SWITZERLAND

republic, Central Europe (45° 50’-47° 50’ N., 6°-10° 30’ E.), called sometimes the ‘Swi Confederation.’ Has no natural frontiers, but is the creation of history; bounded N. by Germany, E. by Austria, S. by Italy, and W. by France; comprises the upper valleys of the Rhine, Rhone, and Inn; abounds in lakes and mountains; ethnologically and linguistically comprises several different races. Of a pop. 1920, of 3,880,320, c. 70 per cent. are German-speaking, French 21 per cent., and Italians 8 per cent., while in the Grisons, Romansch is spoken. Bern is the cap. Foreign visitors give 1886,}employment to 33,000 people. Most of the food crops are imported. Vine- | yards are on the decrease. Large water- | power resources. Of manufactu res the chief are textiles, especially silk and cotton. Watch and clock making have some centuries been carried on. The chief manufactured articles exported cheese, condensed milk, chocolate, He}jand other food products; silk and cotton goods, including embroidery; and clocks | and watches, machinery, motor Cars, shoes and chemicals. Mileage of state railways, 3,685; there are cae m. of foreign line; electrification of state railways begun; 153 boats and _ barges |trade on Swi waters; the telegraph system is very complete.: _Government.—Switzerland is made up | of twenty-two cantons, which are largely independent, and it is therefore a Confederation aa a aot at nota ose centralized unity. ac canton is divided into a number of districts. The pees have Leg! own a emblies, in which a magistrate is annually elected, and also their own judicatures. The central or Federal government of the Swi Confederation has a State Council, with two members from each canton, and also a National Council of representatives, elected from the whole pop. on the principle of one member to 20,000 inhabitants. The two houses elect the Federal executive of seven members, the president, and vice-president. There is a Federal Supreme Court. The present system of Federal government dates from 1874. The religious statistics for 1920 were: cation is very well organized, primary education being in the hands of 5 the cantonal authorities. The seven Swi universities are Basel, Zurich, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Fribourg, and Neuchatel. By the laws of the Confederation no standing army may be mainnese Military be er 3 is, ao compulsory on every citizen; and there are several forts and other military works along the frontiers. Children commence their military training at eight years old. It is estimated that in extreme emergency half a million perfectly-trained riflemen could take the field. See Map, SwitzBRLAND Literature—There is no Swi language peculiar to the country, but four languages are spoken. Until 1798 the Swi cantons were almost entirely German-speaking. The earliest vernacular literature was that of the Minnesingers in the 13th and 14th centuries. Various monastic chronicles are mediwval. Most learned works I~ —}f | GNVTUAZLIMS “AN eg... \ GYEO|PUAS Sore SONY JO ope AS ne at iN CYL ging bey IMG:map319.jpg: