508 



THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FACTS 



continent is subject to European domination. 

 By recent arrangements, mainly since 1884, 

 reas in Africa have been allotted to Great 

 Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, 

 anil Italy, as coming within their respective 

 spheres of influence, in addition to colonial pos- 

 sessions proper. The following table exhibits 

 the present division of Africa among the Euro- 

 pean po\v. 



* Egypt and the Egyptian Soudan, although nomi- 

 nally under the suzerainty of Turkey, are really con- 

 trolled by Great Britain, and it is only a matter of time 

 as to when they will be incorporated into the British 

 Empire. Adding Egypt and the Soudan to the Empire 

 would increase the figures above given to 3,207,700 

 square miles and 50,316,019 population. 



The remaining territory of Africa unoccupied is a part 

 of the Great Desert of Sahara and the Independent States 

 of Abyssinia and Liberia. Even this territory, except 

 the last, is destined to pass under the power. of the 

 Europeans. 



Over a great part of the continent civilization 

 is at a low ebb, and in the Kongo region cannibal- 

 ism is extensively prevalent. Yet in various 

 regions the natives who have not come in con- 

 tact with a higher civilization show considerable 

 skill in agriculture and various mechanical arts, 

 as in weaving and metal working. Among 

 articles exported from Africa are gold and dia- 

 monds, palm oil, ivory, wool, ostrich feathers, 

 esparto, cotton, caoutchouc, etc. The total 

 annual trade has been estimated at $500,000,000. 



Alaska is now an organized Territory in 

 the Western Division of the North American 

 Union, comprising the extreme northwestern 

 part of the American continent; bounded by 

 the Arctic and Pacific Oceans, Bering Sea, British 

 Columbia, and the Northwest Territories of Can- 

 ada; gross area, as far as determined, 581,107 

 square miles; purchased from Russia, in 1867, 

 for 87, 200. 000; given a territorial district gov- 

 ernment in 1884 and enlarged political powers in 



1906. The population by latest census was 

 >:>.. V.)2. but owing to gold discoveries is probably 

 much larger now. 



(Jt)ld product ion. and business activities con- 

 nected therewith, are hastening the develop- 

 ment of the country, and in 1908 the yield of the 

 precious metal promises to be larger than ever 

 before. 



The waters of Alaska contain over 100 species 

 of food fish, but the principal fisheries are those 

 confined to salmon, cod, and herring. In con- 

 nection with the Alaska coast there are at least 

 125,000 square miles of cod fishing banks, the 

 greater part of which still awaits development. 

 Whales and halibut also abound, but as yet they 

 do not support distinct industries. 



When the United States acquired this region, 

 and till gold mining set in, fur sealing was the 

 only industry. So far there has been but little 

 done in the line of systematic farming. Congress 

 has continued its appropriation to investigate 

 agricultural possibilities. Oats, wheat, rye, 

 barley, and buckwheat, among cereals; potatoes, 

 turnips, peas, onions, and many minor vegetables; 

 a variety of fruit and excellent hay are grown to 

 advantage. 



Algiers the capital of Algeria, founded by 

 the Arabs in 935, called the "silver city," from 

 the glistening white of its buildings as seen slop- 

 ing up from the sea, presenting a striking appear- 

 ance, was for centuries under its Bey the head- 

 quarters of piracy in the Mediterranean, which 

 only began to cease when Lord Exmouth bom- 

 barded the town and destroyed the fleet in the 

 harbor. Since it fell into the hands of the French 

 the city has been greatly improved, the fortifi- 

 cations strengthened, and its neighborhood has 

 become a frequent resort of English people in 

 winter. Population, 145,000. 



Alps, the greatest European mountain sys- 

 tem, forming the watershed between the Medi- 

 terranean and the Atlantic, and the North and 

 Black seas, extending through 14 of longitude 

 and 5 of latitude, with spurs to the Apennines, 

 Pyrenees, Vosges, Hartz, Sudetes, Carpathians, 

 and the Balkan. They are of crescent-like form, 

 and average in height about 7,700 feet; over 

 400 peaks rise to the perpetual snow line, which 

 averages from 8,000 to 9,000 feet. The central 

 point of all the Alpine chains is the St. Gothard 

 group, which is in a direct line 150 miles from 

 the Mediterranean, 500 miles from the North 

 Sea, and 550 miles from the Baltic. The prin- 

 I cipal Alpine divisions are: I. The Maritime 

 i Alps, consisting of two portions, the first (Ligu- 

 rian Alps) extending from the vicinity of Nice 

 j to the Col de Lauzania in Piedmont ; the second 

 (upper Maritime Alps) terminating in Monte 

 Viso, on the western frontier of Piedmont. II. 

 The Cottian Alps, extending from Monte Viso 

 to Mont Cenis, with Piedmontese and French 

 territories on three sides. III. The Graian 

 Alps, extending from Mont Cenis (11,457 feet) 

 to the Col du Bonhomme, between Savoy on the 

 west and Piedmont on the east. IV. The 

 Pennine Alps, from the Col du Bonhomme to 

 Monte Rosa, between Upper Savoy and the Swiss 

 canton of Valais on one side, and Piedmont on 

 the other, including Mont Blanc (15,810 feet), 

 Monte Rosa (15,208), and the Matterhorn 



