Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/952

 596

GERMAN EMPIRE

II. Forestry.

Forestry in Germany is an industry of great importance, conducted under the care of the State on scientific methods. About 34,473,000 acres or 25*8 per cent, of the area of the empire, were estimated to be occupied by forests in 1893. In South and Central Germany from 30 to 38 per cent, of the surface is covered with forests : and in parts of Prussia 23 '5 per cent. From forests and domains alone Prussia receives a revenue of about 4 millions sterling.

Til. Mining.

The great bulk of the minerals raised in Germany is produced in Prussia, where the chief mining districts are Westphalia, Rhenish Prussia, and Silesia, for coal and iron, the Harz for silver and copper, and Silesia for zinc. Saxony has coal, iron, and silver mines ; and Lorraine rich coal and iron ore fields.

The annual quantities of the principal minerals raised in five years are shown in the following table, the returns for 1897 being provisional only : —

1893

1894

1895

1896

1897

Tons

Tons

Tons

Tons

Tons

Coal.

73,852,300

76,741,100

79,169,300

85,690,200

91,055,000

Lignite.

21,573,800

22,064,600

24,788,400

26,780,900

29,419,500

Iron Ore

11,457,500

12,392,100

12,349,600

14,162,300

15,466,000

Zinc ore

787,900

728,600

706,400

729,900

663,900

Lead ore

168,400

162,700

161,600

157,500

150,200

Copper ore ,

585,000

588,200

633,400

717,300

700,600

Rock Salt.

669,100

734,900

686,900

758,900

763,400

Potassic salt ,

1,526,200

1,643,600

1,521,900

1,780,600

1,946,200

Other products

262,400

290,500

276,300

283,600

288,400

The total value of the minerals raised in Germany and Luxemburg in 1896 was 787 million marks ; in 1897, 859 million marks.

The following table shows particulars of the production of the foundries in Germany and Luxemburg in 1896 and the number of foundries engaged principally or partly with each metal in 1896 : —

Foundries engaged

Quantity in

Value in 1,000

1896

Average No.

"^

metric tons 1896

marks 1896

Hands 1896

Chiefly

Partly

Pig iron.

6,372,575

299,660

106

26,562

Zinc

153,100

47,108

27

3

10,467

Lead

113,793

25,032

14

10

2,902

Copper.

29,319

29,174

9

5

3,968

Silver

428

38,872

6

15

2,084

Tin,

826

952

3

—

32

Sulphur and sulph.

acid

593,150

15,313

58

19

3,183