Part 5
The government is administered by a Governor, an Executive and a Legislative Council and House of Assembly. Colonists are employed in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Ostrich breeding is successfully carried on. Sheep farms often comprise from 8,000 to 15,000 acres and upward. Total cultivated area in 1875, 580,000 acres. Vines occupied 18,000 acres, yielding 4,484,665 gallons of wine. The colony had, in 1875, 1,111,713 head of cattle, 10,976,663 sheep, and 3,065,202 goats. The principal exports from the colony in 1883 were: wool, valued at $8,015,700; ostrich feathers, $4,656,900; grease wool, $1,948,025; hides and skins, $2,180,250; copper ore, $2,270,565; Angora hair, $1,359,020; diamonds, $13,712,350. Total exports in 1883 valued at $22,044,490; total imports, $32,351,955.
Vast majority of the population members of Dutch Reformed church, the Episcopalian ranking next in number. Cape Colony has 1 university and 5 colleges; education not compulsory; 71 per cent. of children who have attained school age are in school.
Army in 1883 consisted of 1,614 officers and men. By a law of 1878, every able-bodied colonist between 18 and 50 years is liable to military service beyond, as well as within, colonial limits. In 1884 the total length of government railway was 1,213 miles; telegraph, 4,031 miles.
ORANGE RIVER FREE STATE.
An independent republic of South Africa. Founded by Boers from Cape Colony, in 1836; constitution proclaimed 1854. Area, 70,000 square miles. Population, 133,518: colored or native, 72,496; whites, 61,022. Annual amount devoted to education, $1,000,000. Capital, Bloemfontein; pop., 2,567.
Law-making power vested in a popular Assembly of 55 members; executive, in President, elected for 5 years. Climate salubrious. Agricultural and pastoral pursuits the chief industries. In 1881 there were 6,000 farms; total number of acres, 23,592,400; cultivated, 114,916; number of horses, 131,594; 5,056,301 merino sheep, 673,924 goats; ostriches, 2,253. There are many rich coal mines. Diamonds and other precious stones are found. Miles of telegraph in operation, 559
NATAL. Na-tal´.
Previous to 1856, Natal formed part of Cape Colony; in that year it was erected into a separate colony under Great Britain. The government is administered by a Governor, an Executive Council, and a Legislative Council. Estimated area, 21,150 square miles. Pop., 1881, 416,210; white, 28,463; native, 329,253; coolies, 20,196. Principal town, Durban; pop., 16,630. Capital, Pietermaritzburg; pop., 14,231.
Value of imports, 1883, $8,755,535; exports, $4,158,735. Principal exports: hides, $255,040; ostrich feathers, $72,530; unrefined sugar, $610,420; wool, $2,595,805. Principal imports are manufactured goods and flour. In 1883, 328 vessels, of 232,097 tons, entered, and 326, of 231,892 tons, cleared, the ports. There are 105 miles of railway built, and 120 under construction. {55}
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TRANSVAAL. Trans-val´.
A South African republic founded by Boers who left Cape Colony in 1835 for Natal, quitted the latter country on its annexation to Great Britain, and settled in the territory north of the Vaal river. Recognized as an independent state in 1852. Executive authority is in the hands of a President, assisted by a Council of 4 members; legislative vested in a Volksraad of 44 members. Area of republic, 114,360 square miles. Population estimated, 1884, at 50,000 whites, of whom 40,000 are Dutch, and about 700,000 natives. Chief city, Pretoria; population, 4,440.
The country is favorable for agriculture and stock raising. Chief crop, wheat; sugar, coffee and cotton are grown. Cattle, sheep and ostriches are reared. There is a great deal of mineral wealth, which has been but little developed. The yearly exports are valued at $3,000,000, and are principally grain, cattle, hides, wool, ostrich feathers, butter, ivory, gold and other minerals.
LIBERIA. Li-bee´re-a.
A republic of South Africa, founded in 1820 as a colony by the American Colonization Society in behalf of liberated slaves from the United States. Liberia was declared an independent state in 1847. The government is modeled after that of the United States. The republic has 600 miles of coast line, and extends inland about 100 miles; area, 14,300 square miles. The population is wholly African, and numbers 18,000 Americo-Liberians and 1,050,000 aborigines. Capital, Monrovia; population, 3,000. The Liberians have established churches and schools, and possess a number of printing presses. The climate, which is still fatal to Europeans, has been much improved by systematic drainage.
The country is well watered, and the natural resources are very great. Cotton and coffee are both indigenous, the former yielding two crops per year. The oil palm is abundant, palm oil, ivory, India rubber and nuts being the chief exports.
CONGO FREE STATE.
The Act defining and constituting the Congo Free State was signed by the International Congo Conference at Berlin, February 26, 1885. The area of the State is estimated at 1,056,200 square miles, with a population of 27,000,000. While the Congo state is under the sovereignty of the King of Belgium, the latter country or government has no power or responsibility in relation to it. The state is divided into four Provinces,--the Lower Congo, the Upper Congo, Livingstone Falls and the Pool, and the district between the Pool and Equator. The government is in the hands of an Administrator General, under whom are a number of white subordinates, chiefs of Provinces and other officials.
Free commerce, in its widest sense, has been established in the basin of the Congo, and for a distance of 360 miles along the Atlantic. In this territory, no import duties can be levied for twenty years, and the Powers reserve the right to decide if freedom of entry shall be maintained beyond that period. The principal articles for export are said to be palm oil, ivory, rubber, gum copal, ground nuts, orchilla weed and cam-wood; principal imports are textiles, spirits, tobacco, guns and powder. {57}
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OCEANIA.
A fifth division of the globe, comprising island groups and the large islands of the Pacific. The divisions are Australasia, Malaysia and Polynesia.
Australasia extends from equator to 47° south latitude, and from 112° to about 170° east longitude. It includes Australia, Papua, New Zealand and Tasmania.
Malaysia comprises the islands and groups lying just off the coast of Southeastern Asia, and contains the large islands of Luzon, Mindanao, Celebes, Java, Sumatra and Borneo.
Polynesia includes Islands and island groups between Philippines and 100° west longitude. Among the most important groups are Caroline, Feejee, Friendly, Gilbert, Hawaiian, Marshall and Society Islands.
+----------+-----------+-------------+-------- | Area Sq. | Pop. | Capital. | Pop. | Miles. | | | --------------------+----------+-----------+-------------+-------- New South Wales | 316,320 | 840,614 | Sydney | 220,427 New Zealand | 105,342 | 532,000 | Wellington | 20,563 Queensland | 668,224 | 36,695 | Brisbane | 36,109 South Australia | 903,690 | 293,509 | Adelaide | 38,479 Tasmania | 26,375 | 122,479 | Hobart | 21,118 Victoria | 87,884 | 915,948 | Melbourne | 291,464 West Australia | 975,920 | 29,708 | Perth | 5,044 |----------|-----------| | Total Australasia |3,083,755 | 2,770,953 | | |----------|-----------| | Hawaiian Islands | 6,667 | 57,985 | Honolulu | 7,000 Borneo | 12,745 | 2,183,974 |{Brunai | 20,000 | | |{Banjarmasin | 30,000 Celebes | 71,791 | 2,000,000 | Macassar | 20,000 Java | 50,848 |20,259,450 | Batavia | 99,109 Mindanao | 36,000 | 732,802 | Selangan | 10,000 Luzon | 37,505 | 4,450,191 | Manila | 160,000 Sumatra | 177,000 | 3,000,000 |{Acheen | 45,000 | | |{Padang | 10,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------
AUSTRALASIA.--Crop Production, 1882.
Wheat 81,763,098 bu. | Other cereals 889,789 bu. Oats 16,430,205 " | Potatoes 346,834 tons. Barley 1,928,595 " | Hay 862,602 " Maize 5,611,903 " | Wine 1,496,175 gals. Gold produced 1881 $ 30,510,709 Coin and bullion exported 1882 38,480,960 Aggregate imports, 1882 310,698,578 Aggregate exports, 1882 246,407,125
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.--Exports, 1881.
Coffee $ 959,346 | Liquid Indigo $ 8,256 Cordage 137,031 | Rice 7,791 Hemp 8,889,872 | Sugar 12,403,993 Indigo 138,958 | Sapan-wood 58,230
SOCIETY ISLANDS, 1882.
IMPORTS. | EXPORTS. General Merchandise $702,475 | Gen. Mdse. Cotton, copra, | (re-exp'rt'd) $358,604 mother-of-pearl | Cotton, copra, shell and other | mother-of-pearl produce 367,975 | shell, etc. 516,583 | Fire Wood & cocoanuts. 1,041 ---------- | -------- Total $1,070,450 | Total $876,228
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, 1883--Domestic Exports.
Sugar 114,107,155 lbs. | Rice 11,619,000 lbs. Molasses 193,997 gals. | Coffee 16,057 lbs. Paddy 1,368,705 lbs. | Bananas 44,902 bunches.
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NETHERLANDS INDIES.
The Netherlands Indies are by far the most important colonial possessions of the Netherlands. They cover all the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, and include Java, Madura, Banca, Sumatra, Bingtang, Billiton, Celebes, the Moluccas, Lombok Bali, and many smaller islands and parts of New Guinea, Borneo and Timor. Area of the colonies estimated at 636,329 square miles; population, 27,784,959. The superior administration is in the hands of a Governor General, assisted by a Council of 5 members.
The most important colony is Java, which politically includes the neighboring island of Madura. Total area, 50,848 square miles; population, 20,259,450. Java is governed under what is termed the culture system, which was established in 1832.
The strength of the total army in 1883 was 30,421 men, of whom 15,032 were Europeans, and 15,389 natives. There is a military academy near Batavia, and attached to every battalion is a school for soldiers. The navy, royal and colonial, consisted of 79 vessels and 5,029 men.
By far the larger part of the commerce of Dutch India is with the Netherlands. The average value of the total imports for three years was $62,500,000: exports, $75,000,000. About two-thirds of the imports were from the Netherlands, and three-fourths of the exports were sent to that country. The principal exports are sugar, coffee, rice, indigo and tobacco. Latest reports give value of coffee exported, $13,086,790; sugar, $19,625,470; indigo, $1,245,170; spices, $1,021,720; tobacco, $6,457,680.
The Netherlands Indies had, in 1882, 3,682 miles of telegraph, with 84 offices. Number of postoffices, 221. Java has now about 750 miles of railway.
HAWAII (SANDWICH ISLANDS). Ha-wi´ee.
A kingdom of Oceania, consisting of a group of 15 islands, of which 8 are inhabited. The government is a limited monarchy. Hawaii is the largest island; but Honolulu, the capital, is situated on the island of Oahu. Population of Honolulu, 7,000. Area of the islands, 6,667 square miles. At the last census, the population numbered 57,985: male, 34,103; female, 23,882; native, 44,088; Chinese, 5,916; white, 4,561, of whom 1,276 were Americans, 883 English, 436 Portuguese, 272 Germans, 81 French; half-caste, 3,420.
To a great extent the islands are mountainous, and there are numerous volcanoes, several of which are active. The volcano of Mauna Loa, on the Island of Hawaii, is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. The soil is exceedingly fertile and productive. Chief products, sugar and rice; but coffee, hides, bone, whale oil and wool are exported in considerable quantities. Value of exports, 1883, $8,121,200; imports, $5,624,240.
In 1883, 267 vessels, of 183,316 tons, entered, and 263 vessels, of 189,494 tons, cleared the ports. Of the former, 195 vessels were American. The islands own 64 vessels, of 15,588 tons. The islands of Hawaii and Maui are provided with telegraphs, and have about 32 miles of railway. Almost every house in Honolulu has its telephone.
There are numerous schools in the islands; the annual sum devoted to public instruction is $95,850. The King is a member of the Church of England; but all forms of religion are permitted and protected. {62}
AUSTRALASIA. Aws-tral-[=a]´she-a.
Under this bead are grouped all the Australian colonies belonging to Great Britain. They are seven in number, and geographically are comprised in the continent of Australia and the islands of Tasmania and New Zealand and part of New Guinea. Total area, 3,075,135 square miles. Population, 1883, 3,091,897.
Each colony has a Governor, appointed by the Crown, in whom is vested the executive power. The legislative power of each is vested in a Parliament of two houses.
Minerals abound in all the colonies. The most extensive coal mines are those of New South Wales, the product of which in 1884 was 2,521,457 tons; value, $6,009,705. Gold product of the colony, 1883, 122,256 ounces; value, $1,705,620. Coal product of New Zealand, 1883, 421,764 tons. Gold discovered 1857. Value of total exports to March, 1884, $203,535,370. In Queensland, tin, copper, lead and coal are mined. Value of tin raised, 1883, $2,940,060. Gold discovered 1858. Product, 1882, 230,090 oz.; value, $4,148,275. The chief mineral of South Australia is copper, but valuable iron ores also exist. Value of copper and copper ore, 1883, $1,876,625. Tasmania is rich in iron, tin and coal. Value of tin exported, 1883, $1,882,230. Amount of gold produced, 46,577 oz.; value, $882,210. In 1851 gold was discovered in Victoria. Total product to 1883, 52,214,150 oz.; value, $1,044,283,000. Principal minerals of Western Australia are copper, lead and coal.
Principal agricultural products of the colonies: Wheat product of New South Wales, 1884, 4,345,437 bushels; corn, 4,538,604 bushels; sugar, 35,220,640 lbs.; wine, 589,604 gallons. New Zealand--Wheat, 9,827,136 bushels; oats, 9,231,339 bushels. Leading grain crop of Queensland, corn. Yield of sugar, 1883, 73,534,000 lbs.; cotton, 70,020 lbs. South Australia--Wheat, 14,649,230 bushels; wine, 430,520 gallons. Principal products of Tasmania, grain, hops and fruit; value of green and preserved fruits exported 1883, $881,120. Wheat product of Victoria, 1884, 15,570,245 bushels; oats, 4,717,624 bushels; barley, 1,069,803 bushels; potatoes, 161,088 tons; hay, 433,143 tons.
The following table shows the number of farm animals in the colonies in 1884:
+------------+-----------+----------+--------------- Colonies. | Sheep. | Cattle. | Horses. | Pigs. ------------------+------------+-----------+----------+--------------- New South Wales | 34,000,000 | 1,646,753 | 326,964 | 189,050 New Zealand | 14,056,266 | 698,637 | 161,736 | 200,083 Queensland | 9,308,911 | 4,266,172 | 253,116 | 51,796 South Australia | 6,677,067 | 319,620 | 184,360 | Tasmania | 1,831,069 | 130,525 | 26,840 | 55,774 Victoria | 10,739,021 | 1,297,546 | 286,779 | 233,525 Western Australia | 1,547,061 | 71,102 | 37,111 | ------------------+------------+-----------+----------+---------------
Value of total exports and imports of the colonies, 1883: New South Wales--Exports, $99,430,090; imports, $104,800,785. New Zealand--Exports, $35,479,995; imports, $39,870,190. Queensland--Exports, $26,383,040; imports, $31,166,755. South Australia--Exports, $24,417,305; imports, $31,550,275. Tasmania--Exports, $8,657,995; imports, $9,163,185. Victoria--Exports, $81,994,315; imports, $88,719,230. Western Australia--Exports, $2,235,050; imports, $2,584,230.
In 1883, New South Wales had 1,320 miles of railway, and 597 under construction; New Zealand, 1,486 miles; Queensland, 1,038 miles, and 454 under construction; South Australia, 990.75 miles, and 225 under construction; Tasmania, 167 miles, and 207 under construction; Victoria, 1,562 miles, and 130 under construction; Western Australia, 55 miles, and 68 under construction. {63}
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NORTH AMERICA.
Northern and largest division of Western Continent, separated from South America by Gulf of Mexico, and connected with it by Isthmus of Panama.
Area, 8,918,346 square miles; extends from Arctic Ocean to about 8° north latitude; extreme width, over 3,000 miles. Eastern coast line to southern extremity of Mexico, about 13,000 miles; western, about 11,000 miles. Has remarkable lake and river systems: the latter includes the Mississippi and its tributaries, whose combined navigable length is about 40,000 miles, and it is estimated that the great lakes contain a third of all fresh waters on the globe. The political divisions are Greenland, Iceland, Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, United States, Central America and Mexico.
Extent in latitude results in great variety of climate, while the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding oceans furnish to most localities abundant moisture.
Ottawa, capital of Dominion of Canada, and great lumber depot; pop., 27,412; St. Johns, capital of Newfoundland, and easternmost seaport of North America; pop., 22,583. Number lighthouses in United States, Canada and Spanish America, 1,127.
Record of great fires: New York, 1835; loss $29,199,000. San Francisco, 1851; loss, 2,500 blocks. Chicago, 1871; loss, $160,594,500. Boston, 1872; loss, $72,997,500.
Rich soil and excellent tillage combine to produce abundant food supply for home consumption and foreign export. Tobacco, cotton, woods, dye-stuffs, grain, flour, meat, eggs and butter are among the supplies exported. Value of grain crops, United States and Canada, $1,114,428,500. Annual import of fruit in United States since 1871, 6 lbs. per inhabitant.
Canada has 900,000,000 acres forest; income, $58,398,000. United States, 560,000,000 acres; income, $374,720,500. Mexico and Central America are rich in mahogany and dye-stuffs. Number acres forest felled daily by United States wood-cutters, 10,000; annual consumption of firewood, United States and Canada, 1,550,000,000 cubic feet; number saw-mills, 1882, 15,740.
Nearly every variety of minerals abundant; iron widely diffused. Copper especially plentiful in region of great lakes; gold and silver in mountain regions of both sides of continent; lead abundant in central United States; quicksilver, in California and Mexico, coal fields numerous, and supply almost inexhaustible; salt also widely distributed. Annual consumption of coal in United States and Canada, 72,000,000 tons; gold production, 1830-1880, United States and Spanish America, 4,262 tons.
Lakes and rivers well stocked with fish; coast fisheries productive and profitable, especially on banks of Newfoundland, and along coasts of Washington and Oregon. Newfoundland has a world-wide reputation for cod fisheries, and seal fisheries rank next in importance. Average annual catch of cod, about 1,500,000 quintals; number seals taken yearly, about 600,000; of herring, about 175,000 bbls. Value fisheries of United States and Canada, $16,546,100,000.
Population, over 60,000,000, Mexico numbering 10,046,872, and Canada, 4,324,810.
Greenland and Iceland are Danish colonies. Canada and Newfoundland belong to Great Britain. Executive power of Canada vested in the Governor General, a representative of the Queen; legislative power exercised by a Senate and House of Commons, each Province having its own Lieutenant Governor and legislature. Public affairs of Newfoundland managed by governor, executive council, and legislative assembly. {65}
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ONTARIO. On-t[=a]´re-o.
The most populous Province of the Dominion of Canada; established in 1867. Previous to 1791 formed part of the Province of Quebec; from 1791 to 1840 known as Upper Canada; in 1840 reunited with Quebec, under the name of Canada.
Area, census of 1881, 101,733 square miles. Total land occupied, 19,259,909 acres; improved, 11,294,109 acres, of which 8,370,266 acres were under crops; 2,619,038 acres in pasture, and 304,805 acres in gardens and orchards.
Temperature at Toronto: winter, 4.8° to 62.5°; summer, 38.7° to 92.7°; mean temperature, 44.16°. Rainfall at Toronto, 28.43 inches.
The surface of the country is diversified by numerous lakes and rivers. The agricultural resources are very great, and the mineral wealth varied and rich.
Public affairs are administered by a Lieutenant Governor, assisted by an Executive Council of 6, and a House of Assembly of 89 members. Capital, Toronto; pop. 86,415. Ottawa, the capital of the Dominion; pop., 27,412. Ontario sends 24 members to the Dominion Senate.
Agricultural products, 1881: wheat, 27,406,091 bushels; barley, 14,279,841 bushels; oats, 40,209,929 bushels; rye, 1,598,871 bushels; peas and beans, 9,434,872 bushels; buckwheat, 841,649 bushels; corn, 8,096,782 bushels; potatoes, 18,994,559 bushels; turnips, 33,856,721 bushels; other root crops, 6,479,222 bushels; hay, 2,038,659 tons; grass and clover seed, 173,219 bushels; flaxseed, 38,208 bushels; tobacco, 160,251 pounds; hops, 615,967 pounds.
Latest reported orchard products: apples, 11,400,517 bushels; grapes, 3,697,555 pounds; other fruits, 644,707 bushels.
Amount of butter produced on farms, 54,862,365 pounds; cheese, 1,701,721 pounds; wool, 6,013,216 pounds; cloth, flannel and linen, 1,440,199 yards. Maple sugar produced 1881, 4,169,706 pounds; honey, 1,197,628 pounds; flax and hemp, 1,073,197 pounds. Value of fur product, $129,578.
Number of farm animals in the Province, 1881: horses, 590,298; oxen, 23,263; milch cows and other cattle, 1,678,904; sheep, 1,359,178; swine, 700,922.
Latest reported timber product: white pine, 12,262,570 cu. ft.; red pine, 1,848,927 cu. ft.; oak, 5,448,263 cu. ft.; tamarack 1,515,360 cu. ft.; walnut, 741,431 cu. ft.; birch and maple, 612,760 cu. ft.; elm, 2,925,382 cu. ft.; all other timber, 26,577,869 cu. ft.; number of pine logs, 14,945,670; other logs, 7,621,610.
The Province has 259 steam vessels, with a tonnage of 44,550; and 289 sailing vessels, with a tonnage of 55,058. There are 5 vessels with 14 men, and 1,129 boats with 2,101 men and 928,008 fathoms of nets engaged in the 681 fisheries. Product for 1881: herring, 15,605 barrels; whitefish, 38,301 barrels; trout, 55,497 barrels; other fish, 18,817 barrels; fish oil, 1,629 gallons.
Population of the Province, 1881, 1,923,228; male, 976,461; female, 946767
Number of churches, 5,075: of which 2,375 are Methodist, 852 Presbyterian, 680 Church of England, 389 Baptist, and 367 Roman Catholic. There are 21 hospitals, and 22 orphanages. Number of colleges and universities, 17; boarding schools, 44.