MECKLENBURG-STllELITZ
647
In 1895, 4,050 criminals were convicted, i.e. 94'6 per 10,000 inhabitants over 12 years of a^^e. On October 1, 1897, 319 pei"sons were in prison — 271 men, 37 women, and 11 children.
The Grand-duchy is divided into aliout 1,700 poor-law districts. In 1885, 14,475 heads of families, or solitary paupers, with 8,735 dependents, were relieved at a total cost of 1,308,488 marks. A poor-rate, averaging about 1 per cent, on incomes, may be levied by the poor law districts.
Finance.
There exists no general budget for the Grand-duchy. There are three systems of finance, entirely distinct. 1. That of the Grand-duke, estimated for 1898-99 at 19,200,000 marks. 2. The financial administration of the States, the resources of which are very small. 3. The common budget of the Grand-duke and States, the receipts and expenditure of which balance at 4,070,000 marks (for 1898-99). On July 1, 1898, the public debt was estimated at 110,905,500 marks. The interest of the railway debt (9,660,000 marks), and of the consolidated loan of 1886, amounting to 12,000,000 marks, is covered by the annuity of 960,000 marks paid by the State railways, and the remaining debt is more than covered by the State funds.
Production.
On June 14, 1895, the number of agricultural tenements, each cultivated by one household, was as follows : —
Under 1 Hectare
1-10 Hectares
10-100 Hectares
Over 100 Hectares
Total
65,531
21,633
8,604
1,301
97,069
These farms had an aggregate area of 1,143,618 hectares, and supported 820,822 persons, of whom 122,175 were actively engaged upon them.
The areas in hectares under the principal crops were as follows in 1897 :— Wheat, 44,000 ; rye, 161,575 ; barley, 19,569 ; oats, 112,081 ; potatoes, 48,003 ; hay, 104,895. In 1897 the yield was (in quintals) .-—wheat, 2,123,506 ; rye, 4,527,892 ; barley, 742,092 ; oats, 3,256,992 ; potatoes, 11,438,172 ; hay, 6,747,052.
In 1897 the railways measured 704 miles.
Consul-Gencral. — William Ward (Hamburg).
MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ.
(GllOSSHERZOGTHUM MeCKLENBURG-StRELITZ.)
Reigning Grand-duke.
Friedrich Wilhelm I., born October 17, 1819; the son of Grand-duke Georg and of Princess Marie of Hesse-Cassel ; succeeded to the throne at the
