Alden's Handy Atlas of the World / Including One Hundred and Thirty-eight Colored Maps, Diagrams, Tables, Etc.

ALDEN'S

HANDY ATLAS

OF THE

WORLD.

INCLUDING
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-EIGHT
COLORED MAPS, DIAGRAMS,
TABLES, ETC.

NEW YORK:
JOHN B. ALDEN, PUBLISHER.
1888.

BRILLIANT BOOKS.

The following are A FEW TITLES and prices from my catalogue of standard books:

Alden's Cyclopedia of Universal Literature, publishing in 15 volumes, of about 500 pages each; per volume, paper, 30c.; cloth, 50c.; half Morocco, 60c.

American Patriotism: Famous Orations and Patriotic Papers; cloth 50c., half Morocco 70c.

Ancient Classics for English Readers; 27 volumes; each, paper, 10c.; cloth, 20c. Also bound in 9 vols., half Russia, each 50c.

Argyll's Reign of Law, cloth, 60c.; Unity of Nature, 60c.; Primeval Man, 35c.; the three in one volume, cloth, $1.00.

Bacon's Essays, complete; paper 12c., cloth 25c.

Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; paper 8c., cloth 20c. and 30c.

Chambers's Cyclopedia of English Literature; 8 volumes in cloth, $2.00.

Chinese Classics: The Works of Confucius and Mencius, translated; cloth 75c.

Classic Comedies, by Goldsmith, Sheridan, and Jonson; cloth 40c., half Morocco 60c.

Classic Prose Wonder-Book; 900 large octavo pages, richly bound. $1.50.

Confessions of St. Augustine; translated, cloth, 50c.

Creasy's Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World; cloth, 40c.

De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater; cloth, 20c.

Doré's Bible Gallery of Illustrations and Stories; reduced from $5.00 to $1.25.

Doré's Milton's Paradise Lost; text complete, with 52 cartoons, $1.25.

Durfee's Poetical Concordance to the principal Poets of the World; cloth, gilt edges, $1.00.

Emerson's Essays, 2 volumes; each, cl., 40c.; half Morocco, 60c.

Emerson's Nature, Etc.; cloth 35c., half Morocco 50c.

Famous Warriors: Lives of Hannibal, Cæsar, and Cromwell, by famous authors; each, paper, 8c.; all in one vol., cloth, 40c.

Farrar's Seekers after God; cloth, 35c.

—— Lectures, Addresses and Essays; cloth 35c., half Morocco 50c.

Geikie's Hours with the Bible; 6 vols., illustrated; reduced in price from $1.50 per vol. to 45c. in cl., or 60c. in half Morocco.

—— Life and Words of Christ; reduced in price from $8.00 to 45c. for cloth, or 60c. for half Morocco.

John B. Alden, Publisher, 393 Pearl St., New York.

Copyright, 1885 and 1886, by Rand, McNally & Co.

INDEX

TO

Maps and Descriptive Matter.

INDEX

TO

Diagrams and Tables.

EUROPE.

Northwestern portion of Old World and smallest of its grand divisions. Extreme length northeast and southwest, 3500 miles extreme breadth, over 2,400 miles; coast line not less than 20,000 miles.

LENGTHS OF RIVERS.

AREAS SEAS AND LAKES.

PRODUCTION OF RAW SILK.

LINEN.

LACE.

ANNUAL MINERAL PRODUCTIONS.

GREAT BRITAIN.

The largest island of Europe, and forming, with Ireland and the adjacent islands, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The union of England and Ireland was effected January 1, 1800.

Area of the kingdom, 120,832 square miles. Pop., 35,241,482. The divisions are: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Capital, London; pop., 4,766,661. Thirty-five cities have over 75,000 population. Climate is variable but healthful. Average temperature, 50°. Rainfall, London, 25 inches; Glasgow, 21; and Dublin, 29.

Middle-class education is entirely unorganized; no complete, trustworthy statistics are to be had. There were, in 1884, 69 universities and colleges, with 23,823 students. In 1881, there were 1,855 schools of science, with 66,000 students. Number of public libraries, 202. The library of the British Museum has 32 miles of shelves, filled with books. Number of daily papers, 169.

Productive area in England is 80 per cent.; in Ireland, 74 per cent.; Scotland, 28.8 per cent.; Wales, 60 per cent. Leading crops in Great Britain, wheat, barley and oats. Acreage, 1884: wheat, 2,676,477; barley, 2,159,485; oats, 2,892,576. In Ireland, oats and potatoes are most important; acreage of former, 1,347,395; of latter, 798,942. Number of acres of flax, 89,197. Orchards of Great Britain cover 180,000 acres, and produce 85,000 tons of apples.

The most important minerals are coal and iron. In 1883, coal product was 163,737,327 tons; value, $230,270,715. Iron ore, 17,383,046 tons; value, $25,611,905. In 1883, 1,724,251 tons of pig iron were used in the manufacture of Bessemer steel, 1,097,174 tons of it being made into steel rails. Over 800 tons of steel are annually consumed in the manufacture of pens, Birmingham alone using 500 tons; the average yearly production is 800,000,000.

The annual value of the fisheries is $50,000,000. Herring fishery alone $10,000,000; salmon, $4,000,000; oysters and shell-fish, $10,000,000. Value of the Scotch fisheries alone in 1884 was $16,431,210, the herring fishery alone being $10,267,755. Total value of imports, 1884, $1,948,872,745; exports of home produce, $1,164,537,875; foreign and colonial produce, $312,218,575. Value of corn and flour imported 1882, $338,111,835. Value of cotton manufactures exported was $382,228,785.

There are 2,674 cotton factories, employing 482,903 persons. Total number of all factories, 7,105; number of persons employed, 975,546, of whom 110,585 are children under 13 years of age. Men employed, 38 per cent.; women, 62 per cent. Amount of cotton imported, 1883, 1,734,333,552 lbs.; wool, 495,946,779 lbs.

Standing army in time of peace unlawful without the consent of Parliament; annual appropriation of Commons for support of troops, based on "estimates" made by the Cabinet. For 1884 and 1885, home and colonial effectives and reserves, 644,753.

Previous to 1815 there was but little emigration from the United Kingdom; in that year the number was 2,081; in 1830-34, 381,956; 1875, 173,809; 1882, 413,288; and in 1884, 304,074, of whom 203,539 came to the United States.

First railway opened in 1825. In 1883, there were 18,681 miles of railway; 13,215 belonging to England and Wales, 2,964 to Scotland, and 2,502 to Ireland. Number of postoffices, 1884, 15,951; and, in addition, 15,749 road and pillar boxes. There are 27,604 miles of telegraph lines, and 140,498 miles of wire.

The colonies and dependencies of Great Britain have an estimated area of 8,000,000 square miles. Of this vast extent of territory, over 3,500,000 square miles are in America, over 250,000 in Africa, over 1,000,000 in Asia, and 3,000,000 in Australasia.

BELGIUM.Bel´je-ŭm.

A kingdom of West Central Europe. Formerly united with Holland to form the Netherlands. Independence achieved in 1830. Executive power is vested in a King; legislative, in King, Senate and House of Representatives.

The most densely populated of the European countries, Belgium ranks eighteenth in area, but ninth in population. Area, 11,373 square miles. One-sixtieth of the territory artificially gained by means of dykes. Length of canal and river system, 995 miles. Capital, Brussels. Population, 389,782.

Agriculture chief industry. Only about one-eighth of territory uncultivated. In 1882, population, 5,655,197; average density, 497 per square mile; 1,160,149 freeholders held 88 per cent. of land.

This country is very rich in minerals. Over 17,500,000 tons of coal are produced annually. Belgium is noted for its flax. The chief products are wheat, rye, oats, barley, flax, hemp, tobacco. In 1880 there were 46,210 horses, 411,551 oxen, and 90,100 sheep.

Imports, 1882, $570,320,000; exports, $512,780,000. Manufactures are important. About 190,000 persons employed in flax, hemp, woolen and cotton manufactories. The lace of Brussels and the fire-arms of Liege are among the finest in the world. The value of pig and wrought iron alone, in 1882, was $34,473,260. Product of iron foundries about $3,000,000 per annum; of quarries, $8,459,400.

Roman Catholicism professed by nearly the entire population. Education is zealously promoted by the government; total sum spent, 1881, $6,503,670. Four universities in the kingdom.

Total peace strength of the army, 1885, 47,872 men, with 9,000 horses and 204 guns; war footing, 227,900 men, 13,800 horses, and 240 guns.

Of the 2,682 miles of railroad operated in 1883, 1,902 miles were owned and managed by the government. Number miles telegraph in 1884, 3,713; postoffices, 869.

NETHERLANDS (HOLLAND).

A kingdom of Europe, established by Congress of Vienna, in 1815. Area, 12,648 square miles. Population, 4,225,065. Country protected by dykes from the overflow of rivers and the inundations of the sea.

Constitution dated 1848. Law-making power resides in the States-General, a parliament of two houses. Commercial centre, Amsterdam; pop., 350,201. Capital, The Hague; pop., 127,931.

The soil is highly productive; fruit is grown extensively. In 1882 there were 5,046,210 acres of cultivated garden and pasture land. Number of acres in cereals, 1,267,399; yield of grain, 130,470,000 bu. Horses, 270,900; cattle, 1,427,000; and sheep, 745,100.

Total exports, 1882, $313,330,000; imports, $414,330,000. Value of butter exported to Great Britain alone, was $21,020,605. Holland's merchant marine, 1884, consisted of 701 sailing vessels, of 251,500 tons, and 96 steamers, of 123,400 tons.

In 1884, miles of railway, 1,320. Miles of state telegraph, 2,660; miles of wire, 9,760. Number of postoffices, 1,281.

In 1884, regular army stationed in Holland numbered 65,007 officers and men; navy composed of 157 vessels, with 9,462 officers and men.

Constitution secures religious freedom. Number of Protestants, 2,469,814; Roman Catholics, 1,439,137; Jews, 81,693.

Returns for 1882 gave 2,822 elementary public schools; 11,250 teachers; 1,143 private schools; total number of pupils, 557,932. There are 4 universities, 1 polytechnic school, 5 Roman Catholic, and 3 Protestant seminaries. Total expense of schools, $5,921,515.

GERMANY.

The third country in size in Europe. A confederate empire, composed of 25 States, and the Reichsland of Alsace-Lorraine. Capital, Berlin.

Climate uniform. Mean temperature of whole country, 48°; of the valley of the Rhine, 52°. Rainfall at Berlin, 24 inches.

About 63 per cent. of population is Protestant, and 36 per cent. Roman Catholic. Number of churches, 37,720. Education is general and compulsory. Number of elementary schools, 57,000; normal, 332; high, 1,100; technical high schools, 9; industrial and trade, 994. Universities, 21, with 25,964 students, of whom 89 per cent. are German, and 1 per cent. American. Number of public libraries, 594; number of daily papers, 560. The book fair at Leipzig annually disposes of 8,000 tons of books, valued at $8,000,000.

Every German is liable to service in the army, and no substitution is allowed. All Germans capable of bearing arms have to be in the standing army seven years,—three years in active service, and four in army of reserve; after which they form part of the Landwehr another five years. Army on peace footing numbers 427,274 soldiers, and 18,118 officers. Total war strength of trained soldiers would be 2,650,000; available force of all classes, 5,670,000.

Of the area, 94 per cent. is classed as productive. Leading products, 1882: corn, 16,435,620 tons; potatoes, 17,769,300 tons; beets, 874,654 tons; hay, 17,486,000 tons; 11,500 tons of hops, and over 35,000,000 gallons of wine. Value of farm animals, $1,486,000,000. The mineral products of 1883 were valued at over $116,000,000. Value of imports, 1883, $822,724,000; exports, $833,750. There are 23,940 breweries, producing annually 880,000,000 gallons of beer. The annual butter product is 160,000 tons.

Number of miles of railway, 1884, 22,617, of which 19,230 miles belong to the government. Length of telegraph lines, 47,637 miles; wires, 170,960 miles. Number of telegraph stations, 11,216. Number of postoffices, 13,637.

SPAIN.

A kingdom of Southwestern Europe, forming, with Portugal, the Iberian peninsula. Capital, Madrid; pop., 397,816. Thirty-one towns have over 50,000 pop.

Continental Spain has an area of 191,100 square miles. Population, 16,061,859. Number of Provinces, 49. Length of coast line, 1,370 miles. Object of greatest interest, ruins of the Alhambra, at Granada. This is the only state in Europe permitting slavery in its colonies.

Climate varies greatly. Average temperature at Madrid, 58°. Rainfall in the Sierras averages from 25 to 35 inches; on the table lands of Castile, 10 inches.

About 80 per cent. of the soil is classed as productive, though only 34 per cent. is under cultivation. The vine is the most important culture, and large quantities of oranges, raisins, nuts and olives, are grown and exported. Leading cereals: wheat, rye, barley and corn. The wine product averages yearly 320,000,000 gallons; value, $95,000,000. Average number of oranges exported, 960,000,000.

The mineral productions are of vast importance. The Cordova lead mines are the richest in the world, and the mercury mines of Almaden are second only to those of California. Average yearly lead product, 92,300 tons; value, $8,000,000. Mercury, 1,090 tons; value, $1,199,000. Copper, 21,300 tons. Tin, iron and salt are abundant.

The national religion is the Roman Catholic. The school system is inefficient, though measures tending toward improvement are being introduced. At the last census (1877) 60 per cent. of the adult population could not read. Number public schools, 1880, 29,828; number of pupils, 1,769,456. Number of universities, 10; students, 15,732.

Number miles railway, 1884, 5,157, with 1,747 miles under construction. Length of telegraph lines, 10,733 miles; number miles of wire, 26,160. Number of postoffices, 2,699.

The colonial possessions of Spain have an area of 163,876 square miles, and a population of 7,991,894. The most important are Cuba and the Philippine Islands. Area of Cuba, 43,220 square miles; pop., 1,521,684. Capital, Havana; pop., 25,000. Sugar, tobacco and cigars are principal products; average yearly sugar production, 520,000 tons.

Available home and colonial troops, 400,000.

PORTUGAL.

Name derived from Portus Cale, the ancient name of Oporto. A kingdom of Europe, occupying the western part of the Iberian peninsula.

Area, 36,510 square miles. Population, 4,306,554. Number of Provinces, 6. Length of coast line, 500 miles. Capital, Lisbon; pop., 246,343. Oporto, centre of port wine trade; pop., 105,838.

Climate healthful. Mean temperature at Lisbon, 61°. Rainfall averages 27 inches at Lisbon, and 118 at Coimbra.

About 51 per cent. of soil is productive, and less than 23 per cent. under tillage. Not sufficient grain raised for home consumption. Wine product for 1882, 125,000,000 gallons; value, $28,500,000.

State religion, Roman Catholic. The average amount spent on public education from 1875 to 1879 was $10,000; in 1884 the amount had risen to $966,000. There is one university, established at Coimbra in 1290.

Number of miles of railway, 1884, 950; with 300 miles under construction. Number of miles of telegraph lines, 2,920; number of miles of wire, 7,084; number of telegraph offices, 226. Number of postoffices, 931.

FRANCE.

A country of Europe, the fourth in size. Named from a Germanic tribe, the Franks, which invaded Gaul, A.D. 486. Area, including Corsica and adjacent islands, 204,177 square miles. Climate one of the finest in Europe. Average temperature ranges from 50° at Dunkirk to 62° at Toulon: that of Paris is 51°. Rainfall: at Paris, 22 inches; at Bordeaux, 30 inches.

France has a coast line of 320 miles; the continental boundary line is 962 miles. Largest river, the Loire. The Alps on the east, and the Pyrenees on the south, connect France with the most magnificent mountain systems of Europe. The French portion of the Alps has a length of 280 miles.

The republic is divided into 87 Departments, Salary of President, $120,000; length of term, 7 years. Paris, the capital and second city in Europe; pop., 2,239,928. Lyons, the second city in size, and centre of silk industry; pop., 376,613. Twenty-nine towns have a population of over 50,000; and 91, over 20,000.

Agricultural pop., census 1881, 18,249,209. Number of acres cultivated, 67,000,000. In 1883, 37,039,040 acres were in cereals, of which five-sevenths were wheat and oats; total production, 742,176,807 bu. Number of acres in orchards, 560,000; yearly production of cider, 220,000,000 gallons. Vineyards, 5,240,340 acres; annual average of wine product, 720,000,000 gals.; value, $225,000,000. Champagne vintage averages 20,000,000 bottles, 17,000,000 of which are exported; 1,204,145 acres under beet-root cultivation in 1883, yielding 32,230,312,000 lbs. of sugar.

Commercially the country ranks with Great Britain. Entrances to and clearances from her ports include annually over 60,000 vessels; total capacity, 12,000,000 tons. Value of yearly imports, exclusive of coin and bullion, $870,000,000; exports, $960,000,000; food imported, $308,000,000 annually. Value of exports, 1883, $912,340,000; imports, $1,277,340,000. Value of silk exports was $93,402,000. There were 151,404 persons engaged in silk culture. Number of pounds of raw silk produced, 19,149,587. France makes yearly 26,000,000 pairs of gloves, of which 18,000,000 are exported. There are 890 umbrella makers, who annually produce $5,900,000 worth. Value of fishery products, $21,445,450. Average production of sardines, 980,000,000; oysters, 380,000,000. There are 83,572 men engaged in the fisheries, with 22,345 vessels; total tonnage, 155,670.

About 79 per cent. of population Roman Catholic; less than 2 per cent. Protestant. Number of elementary schools, 1884, 85,388; pupils, 6,111,236. Number of normal schools, 163. Public libraries, 505. The Imperial Library at Paris has 18 miles of shelving filled with books. Daily papers published, 128.

The reorganization of the French army has been going on since 1872, and is nearly completed. Every Frenchman not declared unfit for military service may be called upon from the age of twenty to that of forty years to enter the active army or the reserves. Substitution or enlistment for money prohibited. In 1884 the army consisted of 524,797 officers and men, and 130,771 horses.

Railway system dates from 1840; number of miles, 1884, 17,000. Number of miles telegraph lines, 46,932; offices, 7,523. Number of postoffices, 1884, 6,486.

The colonial possessions of France cover an area of 429,260 square miles, with a total population of 9,300,000. Of the colonies, Algeria is the largest and most important, having an area of 161,476 square miles, and a population of 3,310,412. Algiers is the capital; population, 70,747. The colonies next in importance commercially are Tunis and Cochin China.

SWITZERLAND.

The most mountainous country of Europe. Formerly a league of semi-independent States, but since 1848 a federal republic. Number of Cantons, 22. President elected for a term of 1 year, and not eligible for two consecutive terms; salary, $3,000.

Area, 15,992 square miles. Pop., 2,846,102. The Alps extend nearly through the length of the country; from many peaks 300 snow-capped summits are visible. Rigi presents the finest view; Monte Rosa, the Matterhorn (steepest in the world), Finsteraarhorn and Jungfrau range from 13,700 to 15,200 ft. high. The Mer de Glace is the largest glacier in the world.

The general climate is milder than that of other mountain countries in the same latitude. Average temperature at Geneva, 52°. Average rainfall at Geneva, 32 inches; at Zurich, 34 inches.

Bern is the capital; pop., 44,087. Geneva, seat of watch and jewelry industry; pop., 68,320. Basel, centre of silk industry; pop., 61,399.

About 59 per cent. of the population is Protestant, and 41 per cent. Roman Catholic. Education is compulsory. Number of public schools, 1882, 5,314; pupils, 516,425; school pop., 573,713. There are four universities,—the one at Basel, founded in 1460; and those of Bern, Zurich and Geneva, since 1832. The government maintains a polytechnic school at Zurich, and a military academy at Thun. Number of public libraries, 1,654.

The laws of the republic forbid the maintenance of a standing army within its limits; but every Swiss is liable to serve in the defense of his country.

Of the total area 17 per cent. is forest, 30 per cent. mountains, lakes, glaciers and rivers; 51 per cent. under crops and grass. Of the cultivable area only 16.5 per cent. is devoted to agriculture. Less than 1 per cent. is in vineyards. Rye, oats and potatoes are most important crops. The dairy products are of most commercial importance.

Number engaged in agriculture and dairy farming, census 1880, 1,138,678. The average yearly production of cheese is 40,000 tons.

The manufacturing industry is one of importance. Latest reports give yearly value of watch manufactures $16,000,000; St. Gallen embroideries, $15,000,000; silk ribbon produced at Basel, $7,200,000; and the silk industry at Zurich, $15,200,000. There are 399 cotton factories, employing 38,500 people; 224 silk factories, with 23,500 people; 838 embroidery factories, with 17,200 people; 45 woolen factories, with 2,500 workers.

Number of miles of railway, January, 1883, 1,810. Telegraph system very complete; with the exception of wires for railway service, it is wholly under the control of the government. January, 1884, there were 4,270 miles of lines, and 10,346 of wire; number of offices, 1,271. Number of postoffices, 807; boxes, 2,081.

ANDORRA.

One of the smallest republics in the world, lying between France and Spain. Its independence dates from Charlemagne, in 790. France and the Spanish Bishop of Urgel have jointly a nominal interest in its government. A permanent delegate has charge of the interests of France in the republic.

Area, 175 square miles. Population, 5,800. Climate healthful, but too cold to produce grain. It possesses rich iron mines, and one of lead. Inhabitants principally shepherds.

BULGARIA.Bŏŏl-gā´re-a.

A principality under the suzerainty of Turkey. Governed by a Prince elected by the National Assembly, with popular legislature and constitution. Area, 24,360 square miles. Population, 1881, 2,007,919. Capital of principality, Sophia; pop., 20,501. Three towns of over 20,000 inhabitants; 20 of over 2,000.

Most of the territory belongs to the basin of the Danube; traversed by many streams. Soil in general very productive; agriculture is the chief pursuit of the inhabitants. Principal exports: grain, wool, skins and timber. About 1,500,000 tons of corn are exported per year. Total imports in 1882 valued at $8,312,700; exports, $6,844,395.

One line of railway, 140 miles in length, extends from Rustchuk to Varna. In 1883 there were in Bulgaria 1,325 miles of state telegraph lines. Military service is obligatory. Peace strength of the army, 17,670 men; war strength, 52,000.

SERVIA.Ser´ve-a.

The independence of this country from Turkey was established in 1878. By the constitution adopted 1869, the executive power is vested in the King and a Council of 8 ministers; the legislative, in the King and a National Assembly. Area, 18,800 square miles. Population, 1,865,683. Capital, Belgrade; population, 37,500.

The surface of the country is generally mountainous. Vegetation is vigorous in all districts. The climate is mild in the lower and level portions, but extremely rigorous in the mountainous districts. Of the total area, one-third is under cultivation, corn and wheat being the chief products. There are 1,750,000 persons engaged in agriculture. Latest reports of livestock give: swine, 1,067,940; horses, 122,500; cattle, 826,550; sheep, 3,620,750; goats, 725,700.

The imports are estimated at about $10,000,000, and the exports a little below that amount. In 1884 there were 200 miles of railway. Number miles of telegraph, 1,410. The state religion is the Orthodox Greek. There is a university of 158 students. Other schools number about 650, with about 45,000 pupils.

RUMANIA.Roo-mā´ne-a.

A kingdom of Europe, formerly a part of Turkey. Though under the protection of Russia since 1830, it was nominally subject to Turkey until 1878. In 1881 it was raised to a kingdom. Constitution adopted 1866, modified 1879 and 1884. Government vested in the King, an Executive Council, Senate and Chamber of Deputies. Area, 48,307 square miles. Estimated population, 5,376,000. Capital, Bukharest; population, 221,805.

The soil is fertile, and of the total population, 70 per cent. is devoted to agriculture. Number of freehold proprietors, 654,000. Of the area, 68 per cent. is productive; 29 per cent. under cultivation. Grain, oil-seed and wine are the leading products. Average production of cereals, 150,000 tons. Cattle and sheep are extensively reared. Total value of exports, 1883, $44,130,055; imports, $71,981,435. Value of leading exports: cereals, $34,511,400; animals, $2,328,490. Imports: textiles, $23,530,315; metals, $14,632,880; skins and leather, $8,748,370.

Education is free and compulsory. Number of primary schools, 2,743; high schools, 54; normal, 8; universities, 2. The majority of the people belong to the Orthodox Greek Church. In 1884 Rumania had 850 miles of state railway; non-state lines numbered about 150 miles. There were about 3,000 miles of telegraph.

TURKEY (OTTOMAN EMPIRE).

The Ottoman Empire comprehends all countries over which Turkey has supremacy. The area and population are known only through estimates, the latest of which give the area as 2,406,492 square miles, and the population as 42,209,359. The most important part, that in Europe, was in 1878 greatly reduced in area and population. The latest estimates give the immediate possessions in Europe an area of 63,850 square miles, and a population of 4,490,000. The laws of the empire are based on the precepts of the Koran; the government is in the hands of the Sultan, whose will is absolute, unless opposed to the teachings of the Mohammedan religion. Capital, Constantinople; population, 600,000.

While military service is compulsory on all Mohammedans over eighteen years of age, there are some exemptions, and substitution is allowed. Non-Mohammedans are not liable, but must pay an exemption tax. Number of men under arms, 150,000; actual military strength, about 430,000.

The total value of exports, 1882, was $50,828,895; imports, $87,687,400. Principal exports: fruit, fresh and dried, $7,886,375; wool and mohair, $4,330,020. In 1883, the mercantile navy consisted of 10 steamers, of 8,866 tons; and 391 sailing vessels, of 63,896 tons.

As the Koran encourages public education, public schools have long been in existence in most Turkish towns. The Mohammedans are estimated to number 16,000,000.

The first railroad was constructed in 1865, 45 miles being opened for traffic that year. In 1882 the railroads numbered 1,076 miles, of which 904 were in Europe and 172 in Asia. In 1884 there were 14,617 miles of telegraph and 26,060 miles of wire.

GREECE.Grēs.

A kingdom of Southeastern Europe. Area, including Thessaly, but excluding the Albanian territory detached from Thessaly and Epirus, which was added to Greece in 1881, 25,111 square miles. Total population, 1,979,453. Almost wholly mountainous,—an important element in the political history of Greece.

Executive power vested in the King, and the responsible heads of 7 departments; legislative, in the Chamber of Representatives.

Athens, capital and largest city; pop., 84,903. Over 82 per cent. of inhabitants belong to the Greek Orthodox church. Greece has one university and 2,698 other schools, with 140,776 pupils.

Main pursuit of inhabitants is agriculture. Manufactures few. Of total area, 41 per cent. is productive, and 6 per cent. is under cultivation. Land largely owned by a few proprietors. New Provinces of Thessaly unusually fertile; annual yield of wheat, 21,700,000 bushels; oats, 11,528,000. Old Provinces produce 34,000,000 bushels of wheat and 21,700,000 bushels of corn per year. Currant crop covers vast districts. Latest reports give 97,176 horses, 279,445 horned cattle, 45,440 mules, and 97,395 asses. Number of sheep in all the Provinces, 4,421,977; goats, 2,836,663; oxen, 200,000. For 1883, total imports, $27,267,400; exports, mostly raisins, currants, and olive oil, $18,571,400. Chief resource, maritime commerce.

Number of miles of railway now open for traffic, 107; projected railways, 435 miles. Land and submarine telegraphs, 3,720 miles. Postoffices, 213. Army: peace footing, 30,292 men; war footing, 250,500. Commercial marine, at the end of 1884, numbered 74 steamers, of 33,318 tons; and 3,164 sailing vessels, of 239,361 tons.

ITALY.It´a-le.

A kingdom in the South of Europe. Consists of a peninsula, the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Elba, and about 66 smaller ones. Area, 114,410 square miles. Population, 28,459,628. Mean annual temperature: at Milan, 55°; at Rome, 59°; at Naples, 61°. Climate most unhealthy in Europe; due to miasma generated in lagoons and marshes. Has many famous and picturesque lakes.

Government is a constitutional monarchy. Executive power vested in King and responsible ministers: legislative rests conjointly with the King and a Parliament, composed of a Senate, appointed for life; and a Chamber of 508 Deputies, elected by the people for five years. Suffrage universal; freedom of the press unrestricted. Famous rivers are the Po, Arno and Tiber.

Italy abounds in historic and populous cities. Rome, the capital, has pop. of 273,268; Naples, the largest, 463,172; Milan, 295,543; Palermo, 205,712; Genoa, 138,081; Florence, 134,992; Venice, 129,445; 31 cities of over 30,000 inhabitants.

Agriculture chief industry, though in a primitive condition; 87 per cent. of total area productive; 12 per cent. under forest, 36 per cent. cultivated; 28,000,000 acres in crops. Acreage of wheat, 12,000,000; annual yield, 140,000,000 bushels. Vineyards occupy about 5,000,000 acres; olive groves, 2,200,000. About 1,225,000 acres are devoted to chestnut culture. Italy ranks next to France in wine production; average yield per annum, 605,000,000 gallons; average annual value of all agricultural products for last 5 years, $640,000,000.

Number of cattle in 1881, 4,783,232; sheep, 8,596,108; goats, 2,016,307. In 1883, exported 127,003 cattle; sheep, 273,939; swine, 38,668. Wool product insufficient for home consumption; import, in 1883, 20,987,500 lbs.

Mining is an important interest in Italy. Value of iron and steel mined annually, $4,250,000. Sulphur is the chief mineral product; value, in 1882, $9,328,505. Quarries employ 20,000 men. In 1883, total weight of cocoon harvest, 92,886,200 lbs.; value, $26,491,665.

Leading imports, 1883: raw cotton, $18,173,400; coal, $13,166,200; tobacco, $2,321,800; sugar, $10,633,200. Exports for same year: raw silk, $49,712,400; olive oil, $20,156,600; wine in casks, $15,668,200; fruit, $8,685,800. Total imports, 1883, $257,241,023; exports, $236,321,513. In same year, 111,296 vessels, of 18,465,381 tons, entered Italian ports; cleared the same, 110,554 vessels, of 18,367,948 tons.

Length of railway, in 1883, 5,651 miles; about 1,410 miles the property of the state. In 1879, Italian Parliament passed bills for construction of 3,739 miles, to complete the railway system; cost, $200,000,000. Number of postoffices in 1883, 3,497. Miles of telegraph, 17,258; about two-thirds owned by the government; telegraph offices, not including railway and private, 1,747; number of telegrams, 6,454,942.

There is a universal liability to military service. Total war force, 2,119,250: permanent army, 750,765 strong; mobile militia, 341,250; territorial militia, 1,021,954; reserve, 5,281. Navy, 1884, consisted of 89 steamers, manned with 15,055 officers and men.

Roman Catholicism is the prevailing creed; not more than 124,000 Protestants and Jews in the kingdom. The present Roman Pontiff, or Pope Leo XIII., is regarded as about the 263d Pope from St. Peter.

Recent improvements in education have been made. There are 17 state universities, 4 free universities, 11 superior colleges, and 219 special schools. Number of primary public schools, 41,423; sum allowed for expenses, $6,485,505.

AUSTRO-HUNGARY.Aws´trŏ Hŭng´ga-re.

A monarchy of Europe. Ranks next to Russia in size. Much of the territory is mountainous, the Carpathians extending over about 800 miles. Four-fifths of the area of Austria is 600 feet above sea-level.

Mean annual temperature ranges from about 48° in the north to 59° in the south. Average temperature at Vienna, 50°; highest, 94°; lowest, 2°. Rainfall: on Hungarian plains, 22 inches; in Alpine regions, 60 inches.

Austria, a German monarchy, and Hungary, a Magyar kingdom, together form a bipartite state. Each has its own Parliament, ministers and government; they are connected by a common ruler, Congress, army and navy. The legislative power of Congress is limited to war and foreign affairs.

Area of Austro-Hungary, 240,942 square miles; area of Turkish Provinces controlled by the monarchy, 24,247 square miles. Population, including military, 37,883,226; in Austria, 10,819,737 males and 11,324,507 females; in Hungary, 7,702,810 males and 7,939,192 females. In Austria, 6,000,000 people engaged in agriculture, 2,117,098 in manufacturing, and 177,870 in mining. Farm population of Hungary, 2,848,868; miners, 25,905; manufacturers, 766,416; traders, 177295

Vienna, the capital, has a population of 1,103,857. Budapest, 360,551. Ninety-four per cent. of whole area is productive. Number of acres under crops, fallow and grass, 67,608,070. Total production of cereals, 586,029,352 bushels; potatoes, 365,574,706 bushels; wines, 178,425,280 gallons. Total number of horses, 3,282,790; cattle, 13,181,620; sheep, 13,093,463.

Value of exports, 1883, $374,960,255. Chief exports: grain and flour, $60,389,350; textiles, $55,516,850; animals, $48,519,015; fuel, $38,979,570; sugar, $35,086,975.

Railway mileage, 1884, 12,820. In 1883 there were 32,684 miles of telegraph line in operation. Commercial marine, 1884, consisted of 9,174 vessels, with a combined capacity of 321,402 tons.

Army, in war, 1,072,300 strong; during peace, 291,078. Military service compulsory on all males over 20 years of age.

The Roman Catholic is the state religion; 67.6 per cent. of inhabitants are Catholics; other creeds are tolerated.

MONTENEGRO.Mon`tā-nā´gro.

A small state of Europe; independence recently admitted by Turkey. Area, 3,550 square miles. Population, 1879, 250,000. The land surface is composed of a series of elevated ridges, with high mountain peaks. Agriculture chief occupation. Main products, maize, potatoes, sumac, sardines, smoked mutton, hides, skins and furs. Total yearly imports amount to $100,000; exports, $1,000,000.

Constitution dates from 1852; government is a limited monarchy; executive power rests with the reigning Prince; legislative, with a State Council. Suffrage is extended to male citizens who are bearing or who have borne arms. There is no standing army; but all male inhabitants are trained for the service. The state could raise an armed force of 21,850 men.

Public schools are supported by the government; education is compulsory. Capital, Cetigne; pop., 2,000. Podgoritza has 4,000 inhabitants; and Dulcigno, 3,000.

Miles of telegraph, 280; number of offices, 15.

SWEDEN.Swe´den.

This kingdom, united with Norway, forms the Scandinavian peninsula. The government is vested in a King, a Council of State and a Parliament. Area, 170,979 square miles. Population, 4,603,595. Capital, Stockholm; population, 194,469. The armed forces number 172,260 officers and men. The Royal navy consists of 66 vessels, with 4,068 men.

The country has numerous lakes and rivers. In the north it is cold and sterile; but the climate, on the whole, is milder than that of other countries in the same latitude, and south of latitude 59° the country is generally fertile. About 7 per cent. of the land area is cultivated, and 5 per cent. is natural meadows. Agricultural population, 2,309,790. Emigrants in 1883 numbered 29,490, of whom four-fifths came to the United States.

Value of imports, 1882, $63,840,000; exports, $70,524,000. Chief exports: timber, $32,482,290; metals, $11,861,580. Mining is one of the chief industries. In 1883 there were exported 34,319 tons of iron ore, 52,126 tons of bar iron, 3,602 pounds of silver, 945 tons of copper and 54,423 tons of zinc ore. Mining population numbered 410371

The state religion is Lutheran Protestant. The census of 1880 returned 4,544,434 persons of that faith, with 2,408 churches. There are 2 universities, with 2,540 students. Education is free and compulsory. The total number of schools is about 9,800; pupils, 660,000; expenditures, $2,718,390.

The commercial navy numbers 3,356 sailing vessels, of 439,932 tons, and 785 steamers, of 87,524 tons. Number of miles of railway, 1883, 4,000, of which 1,437 miles belong to the state; telegraph, 5,347 miles.

NORWAY.Nor´wā.

In 1814 united with Sweden into a joint kingdom. Area, 122,869 square miles. Population, 1,806,900. Government an hereditary constitutional monarchy; executive power in the hands of the King and Council of State; legislative rests with Storthing, or Great Court. Capital, Christiania; pop., 1884, 124,155.

Norway is an agricultural and pastoral country; but, owing to the light character of the soil, the products are insufficient for home consumption, and one-fourth of the total imports is grain.

Principal imports are metals, minerals, textile manufactures and corn; total value in 1883, $44,810,000. Chief exports are timber and fish; value of all exports, 1883, $32,261,000. Fisheries employ 120,000 people and 25,000 boats, three-fourths employed in the cod fisheries; total product, 1883, $6,757,500. Merchant marine, 7,913 vessels; tonnage, 1,530,004; largest in the world, considering population.

Army raised by conscription and enlistment; war footing, 68,800 officers and men. Armed force to exceed 18,000 unlawful without the consent of Storthing. Navy, 31 sailing vessels and 40 steamers, with 152 guns, manned by a force of 915.

Miles of railway, 1884, 971; 929 miles controlled by the state. Miles of telegraph, 5,629; length of wire, 10,075. Number of postoffices, 1032

Protestants are in the majority; unlimited religious liberty, Jesuitism excepted; none but Lutherans eligible to high offices.

Compulsory education prevails; primary schools, 6,617; 17 public high schools, 1 university; total number of students, 284,035.

DENMARK.Den´mark.

A constitutional kingdom in Europe. Area, 13,784 square miles. Population, 1,969,039. Almost entirely insular. Temperature at Copenhagen, 47°. Country low and level.

Constitution, dating back to 1849, and modified in 1855, '63, '66, vests executive authority in the King and his responsible ministers; legislative, in the Senate and House of Commons. King must belong to Evangelical Lutheran church. The franchise is extended to all males over 30, who are not recipients of charity.

Pop. of Copenhagen, the capital, 1880, 273,323; Aarhuus, 24,831; Adense, 20,804. In 1882, 11,614 emigrants left Denmark; vast majority of them for the United States. Relatively, Denmark ranks among the first states of Europe in point of agriculture. In 1880, 75 per cent. of area productive; area under cereals, 1882, 2,681,691 acres; product, 86,706,937 bushels. Cattle rearing increasing in importance. In 1881, value of cattle, $7,350,395; number of horses, 347,561; sheep, 1,548,613; swine, 527,417.

There were exported 84,586 cattle, 72,487 sheep, 2,230,000 lbs. of wool, and 253,294 hogs. Total value of exports in 1882, $52,225,300. Total imports, $70,297,280. Army is recruited by conscription; it embraces 36,469 men, with a reserve of 14,000. In 1884, navy consisted of 40 steamers. Miles of railway, 1,106; 932 miles operated by the state. Miles of government telegraph, 2,283.

Education compulsory; number of schools supported by the state, 2,940.

RUSSIA.Rŭsh´e-a.

The Russian Empire comprises one-seventh of the total land area of the globe. The area and population are known only through estimates, the latest of which give the total area as 8,520,637 square miles, and the population as 102,682,124. Area of European Russia, 2,041,402 square miles; population, 86,486,959. Asiatic Russia: area, 6,479,235 square miles; population, 16,195,165. The government of Russia is an absolute hereditary monarchy; the whole legislative, executive and judicial power being vested in the Emperor. Capital, St. Petersburg; population, 929,100.

The established religion of the empire is the Greco-Russian, which numbers 63,835,000 members, 636 cathedrals and 41,807 churches. The mass of the population is uneducated. European Russia has about 375 high schools, 61 normal and 22,770 primary schools; pupils number more than 1,220,000. The empire has 8 universities, with 10,700 students.

Of European Russia, 63 per cent. of the area is productive; 21 per cent. is cultivated. Chief products, cereals; the crop of 1883, exclusive of Finland, was 1,671,012 tons; potatoes, 447,875 tons; tobacco, 119,200,000 lbs. Large areas are covered with forests; value of timber exported 1881, $49,200,000. Value of total exports of Russian Empire, $308,898,000; imports, $283,396,000. Minerals are abundant; the mining population numbers 392,304.

The total strength of the Russian army on a peace footing is 729,770 men and 27,468 officers; war footing, 1,876,358 men and 41,551 officers. The navy numbers 358 vessels, of 349,730 tons.

In 1883, European Russia had 15,274 miles of railway, of which 13,670 miles belonged to the state. Number of miles of telegraph, 65,726. Postoffices, 4,586. The commercial navy, in 1883, consisted of 187 steamers, of 138,291 tons, and 2,155 sailing vessels, of 477,072 tons.

ASIA.

Largest continental division of the globe, and oldest known in history. Area, 17,241,538 square miles. Extends from Arctic Ocean to equator, and through 165 degrees longitude; coast line nearly 40,000 miles.

LENGTHS OF RIVERS.

AREAS SEAS AND LAKES.

An empire composed of islands lying east of Asia. Supposed to have been founded 660 B.C. Area, 148,456 square miles. Pop., 36,700,118. The population is divided into classes, as follows: Imperial family, 39; kwazokii, or nobles, 3,204; shizoku, or knights, 1,931,824; common people, 34,765,051. Tokio, formerly known as Jeddo, or Yedo, is the capital; pop., 823,557.

The government is an absolute monarchy. The title of the sovereign is Supreme Lord, or Emperor (Mikado).

Agriculture is followed to a great extent. The chief annual agricultural products are: rice, 155,629,409 bu.; wheat, 62,049,940 bu.; beans, 10,795,717 bu. The annual value of silk production is $20,500,000. The principal manufactures are silk and cotton goods, japanned ware, porcelain and bronze. The value of the exports, 1883, was $35,609,000; of imports, $28,548,000.

A law went into effect in 1874, by which the government gives nine bushels of rice annually to each person over seventy or under fifteen years of age unable to work, and to foundlings until they reach the age of thirteen. Latest reports place the number of paupers at 10,050, and expenditures at $88,975.

School attendance is compulsory. There are 30,275 schools in the empire, of which 71 are normal, 98 are technical, and 2 are universities; also, a military college and military school, with 1,200 students. Latest reports give 82,213 teachers and 2,703,343 pupils. School age is from 6 to 14. Total number of school age, 5,750,946. Public libraries, 21. Shintoism is the ancient religious faith; but Buddhism is the religion of nearly all the common people.

The first railroad in the empire was opened June, 1875; it extended from Hiogo to Osaka, twenty-five miles. At the end of June, 1884, there were 236 miles of railway in the empire. There are 4,880 miles of telegraph, with 13,144 miles of wire. Postoffices were first established in 1871, and now number about 5,200.

CHINESE EMPIRE.

An immense empire of Eastern Asia; in territorial extent, the second in the world; in population, the largest. Area, 4,419,150 square miles. Pop., 371,180,000.

Longest rivers: Yang-tse-kiang, 3,320 miles; with basin, 950,000 sq. miles. Hoang-ho, 2,800 miles; with basin, 715,000 sq. miles.

Capital Pekin; pop., 500,000. Twenty-three cities have more than 100,000 population; and 66, more than 50,000.

The state religion has no outward ceremonial, except a few symbolical rites observed at New Year. It consists in the study of the teachings of Confucius and Lao-tse. The majority of the people are Buddhists. Education is almost universal, there being few adults unable to read and write. The Chinese have had newspapers at least ten centuries.

Value of imports, 1883, $103,071,415; exports, $98,349,895. The chief imports were: opium, valued at $35,510,260; and cotton goods, valued at $30,888,465. Chief exports: tea,—value, $45,077,135; and silk, chiefly raw, $33,537,990. The coal fields of China are among the first in the world; about 3,000,000 tons are mined each year. The mines at Kai-p'ing, in 1883, produced 600 tons per day.

In June, 1876, a railway of twenty miles, between Shanghai and Woosung, was opened for traffic; but the following year it was purchased by the Chinese authorities, and closed. There are 20,000 Imperial roads in the empire. In 1884 there were 3,089 miles of telegraph line, with 5,482 miles of wire.