The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-04
COLONIES.
Special Jurisprudence of The Tribune

SPECIAL Col lcSponQenCe Oh Inc Tribune.
Washington, Feb. 2-"The Colonies,
Protectorates and Dependencies OF the
World. Their Area, Population, Revenues
and Commerce, and the Share of the
Mother Country in Their Commerce" is
the title of a publication lust issued by
the treasury bureau of statistics. The
colonies, protectoTatGs and dependencies
of the world number l2G. They occupy
two-tfths of tn. land surface of the globe
and their population is oue-third OF the
entire people of the earth, Their total
imports average $l,5o0,000,C00 worth OF
goods annually, and of this vast sum
more than 40 per cent is purchased from
the mother country. OF their exports,
which considerably exceed their imports,
10 per cent. goes to the mother country.
Large sums are annually expended i'll
the construction of roads, canals, rail-
ways, telegraphs. postal service, schools,
etc, but in most cases the present an
nual expenditures are produced by local
revenues or are represented by local OBJ
legations.
The revenues of the British colonies in
1897 were Gl5l,0 900 and their eXpendi-
lures &149, 100000. While the public debt
in the more important and active of
these communities aggregates a large
sum, it is represented by canals rail-
ways, public highways. harbors, irriga-
ton and other public improvements in
tended to stimulate commerce and pro-
duction, the railroads in operation in
the British colonies alone aggregating
$500 miles. OF the l2O colonies. prClCc-
torates dependencies and spheres of
influence" which make up the total list
two-fifths belong 10 Great Britain. their
area dncludng the native feuddtory
states of Inda) being one. half of the
toto nf NJ md i,.
population considerably more than one
half the grand total of colonial popula-
ton. France Is next IN order in num-
ber area and population of colonies, etc.
though the area controlled by France is
but about one-thrd that of Great Brit
ain, and the population Of her colonies
less than oEe-siXth of those of Great
Britain.
Commerce between the successful col
onies and their mother countries is in
nearly all cases placed upon practically
the same basis as that with other cOun-
tries, goods from the home countries re-
Ceiving in the vast majority Of cases no
advantages over those from other COun-
tries in import duties and other eXactions
Of this character In the more prosper
Gus and progressive colonies the percent
age of importatons from the mother
countries grows somewhat less as the
blsinCsS and prosperity increase. The
chief British colonies in North America
Warada and Newfoundland which in
1871 took % per cent, of their impUrtItiOls
rrCm the home country, took in 1896 less
than 60 per cent. from Great Britain
| those of South Africa Capc Colony and
Nat1D. which In 1871 took So per cent.
| from the home country. took but Il per
| cent, i'm 1896. those Of Australia and the
| adjacent islands which In 1876 took ~
| per cent. from the home country, III 1856
| took but 40 per cent, The French colon
les now take from the home country
| about e. per cent. of their total imports s.
| While the British colonies obtain about
80 per cent. of their total imports from
the home country.
/ The tables show: /. The colonies. pro-
| tcctorates, dependencies and spheres OF
| influence" of various countries of the
! world having possessions of this charac-
ter, with area, population, and number
of colonies In each case. .. The British
colonies, protectorates. dependencies, etc
with area, population, revenue. eXpendi.
| lures, Indebtedness, shipping and rail,
| ways, also the imports and exports unL
| the share of the home government there,
in, 3, The commerce Of the British col,
| onies and the share OF the United King,
dom therein, at 25-year intervals from
| 1871 to 1896. 4, French colonies, protec
torates and dependencies, showing theil
area, population location and date Of
acquisition. 8. Commerce of the princi
pal French colonies, with the share OF
! France in the same at the latest attain
able dates. .. The German colonies, pro
tectorates and dependencies with area
population, location, date Of acquisition
and form Of government. Z. Netherlands
colonies and dependencies, showing 10
cation, area, population, etc s. Portu
guese colonies and dependencies, show
ing area, population and general loca
tion. 0. Colonies, protectorates, depend
tectorates and dependencies, with area
population. etc. 10. Condition of each col
ony separately stated, showing its loca
tlon, area, population, revenues, expen
ditures, imports, exports and method o
government, with additional data regard