HILL one of the Walilvildten or forest cantons of Switzerland, forms part of the hill country (See SWITZERLAND) which surrounds the lake of Lucerne, and is hounded on the w. by the cantons of Untenvalden, Bern, and Valais. It has an area of 414 sq.m..
and its pop. in '70 was 16,107; in '76, 16,900. It consists of one valley, that of the Reuse, about 30 m. in length, and inclosed on all sides by lofty mountain chains, which also include the south-eastern bay or reach of the lake into which the river falls. A great high-road passes through the valley, and terminates on the south at the St. Gothard pass which connects the Uri with Ticino, and forms part of one of the great routes into Italy. Uri is almost entirely pastoral, and its products are those of its herds and flocks. Goats are very numerous. In the low grounds, there are a few fields of corn and pota toeS, and gardens and orchards, but even this cultivation is limited. The population :speak a Swiss-German dialect, and are Roman Catholic. Uri is a democracy. The
landesgemeinde, held in a meadow once a year, is formed of the whole male population who have reached 20 years of age. The highest power resides in this assembly. The preconsideration and superintendence of the law belongs to the landrath, which consists of 7 members chosen by the landesgemeinde, and 61 by the several communes. A gov erning council of 11 members, with the landamman as president, discharges executive functions. Civil justice is administered in the highest instance by a cantonal court of 11 members. A tribunal of 7 members decides in criminal causes. Altorf, the capital, is a small town, with (1870) 2,724 inhabitants. A fountain surrounded by stone statues of Tell (q.v.) and his son marks, according to tradition, the spot where the former took his aim, and another that where the boy stood with the apple on his head.