The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-04-28
THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.
Ii. Extent, Population and Army.


II is calculated that the empire of the
cznr extends over one-sevrntll Of the
lnn,l surface Of the globe and represents
nbout Oue-twGnty-sixth Of its entire Eli
perticinl areM. 1t il difficult to arrive at
the true area OF RusSia, on account Of
the obstacles TINT present themselves to
the making Of n general survey Of such
M immense extent Of country. The
nearest estimate, because it was deemed
the most accurate, wNs made in 1874,
whereby tho area OF the empire was set
down ut S,404.7 square miles. 1t is
divided into two sections. the European
and ASiatic, the former having an nrcn
of about 9G,030 square miles and n
population Of 63,65S,934. This does
not include either the kingdom Of Po-
lanl, the grand luchy of Finland or the
Caucasian provinces. The population Of
Russian Poland is 5, 70j, GOT md its area
9,2lG square miles. Finland has 1,S43,-
2l5 inhabitants and nh area OF G,S35
square miles, and the Caucasus 4,6G1,-
S2i inhabitants and is 1888 square miles
in area. Russia in Asia has MI estimated
population of 6,309, ,412, hut these in
labitan!s belong chiefly to the NoGuadic
tribes.
Tie population of Russia is divided
into three great groups, besides II va.
riety of national elements intGrmixetl in
tue genernl mass OF the inhabitants.
Tile Great Russians, or ICiikO Russ,
number 35, ,0O0, 900 md occupy the prov
inces. The Little Russians, or lfaLO
Russ, number about 100000, and
form the bulk Of the population i'll Pull
tavn, Kharkof, ChernigOf, Kief, Vol
hynia, POdOlsk, EkaterinOslaf and the
LnuridA. The white Russians, about
5000, 900 in number, Nrc found i'll Mont
lef, NTinsk, vitebsk and Grotlno. With
these groups are the Firms, 3,03S, 900;
LithuMians, 2,3l3, 900; Jews, 1,G3l 200;
TNrtarS, $500, 600; Sl0vOnians i'll POlaiIl
And Lithuanin, nbout 100000, Rnd
Armcnians, 1000, 900.
From tho abOvc described population
is drlwn the regular army Of the Rus
sim empire. The armed force Of Rus
sin is composed of MI active Nnd terri
torial army. The first is divided into the
lnnd and marine forces. The land force
comprises the regular troops annually
recruited throughout the empire; the re-
serves intended to complete the strength
Of the army to a war footing and COM
posed OF men on leave; the irregular
troops, such as the COssacks and the
troops composed OF foreign elements.
The territorial army is formed by all
the male Inhabitants Of the empire, be-
tween the nges Of twenty and forty, who
arc fit for military service and not al
ready enrolled in the active or regular
army. By law of January -, 1874,
the military service is rendered obliga-
tory OH I'LL Russian subjects, except in
some OF the most isolated districts q
Siberia, Turkestan mud the trnscaucNs-
inn territory. Exceptions arc, however,
made in favor Of certain professions,
sucl, rs clGrgymen, doctors, etc. The
duration of service i'll European Russia
is fixed at fifteen ycars-tllat is, six years
in the active army and niue in the re.
serves. = In Asiatic Russia the term OF
service is limited to ten years, seven Of
which Hre spent in the active army md
three in the reserves.