Population.— The inhabitants (439 square mile) are by derivation principally West Franks of the Upper or North German race. The ratio of males to females is as 1,000 to 1,006. About two-thirds are Protestants (66.63 per cent, according to an authoritative state ment) ; Roman Catholics, 30.49 per cent; other Christian denominations, 0.67 per cent; Jews, 219 per cent. In the years 1843-67, 1871-75 and 1880-85 large numbers of the inhabitants emi grated to other countries, but that tendency has decreased since 1894 to a very large extent. As the basic principles of the elaborate educa tional system, instruction is compulsory and the state contributes to the support of elementary schools. Public elementary schools number 979, with 215,709 pupils, 3,469 male and 584 fe male teachers. Schools of the next higher grade had 27,522 pupils a year or 18 months before the European War began ; and at that time there were 11 _f%rrmasia, two progymnasia, three realgymnasia, nine oberrealschultn and the same number of realschnitm, an agricultural college, 32 superior Burgerschulen, with 739 teachers and 12,584 pupils, six higher schools for girls with 3,523 pupils, and 49 private schools with 3,790 pupils; the University of Giessen then having 1,436 under-graduates ; the Tech nical High School at the capital, 1,347. The fore going enumeration, though not complete, gives a fair idea of the educational system's scope.
Agriculture and Mining.— By means of insurance organizations, agricultural societies and institutes for instruction, the important agricultural interests are sustained and pro moted by the local government as well ag by individuals in private life. The cultivation of fruits is very profitable in all three provinces; especially noteworthy are the vineyards of Rhenish Hesse and some other localities — the wines of those regions figuring largely among exports. Mining plays a larger part in Upper Hesse than in the other two provinces, the chief products being iron, manganese, soft coal or coke, and salt ;. and in this matter also both
the state and pm att. *Judi\ idu,is are partici pants. The quantity of coal pi oduced during the year before the war was 397,20 tons.
Industrial Activity.— Complete industrial freedom has been the rule since the adoption of the German regulation of industries; but ex ceptions are noted in the conduct of certain oc cupations (those of the apothecary, the tavern keeper, etc.) which are made dependent upon concessions or licenses. Manufacturing indus tries in their many varieties support more than 38 per cent of the total population; the,principal manufactures being chemicals, leather, cloth, paper, furniture, wagons, railroad cars, musical instruments and machinery.
The sovereign grand duchy, which attained that dignity in 1806, was up to 1918, in accordance with the constitution of 17 Dec. 1820, which had undergone many thanges, an ((indivisible constitutional mon archy,' at the head of which stood the Grand Delos (Grossherzog von Hessen and bei Rheim) who had also the title Kiinigliche Hoheit (royal or regal highness) and was titular head of the Evangelical Church of the duchy as well. His civil list was about $316,000, and he divided law-giving power with 'the nobility and repre sentatives of the .people in the Landstanden, which was composed of first and second houses or chambers. The judiciary (including a high court at the capital and Landgerichte at Darm stadt, Giessen and Mainz) maintained its dis tinct existence although the head of the depart ment of justice was the Minister of State who was also Minister of the Grand-Ducal House and Foreign Affairs.
Finance.— For the year 1915-16 the ordi nary revenue and expenditure were estimated to balance at $22,736,925, leaving a deficit of $1,143,415, approximately. The public debt, nearly all for railroads, was stated at $112, 215,505, approximately, in 1914.