Buffalo is situated on an elevated plain

50 feet above the lake and 600 feet above sea level. From this plain the ground slopes gradually to the lake. It is bordered on three sides by water, the Niagara river, Lake Erie and Buffalo river. Buffalo river is navigable for 2 miles, and two canals pa between the river and the lake. The city is noted for its wide and beautiful streets, and the abundance of shrubbery and trees decorating them. The rincipal streets are Main, Niagara, That a more, Broadway, and Linwood and Elmwood avenues, 120 feet wide, and all over 5 miles in length. Buffalo elaims to be the cleanest and healthiest city in the United States and to po e a greater extent of asphalt paving than any other city of its size in the country. Buffalo has a public park system consisting of several parks containing 74114 acres and connected by boulevards and approaches, affording a continuous drive of 15 miles, and containing an area, with the minor parks and places, of 276% additional acres. The principal public buildings are the Federal Building, containing the ‘Post office and Custom-house, a large building of freestone; the State Arsenal; the Board of Trade Building; the Old and New Armories; Grosvenor Library; Normal School; two public high schools; Erie County and Buffalo Savings Banks; the Erie County Penitentiary; and the City and County Hall. Besides these, there is the Buffalo Library, in Lafayette Square, containing a circulating library of 77,000 volumes, and, in the same building, are the Buffalo Historical Society, the Buffalo Fine Arts Society and School of Arts, and the Society of National Sciences. The State Insane Asylum has a plot of 203 acres and - adjoins the Buffalo Park. According to the United States census of 1900 the city had 3,902 manufacturing establishments, employing $103,939,655 capital and 47,606 persons; paying $23,596,308 for wages and $73.359,466 for materials used; and yielding products of an aggregate value $122,230,- 061. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, the imports of merchandise aggregated in value $4,134,917; and the exports, $14,488,028. The site of Buffalo was first visited by the French, under La Salle, in 1679. In 1687 a settlement was made by Baron La Honton and Fort Suppose was erected. It was held by the British as Fort Erie during 1783- 1784, and was incorporated as the village of Buffalo and soon afterward burned by the British, in 1813. It was rebuilt in 1815; but its progre was slow until the completion of the Erie canal in 1825. It became a city in 1832 and since then it has been very prosperous. A Pan-American Exposition was held here between May 1 and Nov. 2, 1901; President McKinley was fatally wounded while attending it on Sept. 6.