn off from the Barada. Two of these canals are the Abana and Pharpar of Scripture. (Damascus claims to be the world's oldest inhabited city). The old citadel, going back to 1219, the palace and the mosque built in the 8th century tower high above the city. There are, besides, 70 other mosques and more than 150 chapels for prayer and instruction. The religious communities occupy different quarters of the city; and embrace Christians, Jews and Mohammedans. The different industries also have each their separate quarter: the silversmith's, the saddler's, the shoemaker's, the Greek and the book-bazar. On either side of the narrow streets are the rows of arched niches, in which are the shops of the city. Each shopkeeper sits cross-legged, with his wares piled up around him, awaiting customers. Behind the mud-walls and mean entrances there are splendid houses, fitted often with barbaric splendor. One of the sights of Damascus is the procession to Mecca, called the Haj. On these festivals, for miles around, there is a sea of human beings, dressed in the brightest and most striking colors. Circassians and Afghans, Kurds and Kal-muks, Turkomans and Tecks and most of the various tribes and peoples of the east are represented in the brilliant procession.
