Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-07-26

Turkey IN europe, Tor ohly 20 Genus.
Accompanying it we find the follow
ing sketches of Russia and Turkey,
which is the best summary of their
strength and condition we have yet
seen
RUSSIA.
Russia has an area of 1858, 501
square miles, of which 2,095, 900 are
in Europe, 5 $685. in Asiatic Rus.
STA or Siberia, and 73,499 beyond the
Caucasus. Population, In Europe,
&C, 800, 600; in Siberia, 300, 900; and
in the territory beyond the Caucasus
100000 Russia has 275,OO0,0OO
acres under cultivation. Tho chief
cereals raised are wheat, barley, oats,
buckwheGt, millet, and especially
rye, the staple food of the inhabi-
tants. The forests and woodlands
occupy an area of 486 900, 600 acres !;
oak, lime, mapei and ash trees pre-
dominate.
The government of Russia Is an
absolute despotism, the whole politi-
cal power being concentrated in the
hands of the Gear. There are no
legal limits to his power, his conduct
beng restrained only by his own
wisdom, and by the check of public
opinion, which is very near inopera-
tive in Russia. The Imperial Coun-
Gil consists of a president and an I'M
limited number of members,of whom
the ministers always form q part.
The Senate was established by Peter
the Great, and exercises functions
partly legislative and partly execu-
tive. It'll composed of one hundred
mem bers, nominated by the Emper.
err, and is divided into eight commit
tees, i've of whom sit at ST. Peters
burg and three at Moscow. The
senators are mostly mon of high
rank, but a distinguished lawyer pre-
sides over each committee.
Railroads.-Russia has railroads of
four different gauges. OF those 10
operation last November, seventeen
miles were of ak foot gauge, ii 40
miles of five foot, Called the "Russian
gauge') 325 miles of four foot eight
and half inches Called the" CORN an
gauge, and 210 miles of three foot
six inch gauge.
The Russian Army upon a war
footing consists of 1,213, 257 men, be-
sides 129, 900 Cossachs. and other ir-
regular troops. Every abIcbodied
man of twonty-one years Of age must
become a soldier, whose period of
service is fixed at six years in active
service, and nine years in the re-
servo
Tho Russian Navy in 1876 eonsis-
ted of 1877 vessels of oil sorts, except
iron clads, with ,489 officers, and T.
G33 men. The iron clads, comprised
of twenty nine vessels, of which one
was mastless turrot ship, eight were
frigates, mostly with turrets, eigh~
teen smaller surret ships fourteen
monitors and three floating batteries
Russian Finances. Tho indebted
ness of Russia is believed to be about
So, 900, 600, 900, of which 65,000,-
900 is forced government paper
currency, its value being from
twelve to fifteen per cent. less than
gold or silver.
TURKEY.
Turkey or the Ottoman Empire,
compreh all the countries under
the authority of the Sultan, viz: Tur-
key in Europe, Turkey in Asia, Tur-
key in Africa (rripoli), Tributary
Provinces in Europe, (Roumania,
Servia, and Montenegro, in Africa,
EGYPT and Tunis), comprising to-
tai area of 1857, $50 square miles,
and total population of about A, )
100000. 1t is divided into numerous
provinces, with governments or eya-
let's of their own there being four
teen in Europe, eighteen in Asia, and
three in Africa.
Population and Religion.-The to-
tai population of Turkey is not far
from 36,000,000, of which 16,000,00
are in Europe, 16, 600, 900 in ASIA, and
4 100000 in Africa. The population
Of European Turkey, exclusive OF
tributary States, does not exceed g.
100000. and of this number less than
one half are Mahomme dans, while 4, )
100000 are connected with the Or
thodox Greek the Latin or Catho-
lie Church United Greeks, United
Arm edians, Syrians and United
Chaldeans, Maronites, Protestants,
and jews.
Square Miles. Turkey in Europe,
2O3,500; Asiatic Turkey, including
Syria and Palestine, SOC, 600; Tunis,
| 10000 /; Tripoli, 100000; making a
total of about 913,5O0 square miles.
The Government of Turkey is a
kind of theocracy. The rules of gov
ernment, as well as of religion, are
derived form the Koran. and the
| Sultan is not merely absolute in pol
itics. but is regarded as the viceger-
ent of God himself. The Sultan
is assisted in the government by q
cabinet called the Divan, consisting
| of the principal ministers and mutt,
or head of the law. The Court of
Constantinople is called the sublime
Porte. The great religious adviser
of The Sultan is Sheik.ul,islam. The
more strictly legal adviser is the
multi. Tho present Sutton is Abdul
| Hamid !, who succeeded Murad V,
in 1876. The principal commercial
ports Of Turkey arc Constantinople,
Trebizond and Smyrna,
The Army, upon a war footing,
number 17O,376, with the same
number as detached corps in Can
dia, Tripoli and Tunis. The reserves
! who can be Immediately called out