Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/52

* ITALY. 36 ITALY. field grazing prevails. In the north there is a consiilernhle trade in dairy products, especially clieose — Gorgon/.ola. Parmesan, and Stracehino being among the famous brands. Cooperative methods are extensively used in the dairj- indus- try. The raising of goats is confined to the hilly regions. Poultry and eggs are produced in large ijuantities and exported. The following table shows the number of live stock in Italy at dif- ferent periods: 5000 persons, and the value of its annual produc- tion exceeds $8,000,000, the most important article of that industry Ijeing .sulpliurio acid, the annual output of which exceeds 140.000 tons. The paper and leather in<lustrics employ about 20,000 people, and the manufacture of straw hats and otiier straw-plaited goods gives employ- ment to several thousand persons. The manufacture of tobacco and of salt are Government monojiolies. The annual output of YEAR Horses Mules Asses Cattle Sheep Goats Swine 1875-76 657.544 660.123 720,000 702,390 293,868 302.428 300,000 327,615 498,766 674,246 1,000,000 3.489.125 4.783.232 5,000,000 6.977,104 8. 596.108 6,900,000 1.688,478 2.O16..307 1,800,000 1 553 .582 1881-82 1890 1,800.000 1894 The value of the products of the live-stock industry of Italy is estimated at about $285,- 000.000 per annum. Forestry. About 11,000,000 acres, or 15.72 per cent, of the total area of Italy, are under forests. Of this total area, 1,018,052 acres (1.44 jier cent.) are in cliestnuts. Only 143,318 acres of forests belong to the Government, but a great part of the forest land is under Government supervision, which is exercised by the Ministry of Agriculture through a staff who are unable, liowever. to prevent the devastation of forests. Since 1867 the Government has been trying to offset the loss by planting new trees. The total value of the forest products is nearly $17,000,000 per annum. Maxifactlbes. The manufacturing indus- tries of Italy are still in a poor condition. Fac- tory production on a large scale has taken root only in a small number of industries, where it is indispensable. The most important branch of loanufacture is the production of raw silk, which has been referred to under Agrirulluic in this 4irticle. The industry thrives especially in Pied- mont, Lombardy. and Venetia. More than 500,- 000 people arc ciiiplovcd in the raising of silk- worms. Silk spinning and weaving is carried on mostly in the north — Lombardy, and especially the Province of Como. being the centre of the industry. It employs altogether more than 172,- 000 workmen. The spinning and weaving of wool and'cotton is on the increase, but the pro- duction is not sulliciently large to satisfy the home demand. The same is true of the manu- facture of linen and jute articles. The iron and steel industry employs about 00.000 people ex- clusive of those employed in the mines. While it has reached such proportions, no great progress can he recorded in regard to its growth, owing largely to Italy's lack of sufficient mineral de- posits. In the manufacture of small metal ware, and especially of finer articles of bronze, silver, and gold requiring high artistic skill, Italy has long enjoyed a wide reputation, the beautiful work turned out by the workshops of Milan. Venice, Genoa, Rome, and Naples finding ready pur- chasers among lovers of art throughout the world. The same may be said of the finer va- rieties of pottery and glassware, especially the ■terra-cotta, majolica and faience, and the mosaic, ■enamel, and ]iearl work of Venice, Genoa, Leg- horn, Florence, and Rome. The marble and alabaster products are no less famovis. Altogether some 90.000 people are employed in the above industries. The chemical industry employs over the former fluctuates between 37.500.000 and 40.000,000 pounds; that of the latter increased from 207.000 tuns in 1871 to 380.000 tons in 1881, 419.000 tons in 1891. and 481.000 tons in 1898. The manufacture of alcohol, beer and liquors, sugar, glucose, chicory, powder and other explosives, mineral oils, matches, gas, and electricity is subject to Government supervision. None of these industries, however, has reached any large proportions. The sugar industry shows more signs of vitality than any other, although but of recent date in Italy. In 1898 tiiere were only four sugar refineries, with an annual output of 8000 tons; in 1902 the number of refineries and mills increased to 46, and their output to 55.000 tons. TRANSroRTATiox. At the close of the nine- teenth century Italy had a railway system with a total length of nearly 10.000 miles. The mileage is the smallest of any leading country in Europe, and is less per square mile of area than is com- mon in Western Euroijcan countries. As a result of the peninsular position of Italy, the traffic of its railroads is mainly local, which has not justi- fied the construction of a large mileage, and is partly responsible for the financial difiiculties which have overtaken the operation of the system, as below described. The Apennines, extending through the length of Italy, divide the railway system into two distinct groups, called the Medi- terranean and Adriatic, respectively. Each of these, a^ well as the respective lines of Sicil.v and Sardinia, is ojierated un<ler the law of 1885 by separate companies. The first railway in Italy was built in 1839. to connect the city of Naples with Portici. a distance of five miles. In 1860 there were 1118 miles, about one-fifth of which belonged to the State, the remainder being owned by .seven railway companies. In 1809 the State undertook the construction of new railways. and bv 1870 owned nearly two-thirds of the" total, 3962 miles. By 1879 'the mileage had increased to 5228 miles, and as the growth of the system did not keep up with the needs of the countri', there was a popular clamor for a more rapid construction of railways by the Government. In 1879 a law was enacted with a view to meeting this demand, providing for the construction of upward of 3728 miles, at an expense of about $240,000,000. As the Govern- ment found insuperable financial difficulties in trying to carry out this provision, it was com- pelled to give up the undertaking in a few years. In 1885 an agreement was reached with three private railway companies, whereby the latter were to take over the three principal lines of
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