BELGIUM. Area and Population. The area of Belgium is 11,373 square miles. According to the census of 1890, the population was then 6,069,321 ; in 1880 it was 5,520,009: in 1870, 5,087,826: in 1860, 4,731,996 : in 1850, 4,426,205 ; and in 1840, 4,072,619. The population per square mile in 1896 was 571.1; total population Dec. 31, 6,495,886. IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION. 1894. Immigration ............. 21.458 20,741 21,774 21,686 27,635 Emigration.............. 21,675 18,994 22,532 22.117 18,302 Excess of immigration.. Dec. 217 Inc. 1,747 Dec. 758 Dec. 431 Inc. 6,333 Fiscal Affairs. The following table shows the revenue and expenditures, in thousands of francs, for the years indicated: Revenue -- Expenditure-Year. Ordinary. Extraordinary. Total. Ordinary. Special Total. 1,000 fr. 1,000 fr. 1,000 fr. 1,000 fr. 1,000 fr. 1,000 fr. 1870........... 190.537 14,905 216,908 1880.. 291,921 382,908 1885.. 313,170 19,915 351,251 340,526 37,878 417.894 402.559 372,644 23,086 410,383 1808.. 388,696 386,174 441,228 The amended budget for the year 1897 was: Ordinary revenue, 386,923,178 francs, and ordinary expenditure, 386,295,842 francs. The national liabilities in 1897 were: Share of the Netherlands debt, at 24 per cent., 219,959,632 francs; loans at 3 per cent., 2,088,537,690 francs, and the floating debt (treasury bonds), 20,000,000 francs, making a total of 2,328,497,322 francs. 1890... 105... Agriculture. Of the 2,945,715 hectares which compose the area of Belgium, 67.34 per cent. are under cultivaton, and 16.51 per cent, under forest, 7.88 per cent, uncultivated, the rest roads, marshes, rivers, etc. Tbe agricultural population in 1880 numbered 1,199,319, or 21.77. In 1830, the varions agricultural products were distributed as follows (in hectares): Cereals, 934,663 : peas. beans, etc., 33,093; sugar beet, 32,627 ; flax, 40,078; other ornamental plants, 24,070; root planta, 36,153; potatoes, 199,357; grasses, 536,000; heaths, brushwood, land not regularly cultivated, etc.. 231,964; fallow, groves, orchards, etc., 146,592; forests, 489,423. The principal cereals were wheat, 275,831 hectares; oats, 249, 486; rye, 277,640. The estimated yield of the various crops in 1896 was as follows: Wheat, 7,238,595 hectolitres : barley, 1,445,616 hectolitres; oats, 8,477,118 hectolitres; rye, 7,422,135 hectolitres ; potatoes, 31,679,940 quintals; beet (sugar), 9,374,551 quintals; beet (other), 9,814,386 quintals. In 1895, the yield of tobacco was 5,166.000 kilogrammes. The total value of agricultural products in 1880 was 1,412,224,000 francs; and of animal produce, 28.752,350 francs. The net revenue from forests alone in 1890 was 4,830,884 francs. In 1880 there were 271,974 borses, 1,382,815 horned cattle, 365,400 sheep, and 646,375 pigs. 1 hectare = 2.471 acres. 1 kilogramme = 2.2046 pounds avoirdupois. Mining and Metals. 1880. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. Tons (1,000)................ 16,886 20,366 19,676 19,583 19 19,411 20,535 20.458 21.213 Value in francs (1,000)... 169,680 268,503 247,454 201,288 181,403 191,292 193,357 202,010 The production of pig iron and manufactures of iron were as follows: 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895. 1896. Pig iron, Tons................. 787,836 684,126 753,268 745,264 818,597 829,234 959,400 Value (1,000 francs). 50,073 38,318 38,716 36,052 40,828 40,207 51,580 Manufactured ironTons.... 514,311 497,380 479,008 485,021 453,290 445,899 519.857 1,000 francs... 82,988 72,602 64,879 61,873 57,589 55,7:29 Steel ingots 221,296 221,913 280,037 273,113 405,661 407.634 698,755 Million francs....... 24,989 21,307 23,277 22,929 33,011 31,018 50,510 Steel rails, etc.Tons................ 201,817 206,305 208,281 224,9:22 341,318 367,917 519.300 1,000 francs.......... 31,278 29.111 27,601 28,868 40,201 42,419 63,129 The lead produced in 1896 amounted to 17,222 tons, and in 1897, 14,800 tons; 149,599 tons of zinc' crude and sheet, in 1896, valued at $12,427,000; and 28,509 kilog. of silver, valued at $638,000. In 1897' the pig-iron production was 1,034,732 tons; steel ingots, 616,604 tons. TON ................ Coal......... Foreign Commerce. The imports and exports of Belgium, under "special" and "general" trade,'were as follows, in francs: ---General Trade --Special Trade- Exports. 1890. 3,189,160,016 1,437,000,000 1891... 3,119.623,667 1,519,000,000 1892. 2,817,674,833 1,369,400,000 1893. 2,810,709,742 1,355,900.000 1894. 2,703,080,783 1,303,700,000 1895.... 2.901,948,026 1.385,400,00 1896. 3,037, 400,000 1,467,900,00n The leading articles of “special trade" for 1896 and 1897 are shown as follows, in thousands of francs : -Imports- --Exports--1897. 1896. 1897. 1896. Animals, living ......... 47.769 31.383 Animal products (crude).. 37.761 35,511 Arm3 (fire)... 1,673 15 07 Butter........ 13,194 6.6.22 Chemical products.... 83,854 45,390 95,845 Coffee.. 62,345 184 105 Copper and nickel..... 19,646 16,578 Drills and chiffons...... 11.324 9,370 12,945 Drug supplies... 33,341 17,240 3.744 Glassware.. 4.000 78,344 Grains, and products of.. 277,585 73,909 Hides .................. 75.354 65,808 Iron and steel... 36,316 132,910 Machinery and tools... 26,857 61,714 Manures.................... 16,798 23,807 Meats...... 19,816 28,650 Mineral products (crude).. 91,547 38,657 Papers..... 5.500 19,851 Pigments and colors....... 26,585 24.256 Rubber (crude)....... 13,636 7.723 33,269 Textiles............ 61,632 55,604 Textile materials, raw (not cotton & wool). 54,896 57,229 61,477 Tin, lead, and zinc.. 27,910 52,300 51,295 Vegetables and vegetable substances. 96,142 51.0185 Vegetables, eggs, rice, salt (colonial). 39,366 27,097 Vegetable oils........ 18,856 12,048 Wearing apparel... 14,358 9,721 Wines...... 27,070 39,522 Wood, oak, and walnut... 102,297 12,700 Yarns of linen, wool, etc..... 30,089 111,277 Fisn................. Stone................. COMMERCE WITH THE UNITED STATES. The values of the imports and exports as between the United States and Belgium, for years ending June 30, were as follows, in thousands of dollars : 1892 1893 1894. 1893. 1896. 1897. 1898. Imports from the United States... $48,785 $26,740 $28,423 $25,243 $27,071 $33,072 $17,606 Exports to the United States...... 10,273 11,166 8,610 10.141 13.776 14.082 8,742 The principal articles of imports from Belgium for the year ending June 30, 1806. were: Cement, chemicals, drugs and dyes, $241,507 : chicory root. 8202.993: cotto 02,993; cotton, manufactures of. $36.12: flax, hemp, and jute, manufactures of, 8576.354; furs, manufactures of, $336,602; glass and glassware, $1,688,616; hides and skins, not furs, $211,336; jewelry, $1,269,155; leather, kid gloves, $410,608 : paper stock, $372, 141; provisions, meat products and cheese, $267,292; sugar, not above No. 16 D. S., beet, $1,771.977; wool, $1,432, 400; manufactures of, $606,594. Principal exports to Belgium were: Breadstuffs, $3,893,234 ; copper, ingots, bar, and old, $1,525,351 : cotton, unmanufactured, $3.539,012; iron and steel. manufactures of, $611,490: leather, manufactured, $446,419; naval stores (rosin, etc., and turpentine), $742,158; oil cake and oil-cake meal, $1,206,719; refined mineral oil, $2,637,758; provisions, $4,877,026, of which $2,520,358 is bacon and hams and $1,900,065 is lard; tobacco, unmanufactured, $2,216,921; wool, and manufactures of, $591,108. GOLD AND SILVER COIN AND BULLION, IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. --Gold Silver- Imports. Exports. $9,202,507 $196,444 $1,179,518 356,479 2,517 13,823 1892.... 512,378 10,534 25,379 1803.... 546,675 32,450 50,419 3,904,676 325,100 3.864,205 For years 1855 to 1884, see this “ Year Book," Volume I, pages 42 and 43. 140.. Shipping, Railroads, Telegraphs, Post-Office. (See Index.) Money. For gold and silver coins, see Index. The nominal value of coin minted and circulated from 1832 to 1894 was: Gold, 598,642,745 francs ; silver. 556.312.745 francs: copper and nickel, 17,671,784 francs; total, 1,172,657,275 francs. No coinage has been minted recently. The proportion of Belgian and of foreign fractional silver coin (2,1, and franc pieces) in circulation was as follows: Of silver fractional pieces amounting to 349,217 france received at the offices of the bank on September 1, 1893, 43.53 per cent, in value was Belgian, 31.21 per cent. French, 17.83 per cent. Italian, 3.65 per cent. Swiss, 0.745 per cent. Greek; or 56.465 per cent. Was foreign, Banking. The one bank of emission in Belgium is the National Bank, instituted 1850. Its capital, entirely paid up, is 550 million francs. It is the cashier of the State, and is authorized to carry on the usual banking operations. The situation of the bank on September 30, 1897, was: Cash, 104,300,000 francs; notes to bearer in circulation, 486.000.000 francs : accounts current and deposits. 41.400.000 francs ; portfolio, 428.800,000 france, advances on mortgage, 28,000,000 francs: treasury account and deposits, 46,200,000 francs. The condition of the 54 joint-stock and private banks at the end of 1896 was: Assets. Liabilities, 1,000 Francs. 1.000 Francs. Cash.. 39,577 Paid-up capital...... 205,288 Securities Reserves (various).. 96,862 Commercial..... 169,390 Contracts for fixed term....... 274,5,6 Public funds, etc........ 296.908 Contracts short dated. 568.793 Accounts current.... 399,115 Unpaid dividends......... 20.508 Advances............... 261,037 Total. 1,168,0:27 There are, besides, agricultural banks, credit unions, and popular banks. The following are statistics of the State savings-banks: Amount of Amount of Deposits at Deposits at Year. Offices. Depositors. Eod of Year. Year. Offices. Depositors. End of Year' Francs. Francs. 731.057 282,588,099 1894.... 859 1,053,669 390,181.775 856 960,468 351,308,338 | 1895...... 868 1,145,408 427.317.065 Total.. 1890....... 1893.***. RUSSIA. Area and Population. The area of the Russian Empire, including its internal waters, covers 8,644,100 English square miles. There has been no general census enumerati en no general census enumeration of its population since 1859, when the number of inhabitants was 74,000,000 in round numbers. The growth or population has since then been largely accelerated by acquisitions of territory, and the rate of increase is indicated by the following figures, supposed to be based on careful estimates. The latest census figures are appended and differ slightly from the estimated population for 1895, given in this work last year: According to official statistics there was in Russia an excess of emigration over immigration in the case of Russians of 1,146,052 in 33 years (1856-1888), and a surplus of immigration of 2,304,717 foreigners during the same time. Emigration is on the increase. Of late the Russians, especially Jews, contributed a large part to the flow of emigrants into the United States. During the years 1871-85, 8,767, 605 foreigners entered Russia, but only 7,525,360 left, showing thus an immigration of 1,242,245 (563,345 Germans, 447,736 Austrians, 9.395 English, and nearly 100,000 Persians). The surplus of foreigners who entered Russia during the years 1886-88 (2,478,430) over those who left was 278,947, while the surplus of Russian subjects who left Russia (1,413,018) over those who returned was 136, 129. The emigration to Siberia may be judged from the following numbers of emigrants carried on board the steamers which ply on the Ob and Irtysh: In 1888, 26, 129; in 1889, 30,410; in 1890, 36.000; in 1891, 60,000; in 1892, 100,000; in 1895, 100,000, and in 1896 and 1897 from 150,000 to 200,000 each year. Fiscal Affairs. The following table gives the total actual ordinary and extraordinary revenue and expenditure in paper roubles. The table is made up upon a new classification adopted on June 4, 1894, and differs from preceding years as follows: (1) All revenue which was commonly calculated in the budget estimates with the fluctuating value of the rouble is now calculated at a uniform value of 1 rouble 50 copecks paper = 1 rouble gold, and 1 rouble 50 copecks in silver; and (2) various articles which were differently classed in former estimates, some of them in the ordinary and others in the extraordinary, are classed for all the ten years according to the new classification, in paper roubles: 1886... 1888. 1890. 1891. 1892. 1893. 1894. 1895,... 1896... 1897.... 1898... -Revenue- 183,843,657 54,662,834 933,379,144 94,858,076 890,545, 476 29,513,486 964,678,095 189,617,408 1,031,489,740 160,523,630 1,145,352,364 75,226,335 1,244,362,202 153,068,740 1,368,719,351 43,500,457 1,318,366,495 3,809,627 1,364,458,217 3,300,000 ExpenditureOrdinary. Extraordinary. 847,589,274 97,433,987 836,992,477 69.231,493 914,789,775. 123,901.207 925,355,708 178,377,328 952,575.764 166,759,310 926,392,639 47,702,806 1,045,512,088 101,423,380 1,129,439,236 366,634,470 1,229,044,280 255,308,655 1,284,858,862 129,112,196 1,338,085,213 123,964, 710 BUDGET ESTIMATES, 1896, 1897, AND 1898. 1896. Roubles. 48,023,965 43,352,800 On capital......... 13,159,000 Total direct taxes........ 104,535,765 Mint, mines, post, and telegraph..... Liberated serfs. Branches of Expenditure. (a) Interest and capital, State debts..... .choisi Foreign Affairs. Justice.... *Siberian Railway, 82,248,170 roubles; works connected with it, 2,485,410 roubles; other railways of general use, 35,726,000 roubles ; local small branches, 10,000,000 roubles. + Siberian Railway, 61,134,110 roubles; works connected with it, 3,280,652 roubles; other railways of general use, 54,041,387 roubles; local small branches, 10,656,047 roubles. Siberian Railway, 34,447,020 roubles: works connected with it, 3,718,363 roubles: other railways, 13.585.182 roubles: local small branches, 10,000,000 roubles; rolling stock for Siberian and other rail. ways, 49,234,145 roubles. |