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. Gr[=e]s.
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. {27}
[Illustration]
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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, 55deg; at
Rome, 59deg; at Naples, 61deg. 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. {29}
[Illustration]
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{30}
AUSTRO-HUNGARY. Aws'tr[)o] H[)u]ng'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 48deg in the north to 59deg in
the south. Average temperature at Vienna, 50deg; highest, 94deg; lowest,
2deg. 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`t[=a]-n[=a]'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.