The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-23

n.IsInm,- plsuneuon 4. Now At 81. End

heiEinm's blstinction Is Now at an End.
Every schoolboy who has studied and remem.
bers anything of geography knows that the
little monarchy of Belgium has enjoyed the dis
tinctIon Of being the most densely populated
country OF the world. Tho year 1890 was one
of n census in almost every country, and by
that census 1t appeared that the average popu.
lat!on OF Belgium to tho square mile was $50,
England following with sos, France with 4oO,
Holland with $50. Italy with 26O, German
with "33. Ireland with 14s. Spain with SO.
Sweden with rs. and the United States with 20.
The population of Belgium at that time was
t"eh'S-hVetimes greater to the square mile than
the population of tho United States. The land
area OF Belgium is ll,o0O square miles. 1t ia
larger than New Jersey. New Hampshire. Con-
n%ecticut, Massachusetts. Vermont. or Maryland
but not half tho size OF Maine. With the multi
plication of its manufactures and mining in
terests and through its remarkable CONNER
cial and railroad facilities. Belgium has been
Increasing very rapidly in population of late
years; though oven as early as 1920 Belgium,
then n part of the kingdom of Holland, was the
most thickly populated portion of Europe. At
the time OF the establishing of Belgian indie
nenhence ~ 1870 the population was 3. 700. 900:
IT. was 1000, 600 In 1870. and it is now in excess
OF 5000. coo. But Beigium's distinct,on mas
been eclipsed during the present year by SAY.
ony. which Is now the most thickly populated
country Of Europe.
AAh' - Abh AtCNIA llR IO
political conditions. having been moro than
twice as large NJ the beginning of the present
century a. Il was AZ the outbreak OF the Prus-
bian-Austrian war OF 1865. Since then It has
been Increased. so that it now includes 0.777
square miles, a little more than the island Of
Jamaica in the West Indies. The population Of
SaNony has been increasing more rapidly than
that or other parts OF Germany. and IL is now in
excess OF 100000. SaXCny has always been
the most thickly populated portion of Germany,
but not. until this year. the most thickly noun
lated country Of Europe. Tho development OF
the manufacturing Interests OF Saxony accounts
chiefly Tor Its great growth. AT the close OF the
Franco-German war. Dresden. long a ia
vorite city among Amer cans abroad, had
q population OF ~, 900. 1t has now
$50, 900. Leipzig had 100. 900: It has now
nearly 300, 900. Chemnitz had 8s, 900; IL has
now 100, 900. The development of tho woollen
industry in SaNony accounts very largely Tor
the Increased population Ia Its manufacturing
centres, the disposition Of the Germans OF sax
onY bong, quite evidently, to move into tho
large cities. whereas the residents of Hanover
and bavaria, two OF the largest political diyIs-
ions OF Germany, have preferred to pursue the
business of agriculture. Bavaria is five times
larger thhn SaNonS, but the population is less
than twice as large. The cities OF Bavaria. too,
nave not grown very rapidly OF late years,
ana the city OF Hanover in Hanover has In
creased very little during the last tyn wears.
density OF population. sometimes considered az
The test OF civilization in II country, is not 10 be
thus regarded II he Tenth ward OF New York
city can he accepted as n fair criterion.