Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 02.djvu/439

BADEN. end of the Empire (Map: Germany, C 4). It covers an area of 5821 square miles, exclu- sive of its share of the Lake of Constance. Its lioundaries are formed by the Rliine on the west and the south, which separates it from the Rhine-Palatinate, Alsace, and Switzerhind; Wiirttemberg and Hohenzollern on the east; and liavaria and Hesse on the north.

Surface and Hydrography. Al)out 84 per cent, of the total area of the grand duchy is cov- ered with mountains and hills. The chief moun- tain system is the Schwarzwald (see Black Forest), a narrow raiifjc of wooded mountains e.xtendiug from Basel in a northeasterly direction for abinit 100 miles along the Kliine Valley. It terminates at Pforzheim, descending gradually into the plateau of the Neckar in Viirttemberg. The highest peaks, as the Feldberg (4900 feet and Belchen (4000 feet), are found in the ujiper or southern part of the Scliwarzwald, which has a mean altitude of 3170 feet. The Odenwald range, situated at the northern end of the grand duchy, has a mean altitude of about 1500 feet. One of the most remarkable mountain-groups is the Kaiserstuhl, or 'Emperor's seat,' situated between Altbreisach and Endingen. Its base is about 2.3 miles in circumference and its highest summit reaches an altitude of over 1800 feet.

Baden is drained by the Rhine, which receives the Xeckar and smaller streams, and by the Danulie, which takes its rise in the Schwarzwald. There are several mountain lakes in Baden, some of them situated at a great altitude; and a part of the Lake of Constance is also included in the domains of the grand duchy.

The climate of Baden is, on the whole, very warm, but its temperature varies considerably on account of its uneven surface. The average j-early temperature is about 51° F. in the plains and 44° in the highlands.

. In spite of its mountainous surface. Baden is one of the most productive parts of C4ermany. Abundantly watered and well-cultivated, its soil has been brought to a high state of productivity, not only in the valleys, but also in the hilly regions. Nearly 57 per cent, of the total area of productive land is under tillage and about 38 percent, under forests. Of agricultural products, the most im- portant are wheat, rye, barley, oats, potatoes, several kinds of beets and grasses, etc. Tobacco is cultivated extensivelv. the annual crop amount- ing to about 20,000.000 kg. (about 45,000.000 lbs.), valued at over 15.000.000 marks (.$3,570,- 000). Wine is one of the staples of Baden, and the Baden Ijrands are included among the best in CTerniany. The centre of viticulture is the Circle of Freiburg, which contains about 50 per cent, of the total area under vine. The annual ]>roduct was valued at .f6.000.000 at the end of the century. The extensive forests of Baden are exploited on a large scale. The Schwarzwald re- gion yields the best timber for ship-building, which finds its way chiefly to Holland. The an- nual output of timber is valued at 20,000,000 marks ($4,7fiO.OOO). of which fully one-third is exported. Cattle-raising is also an important and progressive industry.

The mineral production is of little value, the annual product amounting onlv to about 8.000,- 000 marks ($1,000,000). The chief minerals are salt and coal, and the total number of people en- gaged in mining is about 2400.

. Since its incorporation with the customs union of Germany in 1835, Baden's industrial conditions have undergone a rapid extension. During the period 1882- 05 the number of people engaged in manufactur- ing increased from 204,542 to 287,450. The manufacturing industries are centred chiefly in the two circles of Karlsruhe and Mannheim. Foremost among them are the cotton and silk mills and to a lesser extent the woolen and linen mills. There are also extensive manufactures of jewelry, mirrors, machinery, leather, paper, cigars, and woodenware. Baden also «ontains one of the largest sugar-mills in Germany and several large chemical factories. Watch-making is an important industry in the Schwarzwald region, employing over 11,000 peojile. Baden is well fitted for commei'ce by its extensive w-ater- ways, and by its railways, which have a total length of over 1100 miles. Jlannheim is the chief commercial centre of Baden, and one of the busi- est ports on the Upper Rhine.

. The constitution of Baden dates from August 22, 1818. The sovereignty is vested in the eldest of the male line, which failing, the female inherits. The sovereign is bound by the constitution. Parliament is summoned every two years and is divided into two chambers. The Upper Chamber is composed of the princes (of full age) of the grand-ducal house, the heads of the seigniorial families, 8 members elected for eight years by the landed nobilitj', the Arch- bishop of Freiburg and the Protestant prelate, 2 representatives of the State universities, and 8 members appointed by the Grand Duke regard- less of rank or birth. The Lower Chamber is composed of 63 representatives returned by 56 election districts (Karlsruhe and Mannheim sending 3 each, and Freiburg, Heidelbers. and Pforzheim, 2 each). The members of the Lower House are elected indirectly for a period of 4 years, half of the members retiring every 2 years. Every male citizen 25 years old or over has the right to vote, and every male citizen after reaching the age of 30, is eligible to otlice. Baden is represented by 3 members in the Bun- desrat and 14 deputies in the Reichstag of the Empire. For purposes of administration it is divided into II circles. The Council of State is divided into the four ministries of the interior (including commerce, industry, and agricul- ture ) ; foreign affairs ( including railways, posts, and telegraphs) ; justice, worship and instruc- tion, and finance. The capital is Karlsruhe, with a population in 1900 of 97,000.

The revenue is derived mainly from direct and indirect taxes, domains, railways, and customs. The budget of Batlen is characterized by extreme fluctuations. Thus in 1900-01 the revenue and expenditures are given as 149,600,000 marks ($35,604,000) and 158,500,000 marks (.$37,723,- 000) respectively. The railway debt of Baden (the only indebtedness of the gi-and duchy) amounted at the beginning of 1900 to 333,367,804 marks ($79,341,537).

. The institutions for higher education, viz. the two universities of Heidelberg and Freiburg, as well as the technological and the art school of Karlsruhe, are under the supervision of the minister of worship and instruction. The secondary and elementary schools are under the control of the board of education and the different local boards and