Hungary

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

a kingdom of southeastern Europe. It has been united with Austria since 1867 in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The two countries manage their foreign and military affairs in common and have a common monarch. Otherwise Hungary is entirely independent. The two states have the same coinage, weights, and measures. In addition to Hungary proper, the kingdom includes several provinces, as Transylvania, Croatia, and Slavonia. The total area is not far from 125,430 English square miles. The population at the beginning of the century was reported at 19,254,559, rather less than half of whom are Hungarians. The rest are Germans, Slavonians, Roumanians, Croatians, Servians, etc. The prevailing religion is Roman Catholic. The adherents of the Greek Church are next in number. There is religious liberty for all. A system of public schools has been established. Education was made compulsory in 1868. There are three universities and numerous high schools. About half of the population can neither read nor write. AGRICULTURE. The plains of Hungary are noted for their fertility. They occupy a vast tract in the vicinity of the Danube in an amphitheatre formed by the Alps on the west and the Carpathian Mountains on the east. The mountain systems come together on the south, where the Danube breaks its way through a passage known as the Iron Gate . Agriculture is the chief industry. Sixty-eight per cent of the population is engaged in tilling the soil. The crops raised are those common in Central Europe, including the cereals, the sugar beet, and the grape. Forests occupy rather more than a sixth of the country. PRODUCTION. The production of oak, beech, and pine timber is considerable. There are mines of gold, silver, iron, coal, and lignite. The chief manufactures are foodstuffs, machinery, earthenware, glass, cloth, leather, and chemicals. In 1902 there were ninety-five breweries and 66,830 village distilleries. The manufacture of tobacco is a state monopoly. Budapest, on the Danube, is the capital. Commerce is carried on by means of the river and by rail. The railroads are owned by the state. The chief imports are tobacco, sugar, leather, clothing, and cloth. The exports are of an agricultural nature,--flour and grain, cattle, horses, pigs, eggs, and wine. POPULATION. The Hungarians proper, or Magyars, are thought to be a Scythian race. They are a high-spirited, warlike, generous people. They are proud, and are fond of elegant dress and of entertainment rather than of work. They are believed to be related to the modern Turk, to whom, however, they are incomparably superior. Their first king, Stephen, accepted Christianity. He was made a saint by the pope, and was presented with a crown. The crown of St. Stephen, as it is called, has been used at the coronation of every Hungarian king to the present day. Whatever their race affinities may be, Europe owes much to the Hungarian for barring the entrance of the Turk through the Iron Gate. Under their celebrated general, Hunyady, one of the great soldiers of Europe, they held back the Turks singlehanded. They cooperated with Prince Eugene and took Belgrade after a siege remarkable in history. The Hungarians are not happy in their relations with Austria. In many respects they are more progressive. It is quite possible that a separation may take place at some future day. STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: Land area (square miles) 125,430 Population (1900) 19,254,559 Emigrants to United States (1907), 209,169 Budapest 732,322 Members of senate (magnates) 386 Representatives 453 National expenditure (1908) $279,000,000 Bonded indebtedness $1,129,900,000 Acres under plow 35,000,000 Agricultural Products-- Potatoes, bushels 170,000,000 Corn, bushels 143,000,000 Wheat, bushels 115,000,000 Oats, bushels 40,000,000 Barley, bushels 46,000,000 Rye, bushels 36,000,000 Turnips, bushels 136,000,000 Tobacco, pounds 122,000,000 Silk, cocoons, pounds 3,300,000 Exports $325,000,000 Imports 75,000,000 Domestic Animals-- Horses 2,308,000 Mules 1,911 Asses 24,000 Cattle 6,738,000 Sheep 8,100,000 Swine 7,330,000 Goats 308,000 Fowls 33,000,000 Bee hives 770,000 Hemp, acres 165,000 Flax, acres 50,000 Miles of navigable waters 2,450 Forest, acres 25,000,000 Miles of railway 12,100 Wage earners 1,207,000 Sugar, pounds 680,000,000 Beer, gallons 41,000,000 Alcohol, gallons 24,000,000 Gold output $2,300,000 Coal output $13,000,000 Steel and iron output $7,000,000 Lumber products $18,000,000 Teachers in public schools 43,000 Pupils enrolled 2,765,000 Periodicals and papers 1,536 Number postoffices 5,618 Letters and post cards 483,000,000