Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/189

 ARMY AND POPULATION. 1 53

Army and Population.

The army of Baden, previous to its incorporation with that of the Empire, was formed by conscription. Substitution, however, was allowed, the Government undertaking the charge of the same at a fixed cost. The time of service was six years in the active army, and two years further inscription among the troops of the reserve. But, as a rule, about three-fourths of the time is allowed to be passed on furlough.

The nominal strength of the army was as follows in June 1870 : —

5 regiments of infantry. . . 10.907 men

2 „ of dragoons. . . 1,870 „

1 „ of artillery. . . 2,077 „ with 38 guns

Staff, &c 65 „

Total. . . 14,919 men, with 38 guns

The actual number of men under arms, ' on the peace -footing,' seldom amounted to more than between 7,000 and 8,000. After the declaration of war by France against Germany, in July 1870, when the army was placed on the war footing, it took the field 27,500 men strong.

The Grand-duchy has an area of 5,851 English square miles, with 1,434,970 inhabitants at the census of December 3, 1867. The population has not greatly increased since the year 1816, when it amounted to 1,005,899. The numbers augmented at a rate of rather less than 10,000 souls annually, till the year 1846, when there was a period of decrease, extending till 1855. From 1846 till 1849, the decrease amounted to 4,712 ; from 1849 to 1852, to 8,282 ; and from 1852 to 1855, to the large number of 42,105, or 14,035 per annum. Since 1855, there has been again a gradual increase.

The decline of population has been chiefly owing to emigration. From 1840 to 1849, the number of emigrants was 23,966, and from 1850 to 1855, it rose to 62,444. In the year 1852, no less than 14,366 people left the country ; in 1853, the numbers were 12,932, and in 1854 they rose to 21,561. Most of the emigrants were families possessed of some property. It was ascertained that the emigrants of 1853 carried with them property amounting to 1,923,903 florins, or rather more than 100 florins — 8/. 7s. — per head. The great majority of the emigrants went to North America ; but about two per cent, were induced, previous to 1856, to go to the French settle- ments in Algeria. The result of this Algerian emigration proved so disastrous that it has been discontinued.