Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1024

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GERMAN EMPIRE : — REUSS BRANCHES

REUSS, Elder Branch.

(FiJRSTENTHUM ReUSS — AeLTERE LiNIE.)

Reigning Prince.

Heinrich XXII., born March 28, 1846 ; the son of Prince Heinrich XX. and of Princess Caroline of Hesse-Homburg ; succeeded his father Nov. 8, 1859 ; married, Oct. 8, 1872, to Princess Ida of Schaumburg-Lippe, born July 28, 1852; died September 28, 1891.— Offspring :— I. Heinrich XXIV., born March 20, 1878. II. Emma, born Jan. 17, 1881. III. Maria, born March 26, 1882. IV. Caroline, born July 13, 1884. V. Hcrminc, born Dec. 17, 1887. VL Ida, born Sept. 4, 1891.

The princely family of Reuss traces its descent to the old prefects of Weida, who were imperial functionaries and afterwards free lords. All the heads of the house, ever since the commencement of the eleventh century, have been called Heinrich. In the year 1701 it was settled, in a family council, that the figures should not run higher than a hundred, beginning afterwards again at one. The present sovereign of Reuss-Greiz has no civil list, but a great part of the tenitory over which he reigns is his private property.

Constitution and Finance.

The Constitution, bearing date March 28, 1867, provides for a legislative body of 12 members, 3 nominated by the sovereign, 2 by the nobility, 3 elected by towns, and 4 by rural districts. The public revenue, and expen- diture for 1899 were estimated at 1,540,883 marks. There is a public debt of 31,050 marks.

Area and Population.

The area of the Principality is 122 English square miles, and the popula- tion in 1895 was 67,468 (32,836 males and 34,632 females). Population per square mile 552 '8. Of the population in 1890, 62,754 were Protestant, and 936 Catholic. The capital, Greiz, has (1895) 22,296 inhabitants. In 1896 there were 568 marriages, 2,846 births, 1,586 deaths; surplus of births, 1,260. Of the births 97 (3-4 per cent.) were stillborn, and 221 (7-8 per cent.) illegitimate. Emigrants in 1894, 27 ; 1895, 55 ; 1896, 19 ; 1897, 29. In 1896 there were 379 criminals convicted, or 82*0 per 10,000 of population over the age of 12.

Agriculture.

On June 14, 1895, there were in the Principality 5,225 farms, as follows : under 1 hectare, 3,159; 1-10 hectares, 1,393; 10-100 hectares, 669; over 100 hectares, 4. Their total area was 29,767 hectares. In 1896 the culti-. vated area and produce were as follows : —

Crop

Hectares

1,000 kilog.

Crop

Hectares

1,000 kilog.

Rye

Wheat Barley

3,662

308

1,503

4,732

426

2,398

Potatoes. ..

Oats

Hay

2,104 2,598 5,304

13,291

4,276

15,544

There are 2

2 miles of ra

ilway.

REUSS, Younger Branch.

(FiJRSTENTHUM ReUSS — JiJNGERE LiNIE. )

Reigning Prince.

Heinrich XIV., born May 28, 1832; the son of Prince Heinrich LXVII. and of Princess Adelaide ; succeeded his father July 14, 1867 ; married (1) Feb, 6, 1858, to Princess Agnes of Wiirtteniberg, who died July 10, 1886