Algeria
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Algeria. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
one of the Barbary states of north Africa, belonging to France, extending from 20° W. to 10° E. longitude. Area, 184,474 square miles. It is divided into the three departments of Oran, Constantine, and Al Algiers. It is regarded as part of France, but has a civil governor-general and a Council. The principal rivers-none of which are navigable-are the Shelif, Wadel-Kebir, and Seybus. There are several saltwater lakes, some of which are temporary; the largest of these is Shot Melrhirh, 100 feet below sea-level. In the district of the Tell Atlas, grain, sorghum, vegetables, and tobacco are produced; on the slopes the vine is cultivated, the wine being exported to France for reexport as French wine. The chief products of the country are wheat, barley, oats, wine, oil, vegetables, tobacco, fruit, iron, lead, zinc, and other minerals. During the war considerable progress was made in the development of coal and lignite. The fisheries are important. The imports in 1919 amounted to £37,- 727,000, and the exports to £53,760,000. The principal imports were cotton, paper, coal, sugar, and coffee. The chief exports were wine, fruit, tobacco, . The customs receipts oats, and barley in 1919 amounted to about $1,300,000. There are about 2,500 miles of railway. The chief cities are Algiers, Oran, Constantine, and Bone. There are about 1,300 primary schools with about 4,000 teachers and about 150,000 pupils. History. The country, which was inhabited by Moors and Numidians, was conquered by Carthage, and after the fall of the latter came into the hands of Rome, under which it flourished until its conquest by the Vandals (450 A. D.). In the 7th century it was conquered by the Saracens. In 1516 the country was seized by Horuk Barbarossa, a renegade Greek corsair, who, as well as his successors (until 1710), recognized the suzerainty of Turkey. For three centuries the pirates of Algeria terrorized the Mediterranean. They became bolder century, but were checked by in the 19th cer Napoleon, and in 1815 were compelled by the United States squadron on to sue for peace. In 1827, the French, after a three years' blockade of the ports, captured it. After A the Franco-Prussian War there was a considerable immigration of Alsatians who preferred to remain under French rule. The administration of the count country is under a governor-general, assisted by a consultative council. The executive power is vested in the governor-general, who has charge of all services except that of the treasurer, justice, public instruction, and worship. The budget which is prepared by the governor-general is voted by the Financial Delegation and the Superior Council. The delegations represent the French colonists, the French taxpayers who are not colonists, and native Moslems. The Superior Council consists of elected members and the higher officials. The legislative power is vested in the French Parliament to which each department sends one senator and two deputies. Algerian troops fought bravely for France in the World War. Pop. about 5,600,000.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a district of North Africa. It extends along the Mediterranean from Tunis to Morocco, a distance of 620 miles. The southern boundary is indefinite, but is about 250 miles from the sea, far enough to include the mountain ranges and any foothills or oases on the south worth the having. A fertile strip from 50 to 150 miles wide, extending east and west near the coast, is called the Tell. South of this is rough, elevated land, devoted to raising sheep and goats, and the gathering of esparto grass much used in paper making. The Tell, which is intersected by fine wagon roads and 2,000 miles of railway, has the aspect of a well cultivated country of southern Europe. Fields of grain and tobacco, vineyards, orchards, lemon and orange groves, and olive trees indicate a fertile and prosperous country. Half of the world's cork and quantities of dates come from the Atlas hills and along the rivers of the Tell. A score or two of mines yield ores of iron, copper, silver, lead, and zinc. The quarries supply building stone and phosphate. Since 1830 Algeria has been a possession of France. Of 5,000,000 inhabitants, chiefly Arab and Berber, about 300,000 are French. They dominate the industries of the country, though the Berbers who antedate Frenchman and Arab do most of the work. Farm help costs from twenty to forty cents a day. The country sells $60,000,000 worth of goat skins, ore, cork, wine, tobacco, grass for paper, and grain a year. Trade is carried on chiefly with Marseilles. 2026 Editor's Note: Algeria was French when this was written, and won its independence in one of the twentieth century's bloodiest colonial wars (1954–62), which also brought down France's Fourth Republic. Today it is Africa's largest country by area and a major oil and gas exporter. (Ed: BR 2026-06-23)